What should I expect? The first few sessions are a chance for us to get to know each other’s personalities, for your clinician to get to know more about your history, and to help you feel safe in starting to open up. There is no set agenda for topics to discuss, unless otherwise determined between you and your therapist. The therapy room is a space for you to discuss difficult and personal subjects, while also being gently challenged to observe possibly unhelpful behaviors and thought patterns that might be creating problems in your life. It’s also a space in which you can begin to learn more about underlying feelings, work through past trauma, and develop new skills to navigate your life in healthier ways.
How long does therapy take? Typically, sessions last 45-50 minutes and occur once or twice weekly. Each person is unique and so, too, is the healing process. How long therapy lasts depends on how much you’re looking to change and/or heal from. If you wanted to just learn some new coping skills or talk through a particular issue, that might be accomplished in as little as 6-10 sessions. However, long-lasting changes require alterations in neurological patterns… and this takes some time! If you’re looking to work through past trauma, heal from chronic stress and/or depression, and/or develop new interpersonal patterns like learning to trust others or be more vulnerable, therapy is more likely to be long-term.
Can I really change? Of course! How much one can change depends on a multitude of factors, such as motivation, age, support system, and, perhaps more than anything, an openness to stick with it even when it gets really hard or uncomfortable. Our bodies and minds are made for forming and maintaining habits, not changing. With a safe relationship, trust, and time, change can and does happen though! To be clear, however, therapy is about coming closer to your authentic self and finding meaning, purpose, and acceptance in your unique life. It’s not about becoming someone else, changing in such a way that your clinician thinks is best, or conforming to some arbitrary societal norm. Basically, therapy is about finding greater peace and contentment… and that is always possible for anyone.
What does it cost me? Therapy too often is perceived as a luxury, rather than a fundamental part of developing a healthy lifestyle. Investing in your mental health and future is almost always well-worth it! Fortunately, we work with all insurance companies to help you pay as little as possible out of pocket, whether that means accepting in-network benefits with Aetna or helping you get the most out of your out-of-network benefits. We also accept payment without going through insurance, as many prefer the greater confidentiality and non-diagnostic approach this can offer. If you don’t have insurance, and are on a tight budget, we do offer sliding scale options on a limited basis subject to re-approval every 6 months. See our rates page for more information.
What is the difference between types of therapy? Our clinicians are trained across the spectrum of theoretical approaches, though our practice tends to operate from a psychodynamic perspective. This means that we are not just focused on problem-solving, changing easily identifiable habits and patterns, or telling you what’s wrong with you and trying to fix it. Rather, we are trying to understand your problems within the context of your life, namely your developmental years, to uncover and accept your cut-off desires and emotions, and, basically, to get beneath the surface and go deep. Cognitive-behavioral, dialectical behavioral, and other derivations of therapy styles are incorporated as needed. These types of therapy tend to be more short-term, skills-based, and focused on reducing symptoms rather than developing deeper, more lasting changes. They are very helpful to get through crises, reduce immediate suffering, and allow you to feel safe enough to dig into the more intolerable stuff that lies at the root of most problems.
How do I get started? You can fill out our form on the contact page or give us a call at 212-547-9853. Someone will reply to you within 1-2 business days to set up a brief 10-15 minute FREE phone consultation to get a better idea of what you’re looking for and if we might be a good fit for you. At that time, scheduling and insurance will be discussed and we’ll try to get you in as soon as possible for an intake appointment. So fill out the form or give us a call and we’ll take it from there!
