Frequently Asked Questions

When do you see clients?

My office hours are Mondays 8 am -4 pm, Tuesdays 8 am-2 pm for biweekly clients, and Fridays 12-4 pm for weekly clients or initial consultations. I take crisis calls for ongoing clients Monday-Friday in the late afternoons/early evenings (4-6 pm). I do not take crisis calls on weekends or after 6 pm on week days. During those times, I encourage clients to call a mental health crisis line, 988, or proceed to nearest emergency room. If that happens, I do my best to see emergency clients on the following Monday or Tuesday.

Do you accept insurance?

I am not “in network” with any insurance companies. However, I am happy to provide superbills for you to submit to your insurance company if you have out-of-network benefits for mental health. A superbill is a receipt from me that indicates the date and type of service, and diagnostic and service codes. This is the information your insurance companies need to process your out-of-network claim. I am happy to help you to navigate that process. With out-of-network benefits, you will pay my fee at the time of service and my payment service automatically sends you the superbill. How much your insurance will reimburse you for depends on the company and type of insurance you have. There are pros and cons to using your insurance for psychotherapy and I am happy to discuss that with you during our initial consultation.

What is my investment?

I charge $375.00 for a 50-minute therapy or parent coaching session. The intake (our first official session), is a 90-minute process, and the fee for that initial session is 450.00. Additional services and fee structure:

• One-time consultations (90 minutes) $450.00. This includes a written summary and action plan. Superbills can’t be provided for this service.

• Crisis calls for ongoing clients $150.00 per 30 minutes. Superbill is provided.

• Brief, problem-focused therapy $1900.00 for 6 45-minute sessions. Superbill is provided.

Please note: Superbills cannot be provided unless I determine that therapy is a medical necessity. This means, that you have symptoms that fit into a diagnosis code.

I require a 48-hour notice for cancellation. Late cancellations incur the same cost as a 50-minute session. I do this to insure continuity of care and the ability to hold a consistent weekly slot open for you. If you cancel within 24 hours and can reschedule with me in the same week (I do make up sessions on Friday afternoons), a cancellation fee will not be incurred. I grant ongoing clients one free last-minute cancellation per year.

What happens in the free 20-minute consultation?

It’s very helpful if you read my entire website carefully before we talk. You might have a clear idea of what service(s) you want and I’ll answer the questions you have. I’ll ask you enough questions to understand what you need, and you’ll get a feel for whether or not you could envision working with me. I want to hear your story and let you know what aspects of my work I think you would benefit from. At the end of the call, we’ll decide together if we want to schedule a full session and get started on our work. It could be that I might suggest that a different type of therapist would be a better fit for you. In this case, I will do what I can to assist you in finding someone who might be a better fit. The goal is for you to find a therapist quickly without having to repeat your story over and over. That is an exhausting experience that I don’t want for you.

How often will the sessions be?

This depends upon the treatment plan or plan of attack that we develop. After the first two intake sessions, I’ll have ideas about how long our work will take. My model of service starts with 12 weekly, consecutive sessions in order to do the diagnostic work and set up and implement a solid treatment plan. After 12 weeks, you and I will collaborate on a decision about treatment frequency. We will be reviewing goal progress at every session. For consultations, my goal is to give you the best help I can give you in as short a time as possible. That holds true for brief, problem-focused treatment as well. For extended treatment, we will review our treatment plans thoroughly every 3 months or more often.

What if you decide that I am not an appropriate candidate for teletherapy?

Research shows that teletherapy can be just as successful as in-person therapy. That doesn’t mean it’s the best treatment modality for everyone. Our first teletherapy session will be focused in part on whether or not teletherapy is likely to be successful. If at any time during treatment or initial consult you or I decide that teletherapy isn’t working well, I will help you find someone who can see you in person in your area.

What happens if video or audio cuts out during therapy?

In the event that there are technical problems on either end, we will disconnect the video call and I will call you on a phone number you designate. We will problem-solve from there.

How do I schedule and cancel appointments?

You can call me at (508) 667-9516 or email me at kpcarlsonphd@gmail to schedule the free consultation. I typically return email and phone calls within 24 hours.

PLEASE NOTE: If you or your child are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, it is important to call 911 and proceed to your nearest emergency room before calling me.