Christine E. Carpenter, Psy.D.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

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Insurance, Fees and Appointments 

Insurance

If you plan to use insurance, you may wish to contact your insurance company and verify your outpatient mental health benefits before your first appointment. You will want to know:

§  what percentage of the session fees will be covered for an out-of-network provider. I am not a provider on any insurance panels, however, most insurance companies (except HMOs) pay a percentage of out-of-network fees (usually around 50%).

§  what your deductible is and how much of it has been met. Your mental health deductible will be separate from your medical deductible and each family member will likely have a separate deductible. 

§  how many sessions are allowed per calendar year. There is often a limit to the number of times you can come to therapy. It is rare that 52 sessions are covered. If you know ahead of time how much of the year will be covered, you can still attend therapy on a weekly basis and plan to pay out-of-pocket for the remainder of the year. Another option is to attend therapy every other week. This is not always recommended but in some cases is sufficient for the work to be effective.

§  Keep in mind that your insurance company will want to know certain information about you in order to cover treatment. At the minimum this includes a diagnosis, but sometimes they will want me to provide more detailed information in writing or by phone. Though I am personally able to maintain your confidentiality, once this information is out of my hands, I no longer have control of how it is used or handled. This is something to keep in mind when deciding whether or not to use insurance for therapy. 

 

Fees

My practice is "fee-for-service" which means that I request payment at the time of each session. Once a month I will send you an account statement to submit to your insurance company and they will reimburse you directly. 

If you are unable to attend a session that has been set aside for you, I require notice 24 hours before the session time. This allows me time to readjust the various factors in my schedule including scheduling someone else who may be able to use the time. Without that notice, there will be a charge for the session. It is important to keep in mind that charges for missed sessions will not be reimbursed by insurance companies.

I do not typically charge for time spent on the phone with or on the behalf of my clients, or for letter writing should that become necessary.

Making an Appointment

 To set up an initial consultation contact me at 773.339.1361. I schedule a double session (90 minutes) for first meetings. This gives me the necessary time to gather important information and offers my clients the opportunity to determine whether they feel comfortable with me and my therapy style.

My regular session length for individuals is 45 minutes, however, that time can be extended as needed.  Several of my clients prefer a 60 to 90 minute session in order to work more intensely. The additional time allows a) for  emotional processing to occur on a deeper level and b) for a gentle return to a feeling of safety and composure before the session ends. 

Although I will see couples for 45 minutes, most couples feel a 60 minute session better meets their needs.

Groups meet for 90 minutes.

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