Frances  Carpenter
Vetted

Frances Carpenter

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, LICSW Specialties Insurance & Fees Locations
Rhode Island Accepting Online
Providence Waitlist In-person

If you worked with me during academic year ‘22-‘23 and wish to resume therapy in ‘23-‘24 please call or text me. You will be able to resume therapy regardless of availability posted here.

Updated January 23, 2024

Specialties & Expertise

  • College, International and Graduate student Mental Health
  • LGBTQ and gender identity issues
  • Identity issues
  • Family of origin issues
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Life transitions
  • Existential challenges / crises
  • Relationship challenges

Professional statement

Frances Carpenter is a psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of young adults, college students, graduate students, and adults. Her focus areas include existential concerns, life transitions, anxiety, depression, International Student wellness, and LGBTQ and gender identity topics.

Frances is passionate about working with young adults, and sees many students from Brown University and other surrounding universities, as well as individuals in the LGBTQ community. She is also experienced in issues of identity related to family of origin and cultural heritage.

Frances has been in private practice for over 20 years. She received her Masters of Social Work from Smith College and her BA from Brown University, and completed a two-year post-graduate fellowship in student mental health at Yale University before starting her private practice.


Message to clients

My style is interactive and pragmatic, yet also reflective and insight oriented. I help people approach life transitions in hopeful, creative and fulfilling ways. I specialize in the identity work of young adulthood and work with many undergraduates, graduates and international students. I help people develop more useful, creative and compassionate ways of understanding and working with themselves. My clients often tell me that the therapy has helped them feel much better, more hopeful and more meaningfully engaged in their lives.


Specialties

College, International and Graduate student Mental Health - Specialized strategies for issues of young adulthood, including school and career stressors, support around healthy relationships, existential concerns, cultural transition and anxiety and/or depression

LGBTQ and gender identity issues - Includes coming out, relating to others, identifying and communicating needs, relationships, and family issues

Identity issues - Exploring topics of racial, cultural, and ethnic background as it relates to one’s family origins and personal identity

Family of origin issues - Reflection on how family dynamics and values affect present day coping strategies and learning new tools to process stressors; e.g. parental divorce; identifying new strategies to process and/or express emotions that may differ from one's family norm

Anxiety - Generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks

Depression - Sleep and energy disruption, overall mood disturbance, inability to enjoy yourself, and difficulty being motivated, amongst many other symptoms

Life transitions - Adjusting to college, new relationships, career transitions and direction; mid-life existential, relationship, and career challenges; losing one’s drive or burn out; learning self-care

Existential challenges / crises - Questioning purpose, spirituality, existence; finding one’s path and voice, especially when it differs from society's expectations

Relationship challenges - Breakups, friendships, dating; feeling unsatisfied in your partnership; communication challenges; addressing issues of power and voice; contemplation of separation; questioning one’s place in the relationship




Clientele

  • Adults (24+)
  • Young adults (18-24)

Insurance

  • Brown University Student Health Insurance (United Healthcare)

Out-of-pocket fees

  • Individual sessions: $195 (55min)
  • Initial session: $245 (55min)
  • Family sessions: $225 (55min)

Additional session information

Payment options
  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card
  • Venmo
  • Zelle
Session frequency

Frequency of sessions this provider offers to see clients once you are an established client.

  • Weekly
  • Every other week
  • Multiple times a week
  • As needed
Therapist's note

I accept the Brown University Student Insurance - UHCSR.

I also accept direct payment at the full fee - please see fees.

Family sessions are at my client’s request with client present.


Location(s)

Providence practice
293 South Main Street, 2nd Floor, Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Accepting new clients with a 2 - 3 week wait in-person
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 10am-2pm
  • Tue 7am-2pm
  • Wed 7am-2pm
  • Thu 7am-2pm
  • Fri Closed
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Online Sessions (Rhode Island)
Accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 10am-2pm
  • Tue 7am-2pm
  • Wed 7am-2pm
  • Thu 7am-2pm
  • Fri Closed
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Work and Education

Years of Experience: 34 years

Private Practice, Psychotherapist , 1996 - Present

Yale University, Post Graduate Fellowship in Student Mental Health, 1996
Smith College , MSW, 1990
Brown University , BA, 1984


Licensure

Rhode Island: ISW01322


Languages

English


Professional endorsements

"I can definitely recommend Frances Carpenter, LICSW, who sees many Brown students and whose work I know very well. She is wonderful and I highly recommend her."

- Stephanie Hartselle, MD • June 2016

Client testimonials

"I saw Frances for panic attacks/social anxiety that led to social issues and problems with academics (panic during exams). She is a very kind and thoughtful person. I never had any question that she was on my side. She also handled my personality quirks (like a tendency to hyper-intellectualize things that drives many people crazy) very well — she is a very peaceful and caring person to see for talk therapy."
- Brown University alum '11 • June 2015