Services

Psychotherapy Services for Adults and Children

Location

Since lockdown in NYS in March 2020, I am conducting the majority of sessions by telephone or zoom. For those who prefer to meet in person, I have office hours in-person on Thursdays.

My office is at 71 West 23th Street, 14th Floor. The office is wheelchair accessible and can be reached by the #6 train to East 23rd Street or the #1 train to West 23th Street.

The Initial Consultation

I believe that a "good fit" between therapist and client is important. I invite you to come in for an initial consultation to give you a sense of how I work, and to see if you feel comfortable that I could help you in some important way. Consultations can also be conducted on zoom.

Several important things happen in the initial consultation. I will ask you to tell me about your current concerns and to give me some background. I will then give you feedback on your concerns, and provide you with a sense of how we might work together on them. If we agree to work together, we can schedule our first session. If you may need to take some time to weigh your alternatives, we will wait and see.

If I think you would be better served by another professional with a different approach, I will give you an appropriate referral to a good person, hopefully one whom I know well who can serve you well.

I offer the initial consultation for 30 minutes in person or on zoom, and there is no fee.

Length of Therapy

Sessions are 45 minutes long. Frequency of sessions can vary from one to multiple times per week as needed. Most people meet weekly until the major part of the work is done, and after that we may meet less frequently.

Depending on your goals in therapy, the length of treatment may be short-term or longer. Each client and I jointly define our project and its timeline, being aware that we are both devoting valuable time, energy and resources to our work together.

Most persons suffering powerful anxiety or depression will feel some genuine relief in a few months of weekly sessions, and for some this is enough. But addressing the underlying causes of the painful symptoms could take longer – as much as a year or two.

Persons caught in difficult relationship problems, without the added difficulty of serious feelings of anxiety or depression, may find answers in a few months. We may then conclude therapy at that point, or they may continue in therapy for support in putting their new insights into practice.

Use of Psychiatric Medications

Psychotherapy alone is highly effective in reaching the treatment goals for most of my patients. There are times, however, when a combination of medication and psychotherapy is most effective, especially when symptoms of panic or depression have been very acute or long-standing.

If you would like to consider taking medication, I will evaluate your situation and make a referral to one of the psychiatrists I regularly work with. Or you may wish to continued working with your own psychiatrist. If you are currently taking medication and feel that it is working for you, I can coordinate our treatment efforts with your psychiatrist if you wish.

Fees and Insurance Reimbursement

My fee is $240 per session, but I am able to be flexible depending on income. I offer 6 regular hours per week at a significantly lower fee for those with financial need.

Services with me will be reimbursed by all insurance policies that cover out-of-network services. I will give you a monthly statement so that you may claim reimbursement from your plan.