I've been a licensed psychologist for nearly twenty-five years, working in group private practice and hospital settings. In 1999 I became licensed in and moved to the state of New Hampshire (NH License #891).  Prior to that I worked in Massachusetts and Connecticut.  I work with adults, elders, adolescents and children with a broad range of clinical issues. These include, but are not limited to:

• anxiety disorders, mood disorders (depression, bipolar)
• stress management (recent and chronic), adjustment disorders, behavior problems
• life transitions, personal growth
• psychological evaluation; e.g., of learning disorders, ADHD, and other psychiatric concerns
• mindfulness, relaxation, coping skills
• codependency and ACOA issues
• relationship issues, including couples, family, or parenting concerns
• workplace issues
• grief/loss
• acute and chronic health issues

Treatment might include individual, couples, or family therapy.  My style of treatment is respectful, direct, interactive, encouraging, and sometimes humorous.  Psychologists constantly update their knowledge as to what techniques and procedures will provide the best possible interventions or treatments for those they counsel.  I provide treatment that is appropriate for the individual’s problems and so might ask to communicate with their physician.  All are welcome to call to discuss an appointment.
If needed, I am able to administer a full-range of psychological evaluation and testing for children, teens, adults and the elderly for such issues as: emotional disorders… learning disabilities…personality styles… intelligence levels…special education needs (elementary through college), dementia, etc.

• National Register Health Service Provider in Psychology

• NH and MA Licensed Psychologist

• PhD, M.S., Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1986, 1983
  

• Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Massachusetts, 1980
  

• Internship, University of MA Mental Health Division, 1985
  

• Pre-license residency, Division of Children and Youth Services, St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, Ogdensburg, NY

The following is information about the office; feel free to discuss any thing that you might not understand.  Also, everyone seen for an appointment must agree to abide by the terms below during our professional relationship.

Office Hours:
Office hours are by appointment only.   I generally do not have office hours on weekends, holidays or after 5 p.m. on most weekdays.  Although I will try to stay on time for your appointment, sometimes emergencies or other situations come up and might delay your appointment.  In order to speak with me, call (603) 536-5223 or e-mail me at lachapellephd@hotmail.com.  In the event that I am not available to speak to you, please leave a telephone number where you can be reached, including a number where you will be after 5:00 p.m. in case I cannot return your call earlier. 

Emergencies:
If you have a psychological emergency leave a message at the main number and then call my pager (603) 252-2829 and leave a message.  If I do not call back within a few minutes call the pager again.  In the event of a life threatening emergency, call or go to your local hospital emergency room for assistance.  In the event that I am out of town or am unavailable, I will have another mental health professional on call for me, who will respond to your emergency call.

Appointments and Fees:
The first appointment (the psychodiagnostic interview) involves talking with you, review of written information, note taking, possible contact with your medical doctor or other professionals, and creation of your confidential file.  If you don’t have insurance, the charge for the first and subsequent appointments is to be discussed with Dr. Lachapelle.  Appointments will be made to support your best progress and  the treatment plan.  All appointments are approximately 45-50 minutes of face-to-face contact time and 10-15 minutes for record keeping.   If you cannot attend or want to cancel an appointment, please give 24 hours notice so that that time may be offered to someone else.  You will be expected to pay a $40.00 fee for appointments that are not cancelled with 24 hours notice unless we both agree that you were unable to cancel or attend due to circumstances beyond your control.  Also, a pattern of missed appointments may result in discontinuation of treatment. 

Telephone calls in excess of 15 minutes will be billed: a 15-30 minute call is $50.00, 30-45 minute call is $75.00 and a 45-60 minute call is $100.00.  Insurance does not cover telephone contacts.  If for active clients Dr. Lachapelle feels that occasional video calls are appropriate for the treatment plan, these may be scheduled and are billed at $30.00 for every fifteen minute block. 

Other services authorized by you, such as attendance at meetings with other professionals, or letter writing, are also billed at this rate.  Such services may not be covered by your insurance.  Psychological testing costs vary and will be discussed with you as needed.  Most insurance companies cover little or no psychological testing.  If you become involved in legal proceedings that require my participation, you will be expected to pay for my professional time, travel time, and expenses.  I charge $150.00 per hour for preparation and attendance at any legal proceeding.

I do accept most insurance and will file forms with your insurance company.  You will be responsible for the deductibles, co-pays, and balances not covered by your insurance carrier.  At each session you are expected to pay all but what your insurance covers.  If you do not have your payment at the time of a session, you will be asked to pay what you owe within a week. Payments may be made by cash, check, credit card, or insurance debit card.

For individuals with significant financial circumstances who have a need for a special payment plan, I will consider a plan of full payment over an extended time period.   However, if I have not received a payment from you in over 90 days, I have the option of using legal means to secure payment.  If this involves hiring a collection agency, the only information usually released is the patient’s/guardian’s name, address and telephone number, the type of service provided and the amount due.

Insurances I accept include: Aetna, APS Healthcare and EAP, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, CBA, Cigna, Com Psych, Coventry Health Care, First Health, Division for Children, Youth and Families, Harvard Pilgrim, Integrated Behavioral Health, Lifesynch (Humana), Magellan, Matthew Thornton Health Plan Network, Medicaid, Medicare, MKS Performance Solutions, MMC, Multiplan,  Pacificare, State of NH DHHS, Teamster’s Behavioral Health, Tricare, and United Behavioral Health, Value Options, Wellpoint, Wellsprings EAP, and other insurances.

Confidentiality: 
In general, law protects the privacy of all communications between a patient and a psychologist, and I can only release information about our work to others with your written permission.  But there are a few exceptions.

1.  In most legal proceedings, you have the right to prevent me from providing any information about your treatment.  In some proceedings involving child custody and those in which your emotional condition is an important issue, a judge may order my testimony if he/she determines that the issues demand it.

2.  There are some situations in which I am legally obligated to take action to protect others from harm, even if I have to reveal some information about a patient’s treatment.  For example, if I believe that a child, elderly person, or disabled person is being abused, I must file a report with the appropriate state agency.

3.  If I believe that a patient is threatening serious bodily harm to another, I am required to take protective actions.  These actions may include notifying the potential victim, contacting the police, or seeking hospitalization for the patient.  If the patient threatens to harm himself/herself, I may be obligated to seek hospitalization for her/him or to contact family members or others who can help provide protection.

4.  I may occasionally find it helpful to consult other professionals about a case.  During a consultation, I make every effort to avoid revealing the identity of my patient.  The consultant is also legally bound to keep the information confidential.  If you don’t object, I will not tell you about these consultations unless I feel that it is important to our work together.

5. Once you have authorized us to release information (such as to your insurance company or another professional) and information has been released, we no longer have control of, or responsibility for, how the reviewing party uses that information. 

6. With limited exceptions, you have the right to read, amend and/or have copies of your treatment record.  In limited circumstances, your request may be denied if it is determined, for example, to be in the patient’s best interest.  A fee would be charged for making a copy of a treatment record in order cover expenses of time and materials.  The fee would be 50 cents per page, and $40.00 per hour, plus any postage.

7. You have the right to receive a list of individuals/agencies to whom I have disclosed information from your file (this would have always occurred with your written consent).  If you request this list more than once per year, I may charge you for the time and materials involved.