Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQ
Chicago Minds is a co-working community for mental health professionals in Chicago. We provide thoughtfully designed therapy spaces, virtual business addresses, practice-building resources, and CE workshops to help mental health professionals develop and advance their careers and advocate for equality in the mental health space.
Chicago Minds is a NO ICE ZONE, and ALL immigrants are welcome in our facility.
Yes! We would love to invite you to tour our space! Tours are available here for booking in person, or you can also take a virtual walk through here.
Although we believe in the healing power of diverse healing modalities, we currently only offer therapy room rental services to Licensed Mental Health Providers, Psychiatrists, and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners. Please contact us at info@chicagominds.co if you work in the mental health field but are unsure whether you can join as a member.
We have put a lot of thought into the design of the Chicago Minds space to ensure both our members and their clients are comfortable and well cared for.
Upon arrival in the communal area, you can find a remote check-in system, a range of seating, as well as magazines and books, daylight lamps, local community resources, and a designated games and play area for our younger visitors.
We have water dispensers throughout the space, sparkling water in the fridges, tea and coffee machines, and a range of sweet and savory snacks (keep an eye out for popsicles in the warmer months)! Our kitchen is also equipped with microwaves, a small countertop oven, a dishwasher, and a fridge/freezer.
Each therapy room is fitted with code-accessed doors, air purifiers, fans, air conditioning, heaters, sound machines, standing or sitting work desks, a therapist chair and sofa, blanket and pillows, tissues, and sensory toys. Each room is beautifully decorated with our calming colors and houses a range of plants, propagations, and greenery.
CTA: The space is a 2-minute walk from the Chicago stop on the Brown Line, and a 10-minute walk from the Chicago stop on the Red Line.
Bus: The space is a 1-minute walk from the #66 bus stop, a two-minute walk from the #2 bus stop, and an 8-minute walk from the #22 bus stop.
Car: The space is a 2-minute drive from I-90/94.
Resident Members will be provided with a fob for access upon joining. Community members, clients, and any other visitors can gain access to the building by dialing Chicago Minds on the external intercom to the right of our front entrance. This will call our internal phone system, where we will answer and provide you with access. We are located on floor 5. Turn left out of the elevator/stairwell, go straight down the corridor, turn right, and we are on the left at the bottom of the hall.
Chicago Minds is staffed Monday through Friday from 9:30 am – 6:30 pm; we do still have clinicians in the space before and after these hours, as well as on weekends. The instructions are the same as above. Once you ring through the intercom, we will be notified by phone and provide you with remote access.
There are limited free street parking spaces along N Orleans St, and abundant metered parking spaces ($4.75/hour) on W Institute Pl, and around the area. Parking lots are also available for daily/ longer parking via SpotHero or ParkWhiz, starting from $10/day.
213 W Institute Place is ADA accessible, including elevators, entrance, and accessible parking. While the two bathrooms in our space do not meet full accessibility requirements, there are public ADA-accessible bathrooms on the third and sixth floors in the hallways, which we can provide you with access to.
Yes, service animals are welcome at our space. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all members and clients within our community.
Yes, scroll down to the bottom of our ‘Contact’ page and enter your email under ‘stay connected’ https://chicagominds.co/contact-us/. Newsletters are sent out on a monthly basis.
Yes, for anyone who refers new members to Chicago Minds, both the referring member and the new member will receive a $15 credit applied to the upcoming invoice. All you’ll need to do is mention the referring member when you sign up.
Memberships
We offer three membership options: Community membership, Resident membership and Telemedicine Address for Psychiatrist/ Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners.
The Community membership is $30 per month. It gives you full access to the co-working space and amenities, partner benefits, 20% off all workshops (no additional cost for CE’s), access to member-only in-person events, and access to our therapist directory. You can also add a virtual business address for an additional $30 per month or $300 for the year.
The Resident membership is $100 per month and includes everything the community membership offers, as well as a virtual business address and access to book therapy rooms. Room rentals incur an additional cost per hour or per day. However, as a Resident Member, you do get 2 free hours worth of room bookings per month (valued at $50). This benefit refreshes each month and does not roll over.
The Telemedicine for Psychiatrist option is $100 per month and includes a physical office space that has the capacity for in-person appointments in order to meet the requirements of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
To rent a room, you need an active Resident membership. Room rentals are $25 per hour, or we offer a discounted daily rate of $135 for bookings of 6 hours or more. As a resident member, you also get 2 free hours worth of room bookings per month ($50 credit). This refreshes each month and does not roll over.
Yes, we have a large group room available for group therapy that both Community and Resident members can access. To inquire about availability/booking, please contact us at Info@chicagominds.co
You will be directed to sign a membership agreement upon sign-up, which outlines the basic terms of service. There is no minimum term required; you can cancel your membership at any time with a 14-day written notice.
In accordance with IDFPR requirements, therapists who see clients in Chicago must hold a valid Illinois license. Upon submitting your membership request, we will check the validity of your license. You will need a valid Illinois license to become a member.
Yes, Chicago Minds is happy to sign a BAA in accordance with HIPAA compliance. We will review contract agreements provided by Clinicians/Providers and agree to terms as necessary.
After you become a member, you will be provided instructions to add yourself to our therapist directory. Please let us know once you’ve done so, or if you encounter any issues, and we can help you set it up/confirm this on the back end.
Virtual Business Address Service
To use the virtual business address, you will either need to sign up as a resident or community member first. This benefit is included in the monthly/annual fee for resident members; however, for our community members, this is an additional $30/month or $300/year.
Once signed up and accepted for the virtual business address service, you will need to fill out a 1583 form, have it notarized, and provide a copy to Chicago Minds. You can then redirect your mail to our address. If you have been using a dedicated business address, file a Change of Address form with your local post office or file online with the USPS.
With the virtual business address, we can receive mail for you at our physical location in River North (213 W Institute Place, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60610). When we receive mail for you, we will scan the envelope/package and notify you via ParcelTracker. You can choose to pick it up at your convenience or have us forward it to you for a postage fee. Many of our members choose to have us forward all their mail regularly (e.g., once every two weeks or once a month) so they receive a bundle at once rather than individual pieces. Please let us know if you would like to opt in to automatic mail forwarding.
A virtual address at a dedicated mental health coworking space offers more than just a mailing location. It helps ensure your confidential mail is handled securely, with on-site staff available to receive and manage correspondence reliably. It also strengthens your professional standing—having access to a legitimate physical therapy space can be beneficial in situations like insurance audits. Additionally, when potential clients look you up, a recognized, professional address enhances your credibility and signals that your practice is established and trustworthy.
Chicago Minds does not act as a registered agent (who will receive and process legal documents, etc., pertaining to your business). You may list yourself as a registered agent or use a separate legal service. We can provide you with referrals should this be of interest to you.
Events
We host a range of events, some in person, some virtually, some free events, as well as paid events with CE credits options available. We will specify in the description of each event whether it is open to all clinicians or only to members. We do, however, host a range of events open to all clinicians and non-members. We encourage you to keep an eye on our events page for new and upcoming events.
We believe in the power of community, in supporting other great initiatives and lifting each other up. If you or anyone you know has an idea for an event or would like to collaborate in other ways, we’d love to connect with you. Please contact us at: tracy@chicagominds.co
