Most people start therapy with mixed feelings about making any changes. At the same time, people usually also start therapy because they realize something about their usual approach isn’t working as well as it used to. The therapy process can help clarify which aspect of their approach is less effective than it used to be and then can help support any changes someone decides to make. Whether or not to make a change to their outlook or behavior is however always up to that person.

Whatever the treatment modality, they all share the common principle that people’s choices and actions are shaped by beliefs that are often taken for granted or not closely examined. A central function of therapy is to help people become more aware of these beliefs and then help them assess whether these beliefs remain true to them and still align with their current goals. Over time, this process of self-reflection fosters the conditions for more deliberate and effective decision-making.

Insight and practical approaches are integrated over the course of the therapy. Greater understanding of the beliefs and behaviors that contribute to a difficulty often clarifies where more targeted, skills-based interventions may be useful.

For example, a pattern of chronic procrastination at work may be linked to underlying self-critical judgments about competence, e.g.: a person’s fear that giving a project an all-out effort will make it clear that they are fraud. As these self-critical judgments (I’m a fraud) and the ineffective coping responses (procrastination) become clearer, the work in therapy may integrate more practical strategies to address these self-critical judgments and to develop more effective coping mechanisms.

A couple may have the same argument repeatedly because their disagreement is really about an underlying more sensitive issue that is difficult for the couple to discuss openly and directly. In such cases, the intensity of the couple’s argument is driven by this unaddressed underlying issue.

In therapy, these patterns of communication often emerge in real time and there is then the opportunity for the couple to examine them more closely with the therapist’s facilitation. This process can help partners identify the underlying issue that is fueling their recurring argument so they can begin to communicate and address that issue more directly and openly.

Improved communication is in itself helpful to the couple but it is often a means to the ends of increased understanding and appreciation of one’s partner and a more connected and secure relationship. Therapist can help couples make progress in their communications as well as improve the quality of their relationship.

My fees for therapy are $325 per 45-minute individual session and $400 per 60-minute couples’ session. The fee for the initial 60-minute consultation is $400.

The two screenings for Discernment Counseling are free of charge. Discernment Counseling includes a maximum of 5 counseling sessions. The first session is 2 hours, subsequent sessions are 1.5 to 2 hours, and my fee for each session is $800.

I am an out-of-network provider. If your plan includes out-of-network benefits, I can submit electronic claims on your behalf with your consent. After your deductible is met, many plans reimburse a portion of the fee, often in the range of 60–75%.

Yes, therapy is confidential. Information can only be shared with your written consent, except in specific emergency situations: if there is imminent risk of harm to yourself or others or if there is suspected child or elder abuse.

If you use out-of-network insurance benefits, certain details like diagnosis and billing codes are submitted to the insurance company for reimbursement purposes.

That depends largely on your therapy goals. On average, therapy lasts 6 months to 2 years.

A psychologist holds a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) and is licensed to practice psychology. Psychologists focus on psychotherapy and, in some cases, psychological assessment.

A psychiatrist is a physician (M.D. or D.O.) who has completed residency training in psychiatry. Psychiatrists are licensed to prescribe medication and may also provide psychotherapy.

I offer individual therapy and couples therapy, integrating psychodynamic principles with evidence-supported treatment modalities such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). During the initial consultation, we would discuss your goals for therapy, including what you would consider a satisfactory outcome.

Yes. I hold the majority of my sessions on a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. While occasional in-person meetings can help strengthen the therapeutic alliance, I no longer view them as essential to a successful course of treatment. For many individuals and couples, virtual therapy offers a flexible and effective alternative to in-person therapy.

Psychologists are licensed by the state in which they practice. In New York, licensure can be verified through the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions:

https://www.op.nysed.gov/verification-search

Weekly therapy sessions is the norm and facilitates momentum for the therapy process. Meeting less often tends to sap momentum from the process and to decrease the effectiveness of therapy. Holding sessions on a weekly basis also brings predictability and consistency to the process, both of which are inherently therapeutic.