How do I know if therapy is right for me?
Whether you are dealing with recent life changes or long-standing mental health needs therapy can help you navigate change and challenge.  Our work together includes a safe space to express yourself, new strategies for coping with life, and support.

Just like you would seek out a specialist if you had certain medical needs my work focuses on life transitions and personal growth and development.  

Why is working with someone better than trying to handle this alone?
If you already have a lot going on in your life the thought of handling more can be unnecessarily daunting.  There is probably a lot you have successfully handled in life, but the reality is you do not have to do it all by yourself.  A little more support can make a world of difference.

We often have difficulty seeing our own strengths and weaknesses.  As your therapist I can help you navigate difficulties, cope more effectively, and make lasting changes in your life.  You will see the benefits of treatment long after it is over.  

What kind of therapy do you provide?
Just like there are multiple ways to address certain medical issues there are different perspectives on how to best work with others therapeutically.

I am trained in a number of different therapeutic modalities:
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) is a simple but efficient form of therapy that utilizes bilateral stimulation (BLS) usually in the form of eye movements, tapping or auditory tones in order to accelerate the brain’s capacity to process and heal a troubling memory, thought, feeling, or phobia. This therapy can help with both the healing of emotional pain as well as physical discomfort related to trauma, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem issues and other life events. It is used to effectively treat both upsetting past events and present life conditions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been found to be effective in treating anxiety and depression by changing unhelpful thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes. The focus is to help you improve your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) builds upon Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by adding in techniques for regulating your emotions and building mindful awareness. It teaches new skills to manage distress and communication, and decrease ineffective behaviors.  It was first developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan to treat suicidal and self-injurious behaviors, and can also be effective with treating impulsivity, anger management, addiction, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is designed to address stress, illness, and pain by calming your mind and body.  The purpose is to stay more present to your thoughts, emotions, and feelings as an outlet for coping.  

Psychodynamic and Interpersonal Therapies are designed to help you explore the full range of your emotions and understand how unresolved issues and unconscious feelings are impacting your mood.  This can be particularly effective with depression and improve relationships with family and peers.  

Family and Couples Therapy is about nurturing change and development within your interpersonal relationships.  

I use an integrative approach offering different modalities and treatments to fit your individualized needs.  This way you get the best quality of care with the most effective results.  

How can I figure out if you are the right therapist for me?
The best way to see if we are a good fit to work together is to try it out!  I encourage you to set up a free phone consultation where we can speak one-on-one about the issues you would like to address in treatment.

What can I expect?
We will talk and share to the level of your comfort. Whether we are working together short or long-term we will focus each session on what is going on in your life and learning the tools, perspectives, and strategies to maximize your well-being.  If it is of interest to you we can also practice tools such as meditation and mindfulness, which can be used in your everyday life. Each session will be personalized to your needs.  

What kind of training and qualifications do you have?
I have my Master’s Degree in Social Work from Columbia University. Given my years of training and experience, I am licensed by the State of New York to work independently as a Psychotherapist.

I am a certified Mindfulness and Meditation Instructor from the Mclean Meditation Institute located in Sedona, Arizona. This involved completing 200 hours of training in the theory, science, teaching and practice of mindfulness and meditation.

After obtaining my Master’s Degree I received specialized training in working with couples and families from the Ackerman Institute.  I also completed intensive training by Behavioral Tech, LLC for a specialization in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.  

You can learn more about my qualifications here.  

Are our sessions private and confidential?
Our personal sessions are private.  You are also welcome to bring in your partner, family members, or children if you would like help working through something together.

In general, what occurs within the sessions is confidential.  I will not disclose information without your written permission.

There are some legal limits on confidentiality which occur when there is suspected child or elder abuse.  The same is true if a client threatens to harm him or herself or someone else.  In that case I may have to notify the police or other authorities immediately.  

How does it work with insurance?
I am an out-of-network treatment provider. You will pay me directly for sessions at the time we meet.

If you have out-of-network benefits then I will give you a formal receipt that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.  

I recommend that you call your health insurance company and ask about your psychotherapy benefits, and if you can work with an out-of-network provider. Find out specifically your coverage per session (it may be a percentage) and how many sessions you have available to you.  You may also want to check your deductible, and see if approval is required first from your primary care physician.