Frequently Asked Questions

What happens in a therapy session?

I break this down into two sections: the intake, and the work

The Intake Appointment: This is your first session with a therapist. In this appointment, we will discuss the reasons why you are pursuing therapy at this time, any current symptoms or stressors, and their intensity. We’ll talk about your past concerns with mental health, variables like work, school and friends, and anything that you think would be important to talk about in a nonjudgemental space. At the end of this appointment, we discuss fit, treatment recommendations, scheduling and moving forward.

The Work: The work of therapy consists of defining what you want to focus on in sessions, and working together to establish goals and objectives to get there. Think of therapy as a conversation; a conversation that involves depth and getting to the bottom of something. Goals and objectives are defined by you as the client, and then I use my experience and knowledge to help to find relief, solve problems and adjust behaviors.

What are the benefits of private pay instead of insurance?

Two of the biggest factors that people consider when searching for a therapist are accessibility and affordability. When seeing “private pay”, it is completely valid to ask what the benefit of an out of pocket fee would be.

Working out of insurance company paneling allows me to see you at the highest level of care without the risk of therapy being denied by insurance. It allows for a greater level of flexibility and the ability to more specifically cater treatment to you, not an insurance provider.

There are also many opportunities for reimbursement. I offer super bills to be provided to insurance providers for out of network costs, and with your consent as a client I am able to do that paperwork for you. Additionally, I work with a platform called Mentaya which allows you to see your reimbursement from your insurance provider for out of pocket expenses.

What do all of the letters at the end of your name mean?

MS: This stands for Masters in Science. This is the degree I have to be able to apply for a license to practice therapy.

LMHC-D: This stand for licensed mental health counselor with diagnostic privilege. To become a LMHC, I completed a 60 credit masters degree with 1,500 hours of pre graduate clinical experience, 3,000 hours of post graduate clinical experience under supervision and completed a competency exam. Diagnostic privilege means that I am certified to provide a clinical diagnosis without supervision in New York.

NCC: NCC stand for nationally certified counselor. This is a credential based on my graduate coursework and training in the field.

How long does therapy take?

Therapy timeline is a very individual process. It depends on the reason a person is coming in, goals for therapy, and clinical recommendation. This can all be discussed at intake and through the first few sessions.

I often titrate therapy, starting out with weekly appointments and moving down to every other week as is appropriate. You as the client always have the final say in starting, continuing and stopping therapy.