BEHAVIOR SERVICES

NEW PATIENT COMPREHENSIVE CONSULTATION PACKAGE – $650

If You Are Ready To Schedule Click HERE

Our Comprehensive Consultation Package Includes:

1. A NEW PATIENT INTAKE REVIEW will be performed by Dr. Jokela PRIOR to the appointment and will include a through review of  your pet’s medical records and your completed canine or feline behavior history questionnaire.
   
   

• To start this process, please complete the online Canine Behavior History Questionnaire  or Feline Questionnaire. Please submit your questionnaire as soon as possible or  AT LEAST one week prior to your appointment.
  
  
• Note if you do not have time to complete the questionnaire all at once, you can click the “SAVE” button at the bottom of each page and return to complete it later.
  
  
• Once complete, just hit the “SUMMIT” button and your questionnaire will be sent directly to us.
  
  
• Please also contact your primary care veterinary clinic and request that they send us a copy of your pet’s medical records. If your pet has been seen at another veterinary clinic such as an emergency or specialty clinic in the last year, please ask for those records to be sent to us as well.
  
  
• In addition, we require recent (within the last 3-4 months) bloodwork (CBC, Chemistry Profile, and Total T4) done by your primary care veterinarian. If blood collection is too distressing or not safe to obtain from your pet, testing can be postponed until after the consultation.
  
  
• Prior to the consultation, please send any pictures or short videos of your pet’s behavior that would be helpful to us.
  
  
• You may text short videos to 219-781-6868 or send your videos via email to cvbehaviorconsultants@gmail.com. 
  
  
• Please do not deliberately set up our pet to be in distress or show aggressive behavior.  We do NOT need or want to see your pet acting aggressively. We are trained to see problems that might not be apparent to you even in normal situations.
  
  
• What is most helpful to see is your pet in situations that look like a normal day in his/her life and with your family.  It also helps us to see what your home, yard, or leash walking environments look like, as the environment plays a significant role in behavior.
  
  
• If you have video from home security cameras that catch undesired or aggressive behavior in the act, that video should also be sent.
  
  
• It is to your benefit to send this information BEFORE the consultation. If this information and videos are not received in advance and must be reviewed during your appointment, it will reduce the time available for discussing your pet’s assessment and treatment plan.
  
  

2.  AN IN-PERSON CONSULTATION WITH DR. JOKELA

• This 1.5-to-2-hour consultation provides an opportunity to discuss your pet’s history, your behavior concerns, and any additional details about your circumstances. This is also your opportunity to ask questions!
  
  
• Dr. Jokela will share her assessment and provide recommendations for treatment.
  
  
• After the consultation you will receive an email that summarizes and describes treatment recommendations.  This information will also be sent to your primary care veterinarian.
  
  

3.  A SEPARATE VIRTUAL 30-MINUTE INTRODUCTION TO BEHAVIOR THERAPY SESSION with our certified behavior therapy consultant, Liz Geisen, KPA CTP, IAABC-CDBC. This will be scheduled within 2 weeks and the appointment time will be determined at the end of your consultation with Dr. Jokela

• Behavior therapy sessions and home practice of these concepts are an essential part of treatment.
  
  
• Behavior therapy differs significantly from obedience training. Certified behavior therapy trainers have specialized education and expertise focused on improving a pet’s emotional well-being and reducing fear-based responses. The goal is to help your pet feel safe and secure. For more information on what is involved in behavior therapy see below.
  
  
• For optimal results, additional therapy sessions are necessary at an additional cost. The number of sessions can vary depending on many factors.

To learn more about behavior therapy click HERE

ADDITIONAL BEHVIOR THERAPY APPOINTMENTS

Most of our patients come to us with severe and often chronic behavior problems.  Realistic expectations are important.  These pets cannot receive adequate treatment or significantly improve with one visit.  Additional consultations and therapy sessions are needed for the best success.

• ADDITIONAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY SESSIONS with Liz Geisen, KPA CTP, IAABC-CDBC (60 minutes) $125.
  • Depending on the needs of your pet, and your location, therapy sessions can be done virtually via Zoom or in person at our office in Schererville, IN. For the majority of our patients, we strongly recommend virtual sessions for the best success.   
    
    
• ADDITIONAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY SESSIONS with one of our outside Behavior Therapy Consultant Network Partners. (fees vary)
  
  
  
  • Depending on our caseload, the special needs of a patient, or for in-home sessions in selected areas of Chicago and the suburbs, we may refer you to another Behavior Therapy Consultant.
    
    
  • The behavior therapy consultants in our network are very carefully selected for their education, certifications, experience, our personal knowledge of their skills and expertise, their familiarity and compliance with our methods and treatment recommendations, and our knowledge of their success with other patients.

• PROBLEM CHECK-IN EMAIL with Dr. Jokela—15 min
  
  
• • If done within 2 WEEKS of your pet’s last consultation—no charge
    
    
  • If done 3 WEEKS to 3 MONTHS after your pet’s last consultation --$40/15 min
    
    
  • Jokela will usually respond by email, usually within 7-10 days, or less if possible
    
    
    • If you feel the problem is urgent, please include the word URGENT in the tag line of your email.
      
      
  • If Dr. Jokela feels her response would best be accomplished with a direct conversation, she will recommend a phone or Zoom call. If this is necessary, you will be contacted to schedule the call.
    
    
  • If the problem is complex or there are multiple problems requiring more than a 15-minute response, the fee will be prorated in 15 minute intervals.
    
    
• 2-3 MONTH FOLLOW UP CONSULTATION with Dr. Jokela-- Virtual or In-Person, up to 60 min.-- $180.
  
  
  
  • We recommend scheduling follow-up consultations with Dr. Jokela every 2-3 months at the beginning of treatment until your pet’s behavior is stable and you are satisfied with your pet’s progress.
    
    
  • The first follow-up consultation will be scheduled at the end of the initial consultation.
    
    
  • The first follow up consultation is REQUIRED for us to continue to prescribe medication for the rest of the year.
    
    
• 4-12 MONTH FOLLOW UP CONSULTATION WITH DR. JOKELA—$250
  
  
  • These consultations can also address new problems or regression of previous problems.
    
    
  • These can be done virtually or in-person.
    
    
    • If it is close to one year since Dr. Jokela has seen your pet in-person, an in-person consultation is recommended so that we can continue to refill medications for another 12 months.
  • ANNUAL IN-PERSON FOLLOW UP CONSULTATION WITH DR. JOKELA (1 hour) --$350
    
    
    • For patients we have not seen in person for 1-2 years

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BY LAW, WE MUST SEE YOUR PET IN PERSON EVERY 12 MONTHS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE PRESCRIBING BEHAVIORAL MEDICATIONs FOR YOUR PET.

• Do you need an annual consultation?
  
  
  • If your pet is doing well, and you do not feel any changes are necessary in your pet’s behavioral medications or treatment, your pet can graduate to the care of your primary care veterinarian if they are willing and comfortable to take over the medication refills.
    
    
  • If your pet is not doing well or has not reached the level of improvement you desire, or if your primary care veterinarian is not comfortable prescribing behavioral medications, an annual consultation up is required.
    
    

• NEW CONSULTATION WITH DR. JOKELA FOR PRIOR PATIENT—2 hours, $550
  
  
• For returning patients that we have not seen in over 3 years.
• Must be scheduled in-person to reestablish the veterinary-client-patient-relationship (VCPR)