Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the right therapist for my child? What type of therapy does my child need? How much does therapy cost? These are some of the most frequently asked questions parents search when looking for child counseling in Indianapolis. Whether you’re just beginning your search or feeling lost in the process, we’re here to make it easier. We understand that finding the right care for your child can be confusing, and we want to support you every step of the way.

Below, you’ll find expert guidance on how to choose the right therapist, what to expect in sessions, and how therapy can support your child’s emotional well-being. Still have questions? We’re happy to help—reach out to us anytime!

To learn more about the therapy techniques we use, click here.

Payment Frequently Asked Questions

Do you take insurance?

YES! All of our fully licensed therapists take insurance. We accept Anthem BCBS, Aetna, Caresource Marketplace, IU Health, Lyra, and United Healthcare/Optum. Associate licensed therapists can take Anthem and Aetna.

Unfortunately, we do not take any form of Medicaid, including HIP, HHW, or traditional. We do not take Cigna, Community/Prohealth, or Tricare.

If I have insurance, how will I know what I will be paying?

Indy Child Therapist will verify your benefits prior to your appointment. However, this is a courtesy and may not be 100% accurate. Unlike a doctor’s office that may have thousands of codes, we have about 5 that we use the most and know the contract rates for these. We will provide you with an estimated intake and session cost once you provide us with your insurance information. You can also ask us this on the phone.

However, you are responsible for verifying that your therapist is in network with your insurance and that mental health services are covered. Please be prepared to pay your co-pay, co-insurance, or deductible at the first and each subsequent visit.

What if we don't have insurance or don't want to use it?

You are always welcome to self pay. Our rates below do not reflect our contract rates with insurance. Our self pay rates for associate licensed and student therapists are below what you would pay with a deductible using insurance. We do not offer a sliding fee scale, but do have 2 reduced fee therapy offerings per therapist.

What are you self pay rates?

Our current intake rates are:

$180/intake, licensed therapist
$120/intake, associate licensed therapist
$75/intake, student therapist

Our current session rates are:

$160/session, licensed therapist
$100/session, associate licensed therapist
$50/session, student therapist

What forms of payment do you accept?

We highly prefer credit card, but will take cash or check. You must provide payment at time of service.

Can you split payments if we have a custody arrangment?

We can store as many credit cards on file as you wish and can alternate payments between those cards. You are also welcome to go online and split payments between cards as needed. However, the person who signs the child up for therapy is responsible for ensuring payments are received.

Services Related Questions

Do you do psychological testing?

No. We do not currently have any psychologists on staff to do testing, but do maintain relationships with several that we can reccomend as needed.

We do, however, complete a mental health assessment based on you and your child’s feedback to help us understand what is going on. As part of this, we assess for symptoms of mental health issues such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, and more. We utilize this information to develop an individualizzed treatment plan just for your child.

Do you provide recommendations in court regarding visitation & custody?

NO, as none of our therapists have training as a parenting time coordinator, mediator, visitation evaluation, etc.

Indy Child Therapist, LLC and its employees do not make recommendations as to parenting time, custody, or visitation arrangements. This is outside of the scope of our practice and training.

Furthermore, we view our role as therapists as a support to the child(ren) in accomplishing the goals identified in the treatment plan. This requires a therapeutic alliance in which the child(ren) feels safe to share openly and honestly with their therapist and without fear their statements might be used against their parent(s) or themselves in the future. We strongly feel that any potential request to testify in court or provide documentation in regards to content of sessions mars the therapeutic alliance and does not allow for the open and honest communication that is necessary for good clinical care. We request that parents understand and respect this assumption prior to engaging us in services. If parents may wish to utilize content of therapy in the course of legal proceedings, we would ask the parents to consider if we are the best fit for their family.

What about if my child needs or uses medication?

We do not have a psychiatrist or nurse practictioner on staff at this time and therefore cannot prescribe medication.

However, we do have relationships with several peditricians and psychiatrists that we can recommend as needed. We also request a release of information to any medical provider working with your child. This ensures we can provide them with any information they need so your child gets the best and most holistic care!

