Answers to Common Questions About Your Recovery
You have questions, and they deserve clear answers, not more homework. Below you will find what our patients and their families ask us most: how to get started, the conditions we treat, what makes our approach different, and how insurance and billing work. If you do not see your question here, call us directly and we will walk you through it.
Getting started
Do I need a referral to make an appointment?
A referral may be needed depending on your insurance plan, but it is not required to reach out. Call us directly and we will help you figure out the right next step. Health care providers can also call or fax a referral to us directly.
What should I bring to my first visit?
Bring a photo ID, a list of your current medications, and your insurance information. If you can, bring a caregiver or loved one: they can help share context about your recovery that is easy to miss on your own. Once your appointment is scheduled, please complete the patient questionnaire on the portal before you arrive. We may also need records from your neurologist, therapist, mental health provider, or primary care physician, so have their contact information ready if you have it.
Who will be managing my care?
Dr. Fabiolla Kopp, a physiatrist who specializes in brain injury, personally manages your care. She leads your neurological evaluation, builds your rehabilitation care plan, and stays your consistent point of contact, coordinating with your therapists, specialists, and community partners so every part of your recovery works from the same plan.
How do I get started?
Call us at (773) 312-4423 or email fabiollakoppMD@wellnessbyphysiatry.com to schedule a consultation. Health care providers can also call or fax referrals to us directly. We will assess your needs and build a personalized rehabilitation care plan for your recovery journey.
Conditions we treat
What is a physiatrist (PM&R specialist)?
A physiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, or PM&R. Our focus is restoring function and quality of life for people with disabling injuries or illness, without surgery. At Wellness by Physiatry, that means concentrating on conditions affecting the brain, nerves, and muscles, and managing complex symptoms like spasticity, pain, and cognitive and behavioral change as part of one connected care plan.
What conditions do you treat?
We treat all severities of traumatic brain injury (TBI), including concussion, along with diffuse axonal injury (DAI) and anoxic brain injury, which is caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain. We also treat stroke and other neurologic conditions that affect thinking, behavior, and physical function, including the secondary effects that often follow: spasticity, cognitive and behavioral changes, and lingering post-concussion symptoms.
What is diffuse axonal injury (DAI)?
Diffuse axonal injury, or DAI, is a stretching and tearing injury to the brain's nerve fibers. It is velocity-dependent, meaning it is usually caused by fast, forceful movement: high falls, car accidents, or falls from a horse. DAI often comes with a harder, slower recovery than other brain injuries, which is why we build a patient, long-term rehabilitation care plan around it.
How long does rehabilitation typically last?
Recovery is different for everyone. How long rehabilitation takes depends on the severity of the injury, your goals, and your individual overall health status. We continuously evaluate your progress and build a dynamic care plan around clear, measurable goals, taking the time to teach you how your brain, body, and daily habits work together, so the gains you make hold.
Our approach
What makes Wellness by Physiatry different?
We combine evidence-based rehabilitation care plans with lifestyle medicine and therapeutic coaching, tailored to you. Care is multilingual, in English, Español, and Português, and culturally competent, rooted in whole-person healing rather than treating one symptom at a time. When your symptoms call for more specialized attention, we also draw on the support of the University of Illinois Chicago Psychiatry Department.
How is lifestyle medicine part of my recovery plan?
Lifestyle medicine is central to how we think about whole-person healing. We coach you on sleep, nutrition, stress management, physical activity, and cutting back on substances that work against your recovery, such as recreational drugs and tobacco, alongside therapeutic coaching on principles of cognitive therapy and medication management where it is needed. Together, we set SMART goals that turn into sustainable habits, supporting neuroplasticity and long-term well-being.
What languages do you support?
We are committed to culturally competent care for Chicago's diverse community. Our clinic offers services, including group sessions, in English, Español, and Português. Language should never stand between you and quality care.
Do you offer group sessions?
Yes. Group sessions give you a safe, supportive space to share, learn, and connect with others who understand your experience. They run weekly for six weeks, then once every two months to keep that connection going, and are offered in English, Español, and Português.
Insurance and billing
What insurance do you accept?
We accept most insurances, and because contracts are always changing, give us a call to confirm we take yours. We currently accept BCBS, Aetna, United, Medicare, Medicaid, and most marketplace plans.
What if I don't have insurance?
We offer a membership option for patients without insurance coverage. It is a structured plan, not a reduced-price version of a visit: membership gives you access to the same quality physiatry care at a clear, set price. Call us and we will walk you through it.
What is included in my visit, and what is billed separately?
Your visit includes a comprehensive evaluation and rehabilitation care plan from Dr. Kopp, plus ongoing therapeutic coaching, lifestyle medicine guidance, and coordination of your overall recovery. Prescriptions, labs, and outside therapies such as physical, occupational, or speech therapy are billed separately. Labs are included once per year as part of your care.
How do I access billing or the patient portal?
You can view your medical records and message our office through the patient portal. For a billing question or to make a payment, call us at (773) 312-4423 and we will point you to the right place.
Where to go next
Insurance and billing, in full
What we accept, how referrals work, and the membership option available if you do not have insurance.
Read more →Referrals and community
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy, plus the community organizations, adult day programs, and legal and home health resources that support you outside our office.
Read more →Contact us
Reach the East Loop or Lincoln Park office, or request your first appointment.
Read more →