Individual psychotherapy sessions are 45 minutes and couple sessions are 50 minutes. The first session generally begins with an exploration of what brings you to therapy, what issues or difficulties you want to address, any goals you have for therapy, and how you have been coping so far. This is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you have about the process. Patients generally feel comfortable within a few minutes of settling in as the therapist asks guiding questions to get to know them and to determine how to help. 

We offer both in-person and telehealth appointments. There is research to support the effectiveness of both of these modalities, and if you have any questions we would be happy to discuss them. 

You will have a phone call with one of our child or adolescent clinicians who will answer any questions you have and discuss their approach to therapy. Once you schedule an appointment you will receive access to our online electronic medical records system where you can offer your informed consent for treatment.  Every child must have parental consent to engage in therapy. Once completed, your child can be seen in person in the office or virtually, based on your preference and the recommendation of the therapist.

Patients use their United HealthCare, EmblemHealth, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, Oxford and other health insurance plans for their out of network benefits. While we are not in-network providers, the practice will submit for your out-of-network reimbursement. 

Before you start therapy, Pete, our Practice Manager, will contact your insurance company to ensure you have out-of-network coverage. Most plans cover mental health services and Pete can let you know if you have this coverage as part of your plan. Typically, insurers cover between 60-80% of the allowed amount for services. 

We are committed to providing therapy that is tailored to the unique needs of the individual, family, or couple. We are trained in a number of evidence-based practices to ensure patients receive the highest quality care:

• Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Mentalization-Based Treatment

• Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

• Relaxation Therapy for Anxiety

• Intuitive Eating Principles for Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating

• Play Therapy

• Interpersonal Psychotherapy

• Motivational Interviewing (MI)

• Family Therapy from the Ackerman Institute

• Circle of Security

• Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy
  Mindfulness

• Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy

• Crisis Intervention

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Clinicians at the practice are not psychiatrists so we do not prescribe medication, but we work closely with psychiatrists who do. If you take medication, clinicians will check in during therapy sessions to understand how the medication is affecting your mood and will consult with your psychiatrist to ensure good communication among the people on your team. Some patients will never take medication. Others may benefit from a combination of psychotherapy and medication. 

Absolutely. No one will know you are a patient in the practice unless you choose to disclose this, and your personal information will remain strictly confidential. Patients at the practice appreciate our strict commitment to privacy, especially given their particular line of work or desire for anonymity. 

What you discuss in therapy is completely protected by a strict confidentiality policy. We are licensed professionals and our professional and licensing bodies require we abide by patient confidentiality. Your right to confidentiality is protected by the law, our licensing authorities, and the American Psychological Association's Code of Ethics.  All communications between a client and a psychologist are protected. Information about you or your treatment cannot be disclosed without your written consent. There are three specific exceptions: 1) In the case of suspected child abuse or dependent adult/elder abuse, we are required by law to notify the appropriate authorities; 2) If a patient threatens serious bodily harm to another person, we are required by law to notify the police and the intended victim; 3) If a patient threatens to cause imminent harm to himself or herself, we are required by law to ensure their safety. Apart from these rare instances, all of your personal communication with your therapist is protected.

You do not have to handle any insurance submissions. Pete, our practice manager, will handle submitting insurance claims from start to finish for your rapid reimbursement. If you prefer to handle this on your own, you will receive a superbill and Pete can guide you through the process for submission.

Most patients use their out-of-network insurance reimbursement to cover the cost of therapy. If you are not using insurance, you may ask Pete or your therapist for a Good Faith Estimate. This estimate complies with the government’s No Surprises Act.  The purpose of this is to ensure clients who do not use insurance are aware of the cost of therapy in advance. While many patients will use weekly therapy, your therapist can make a specific recommendation regarding frequency based on your treatment plan, and you will always have the choice to decide your appointment frequency.

You can visit this link to learn more about the No Surprises Act:  https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises 

Understanding costs if you are uninsured or self-pay:

https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers/understanding-costs-in-advance

You can review this fact sheet of What you Need to Know about the Administration’s Actions to Prevent Surprise Billing:

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/what-you-need-know-about-biden-harris-administrations-actions-prevent-surprise-billing