Therapy Process Frequently Asked Questions

What happens after we schedule our 1st session?

Once you schedule your appointment, you’ll receive an email with a link to our secure client portal. Simply create an account and complete the necessary paperwork online at your convenience.

Our comprehensive intake forms allow you to share important details about your child’s history and current challenges. This helps our therapists get to know your child better before the first session, ensuring a more focused and productive experience.

While the paperwork may take a little longer than you’re used to (about 20-30 minutes), it’s designed to gather valuable information that will ultimately save time and help us provide the best possible care for your child.

Is there anything else we need to do before the 1st appointment?

Tell your child you are taking them and why. It is not fun for any of us for a child to be surprised by this upon entering the office.
FILL OUT ALL PAPERWORK in the client portal. You must complete all paperwork 48 hours prior to the appointment to give your therapist time to review it. We will reschedule your appointment if paperwork is not complete.
Talk with the other parent involved to see what insights, concerns, or information they would like relayed.
Write down any specific questions or concerns that you have.
Gather and bring the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any medical doctors, school, teachers, etc., that you may want your therapist to correspond with.
Make copies of any testing or evaluations done by a doctor, therapist, school, or other entity you wish the therapist to review, and bring them with you to the intake appointment.

What should we bring to the 1st appointment?

Please bring the following with you to the first appointment:

Legal guardian and child
- Any custody or legal paperwork if both biological parents are not married
State ID/Driver’s License
Insurance Card
Names, addresses, and phone numbers of anyone you will want your therapist to correspond with
Any testing or evaluations that have been completed on the child

Depending on your appointment time and child, you may also wish to bring a snack and drink with you. We ask that no electronics be used by the child (or parent) during the intake or subsequent appointments.

How often will we see our therapist?

Our mission is to ensure excellent and effective client care. To ensure this, we carefully manage our caseloads, allowing our therapists to dedicate the time and attention each client deserves, meaning, every client can be seen regularly and in a timely manner. You won’t have an intake and then wait weeks to be seen and it wont be a month inbetween appointments!

Your child’s therapy plan will be customized to their unique needs, with sessions ranging from weekly to monthly depending on their individual goals. This is discussed during your dedicted treatment planning session.

What to Expect:

Initial sessions: We typically start with weekly sessions to build a strong rapport and establish consistency.
Regular check-ins: We schedule regular check-in appointments with families to review progress, make adjustments, and ensure we’re on the right track.
Parent involvement: We value your partnership and encourage parents to meet with their child’s therapist monthly to stay informed and actively participate in the treatment process. During these meetings, we provide support and training to empower you to effectively support your child’s growth at home.

This collaborative approach allows us to provide the most effective and personalized care for your child.

How long will we be in therapy?

We understand that starting therapy is a significant commitment. That’s why we’ve designed a comprehensive process to ensure your child receives the most effective and personalized care possible.

Here’s what you can expect:

In-depth intake: Your child’s journey begins with a dedicated one-hour intake session, allowing us to thoroughly understand their unique history and needs.
Specialized treatment planning: Following the intake, we conduct a separate, focused session dedicated to collaboratively crafting a treatment plan that addresses your child’s specific goals and challenges.
Individualized sessions: Ongoing therapy sessions are typically 45-55 minutes long, providing ample time for your child to explore their issues, develop coping skills, and make progress towards their goals.
Flexible duration: The overall duration of therapy varies depending on your child’s individual needs and progress. We work collaboratively with you to determine the appropriate frequency and intensity of sessions, ensuring they receive the support they need for as long as they need it. However to give you an idea:
- ADHD: 1+ years
- Anxiety: 6-12 months
- Depression: 9-12 months
- OCD: 6-12 months
These are general ranges, and individual treatment duration may vary.

