Frequently Asked Questions

I’m interested in becoming a client. Now what?

Wonderful! I’d be happy to offer you a free 15-minute phone consultation to learn a little bit about you, answer any questions you may have, and tell you about myself and how I work with clients. This helps ensure that we’re a good fit!

If we decide to proceed, we tentatively schedule our initial appointment. I will send you my intake forms and once I get them back, your appointment will be confirmed.

What will the first visit be like?

During the first appointment I will ask you many questions about you, your family, your treatment history, and any symptoms you may be experiencing. 

I also have to go over important information about confidentiality and standard practice policies to provide you with the best possible care. 

You and I may begin to create your treatment goals, based on what’s most important to you at this time. 

I may give you something to read, write, or think about prior to our next appointment. 

You can ask me any additional questions that you have (though I may not be able to answer all of them).

Do you take insurance? How do I get reimbursed?

I am not in-network with any insurance companies. However, if you have out-of-network benefits, I may provide you with a superbill that you can send your insurance company for reimbursement. Please note, session fees are due before your appointment and I cannot guarantee that your insurance company will reimburse you. Please contact your insurance company before your initial appointment to confirm information about general reimbursement, your annual deductible, specific coverage information, reimbursement for video/phone appointments, etc.

All new clients who are paying out of pocket and not submitting claims to insurance will receive a Good Faith Estimate prior to their initial appointment, per the new No Surprise Act.

Where are you located?

I am based in New York City. However, all of my current sessions are held through Google Workspace’s HIPAA-compliant video system, Google Meet. Some sessions may occasionally be held by phone. If you intend to submit superbills to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement, please confirm with them whether they reimburse phone and/or video sessions.

Do I really need therapy? What are the benefits?

I only work with clients who choose to see me voluntarily. If you believe that you need additional support, guidance, or skills, I’m happy to work with you, but this decision needs to come from you for best outcomes. 

Benefits of treatment *may include:

• Increased awareness of your thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behavioral patterns

• Decreased anxiety & distress levels

• Increased ability to manage difficult emotions and situations

• Increased skills for problem-solving and decision-making

• Improved communication

• Improved relationships with others

• Increased self-acceptance and compassion

• Higher accountability for your own actions

• Improved outcomes for goals you set

• Better idea of life direction and desired goals

• Ability to identify your values and passions

• Increased mindfulness

*There can never be any “guaranteed” outcomes in treatment. Results you get depend on how much work you put into it and how consistent you are (plus certain biochemical factors). That being said, most clients at least become more aware in some capacity, even if they still struggle to implement changes or don’t see effects of their increased awareness.

What if I can't come every week?

I believe that people have an increased chance of achieving their treatment goals when they attend weekly sessions. This is why in speaking with you at your initial appointment, we will find a day and time that will be yours. Unless we agree otherwise and barring an emergency, I will expect you to show up at this time. 

Toward the end of your treatment, we may begin to taper our sessions to biweekly or monthly to give you the ability to practice your new skills on your own, prior to wrapping up completely.

How will I know if you are the right therapist for me?

I think “fit” is a very important quality. You want to feel comfortable opening up to me, being vulnerable with me, and trusting that any suggestions or recommendations I make are in service of your goals. 

If you feel like you have to lie to me, if you dread our appointment time or cancel/reschedule frequently, if you don’t feel like I listen to you, please bring those things up to me. It’s important to express your needs and if I don’t know what they are, I can’t change what I’m doing for you. I don’t get offended or take it personally. 

Every client is unique and has their own needs, so there may be an adjustment period. But if you feel like the work we’re doing is not helping you move closer toward your goals, let me know, and we can think of alternative solutions/options for you. 

Sometimes you may need care in a field/topic I don’t specialize in. That’s okay! No one person can help you with everything. If we decide that you need a service or skill I don’t have, I can help you find and prepare for meeting with another provider.

Sometimes people talk about seeing a coach instead of a therapist. What’s the difference?

Therapy is a service I provide to clients in New York (where I’m licensed as a psychologist) and in Florida (where I can practice by video) to address mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Therapists are under strict regulations only to practice where they are licensed and where their clients are located (if these are different locations).

Coaching is a service intended to enhance one’s capacity to function at their optimum level, usually as it relates to a specific skills (such as mindfulness) or a specific problem (such as getting your newborn to sleep). Coaching can be provided to anyone, anywhere, by anyone, and it is not regulated in the same way as therapy. A coach often has personal experience with the skill or problem they help clients with, but that does not necessarily mean they have specialized training, certification, or education on the topic.

There can be a lot of similarities in the structure of a coaching session as a therapy session, especially when we practice specific skills. However, coaches do not provide mental health diagnoses to clients and coaching sessions are not typically reimbursed by insurance companies.

An individual can have both a therapist and a coach, but the same individual would not serve as both for the same client. If we worked together in therapy and you were interested in coaching for a specific issue outside of my expertise, I would help you find a coach. Similarly, if you worked together with a coach and realized you may benefit from therapy, you would need to find a therapist.

A psychologist - especially one with a CBT background - can provide excellent coaching services. However, a coach - who is not also licensed as a mental health provider - cannot provide therapy services.

For additional questions, please schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.