FAQ
What can I expect in the first session?
The first session, or initial consultation is a 50 minute appointment. We will talk about what brings you to therapy and we will ask a set of routine questions to get a comprehensive sense of you, your situation, and possible treatment goals. Then we may share preliminary impressions of how we will approach your concerns in therapy. If you have been in therapy before, we like to ask about what you found useful and what you did not.
This is an opportunity to ask questions - especially if this is your first time in therapy. After our initial consultation period (generally 1-3 sessions), you and the clinician will mutually agree to proceed with treatment that can best support you. Subsequently, we will meet at least once per week. Individual Therapy is provided in 45-minute sessions. Couples Sessions are 60 minutes long.
Who is your typical patient?
We work with a broad range of teens and adults who are managing school, demanding careers, and life, while also experiencing anxiety and mood dysregulation or relationship issues. We also specialize in parenting, pregnancy, postpartum, infertility, and perinatal loss. Many people we work with seek clarity in their relationships and are experiencing relationship anxiety. Please see individual clinician specialties for more information.
Can you explain what the terms Psychodynamic, CBT, Mindfulness, etc. mean?
Great question! These are different styles and theories of therapeutic treatment that our clinicians have expertise in using with patients.
Psychodynamic therapy is an insight-based approach that focuses on unconscious processes that manifest in our behavior and thoughts - over time we can become aware of these processes and create changes or deeper meaning from developing self-awareness. Psychodynamic therapy is a great tool for understanding or growing from past events and improving relationships (more on Psychodynamic therapy).
CBT, or Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, is a present-oriented therapy focused on the interaction between our thoughts, feelings, and actions. CBT is helpful in learning to challenge our reactions to events, set goals, and overcome obstacles (more on CBT).
Mindfulness-based therapy incorporates breathwork, meditation, and awareness of present-moment thoughts and sensations. Mindfulness is a powerful tool for developing resilience to big emotions and anxiety (more about mindfulness-based therapies).
Somatic therapy utilizes mind-body techniques to engage the connection between the two and deepen the healing of past traumas and relieve physical pains in the body holistically. Somatic therapy engages with and focuses on calming the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) which can become overreactive and in a state of hyper-arousal from past traumas (more on Somatic therapy).
Do you accept insurance?
Similar to most private practices in New York, we are out of network providers. There are many reasons our practice does not work directly with insurance. First, we aim to provide our therapists with an equitable rate of compensation, and by being out of network we do not have to negotiate with insurance companies who keep rates unfairly low and we determine the course of therapy instead of nameless and faceless auditors in the insurance company. As out-of-network providers, we can provide Superbills for you to submit to insurance for reimbursement. As a courtesy to you, please try out our Nirvana reimbursement calculator on this page to determine your potential reimbursement rates! Many patients receive reimbursement of 60-80% of fees depending on their plan. Reimbursify is an app that has been very helpful in making the reimbursement process easier for patients.
Most sessions use the CPT codes: 90834, 90837, 90847
what are the fees?
During your phone consultation, we will discuss the fees and your financial needs. If you cannot afford our fees or need help finding another provider we will be happy to help you. Fees reflect the market rate for NYC and are commensurate with our psychologist’s doctoral level training and specializations. Please check your potential reimbursement with the Nirvana reimbursement widget on this page.
We make every effort to accommodate sliding scale spots, pending availability. We accept major credit cards, Zelle and FSA/HSA cards. Payment is due upon service at each session. We can provide a detailed superbill at the end of each month that you may submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
What is your CANCELLATION POLICY?
We ask for 48-hours notice for cancellations, otherwise you are responsible for the cost of your session. There is no charge if you cancel with less than 48-hours notice and we are able to reschedule your session for the same week. Please note that insurance companies generally do not reimburse you for missed session fees.
Where are you located?
In-person sessions for individuals and couples are offered at our office in 41 Union Square West, New York, NY.
Telehealth sessions for individual and couples are available to residents of NY, FL and NH.
Any other questions? Please contact us.
If you have other questions or would like to get a better sense of our clinicians, we offer a free 15-minute initial consultation phone call where we can briefly discuss your needs, please be in a quiet place for this brief session.