Our Commitment to Your Child’s Success:

We believe in empowering your child to achieve lasting change. That’s why we offer:

Gradual transition: As your child progresses, we gradually reduce the frequency of sessions to ensure they can maintain their gains independently.
Once a client, always part of our family: We’re committed to your child’s long-term well-being. Even after successful completion of therapy, they’re always welcome to return for booster sessions or additional support. And if we happen to have a waitlist, previous clients are always given priority access!

What happens in a typical therapy session?

While each session is tailored to your child’s unique needs, here’s a general overview of what you can expect:

Dedicated Treatment Planning: After the initial intake, we dedicate a separate session to collaboratively develop a personalized treatment plan with you and your child, ensuring we’re addressing their specific goals and challenges.
Individualized Attention: Initial sessions typically focus on fostering strong rapport between your child and their therapist. Subsequent sessions may be one-on-one with the child, but parents are welcome to join if needed. (Clients who are doing ERP for OCD will have a different process with more parent involvement in sessions.)
Parent Partnership: We value your involvement and encourage open communication. We typically schedule parent check-ins every 3-4 sessions to discuss progress, address concerns, and ensure everyone is on the same page. You can also request to meet with the therapist at any time.
Whole-Family Approach: We believe in treating the whole family system, not just the child. Be prepared to actively participate in the therapeutic process alongside your child.
Ongoing Support: We encourage you to share any concerns or updates with your therapist between sessions via the client portal, email, or phone.
“You-Work” Assignments: To maximize progress, your therapist may provide activities or exercises for you and your child to work on between sessions. This reinforces skills learned in therapy and promotes lasting change.

Coming and talking once a week is not the cure. In order to change or improve things, you will need to do some work outside of the therapy office.

What times will our appointments be?

We understand that finding time for therapy can be challenging. That’s why we offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate your family’s busy lifestyle.

Here’s what you need to know about scheduling your child’s intake appointment:

Daytime and After-School Availability: Our Client Care Manager will work with you to find an appointment time that fits your schedule, whether it’s during the day, after school, or on weekends (if available).
Prioritizing Your Convenience: We understand that evenings and weekends are often the most convenient times for families. While we do our best to accommodate these requests, these appointments tend to fill up quickly.
Advanced Scheduling & Dedicated Times: To ensure your child receives consistent care, we allow you to schedule appointments up to 60 days in advance. We also allow families to “reserve” ongoing session time if they wish. This helps you secure your preferred time slots and maintain momentum in your child’s therapy journey.

Our Client Care Manager is dedicated to making the scheduling process as smooth and stress-free as possible. Contact us today to explore available appointment times and take the first step towards supporting your child’s well-being.

I don't really want my child to miss school...

We understand the importance of school, but we also know that a child struggling with their mental health can’t fully engage in learning. If your child is experiencing anxiety, depression, or behavioral challenges that disrupt their ability to attend, focus, or thrive in school, therapy can be a crucial support. By addressing mental health concerns, therapy can improve your child’s focus, concentration, and overall academic performance.

Many schools recognize the value of mental health services and are supportive of students taking time for therapy, similar to a doctor’s appointment. We’re committed to collaborating with schools to ensure minimal disruption to your child’s education. Here’s how we can work together:

Coordination with School Schedules: We can work around your child’s specific class schedule, potentially scheduling sessions during less critical subjects or during times like recess or lunch.
Collaboration with School Staff: With your consent, we can communicate with school counselors or teachers to coordinate support and ensure a smooth transition back to the classroom.
Documentation for Schools: We can provide documentation for schools, if needed, to excuse absences for therapy appointments.

Investing in Your Child’s Future:

Taking your child out of school for therapy may seem disruptive in the short term, but it’s an investment in their long-term well-being and academic success. By addressing their mental health needs, you’re empowering them to thrive in all areas of their life.

Ready to Prioritize Your Child’s Mental Health?

What does our office look like?

Watch this short video for a tour of our office! We want our office to invoke a homey feeling where kids don’t feel like they are going to a doctor’s office, but rather have and see some of the same things they might in their own home, such as comfy couches, fuzzy blankets, Squishmallows, and Leggos!

Have More Questions?

Email us anytime

Or call — 317-683-0031