Do I need therapy?
Therapy can help if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or not like yourself.
If you’re experiencing any of the following, therapy may be especially helpful:
- Struggling to function day-to-day
- Feeling out of control or easily overwhelmed
- Ongoing relationship difficulties
- Constant worry, low mood, or irritability
- Feeling numb, disconnected, or unreal
- Lack of supportive relationships
- Substance or alcohol overuse
- Self-destructive behaviors or thoughts of self-harm
- Unresolved past experiences that still affect you
You don’t need to be in crisis to start therapy. Many people come in simply wanting to understand themselves better or feel more in control of their lives.
What happens in a therapy session?
The first few therapy sessions are focused on getting to know you, understanding your history, and making sure the relationship feels like a good fit.
There’s no pressure to share everything right away. Therapy moves at your pace. Over time, sessions help you explore difficult experiences, understand patterns, and develop new ways of thinking, feeling, and relating.
Do I have complex trauma?
You don’t need to identify your experiences as “trauma” to benefit from trauma therapy.
If you grew up with chronic criticism, emotional neglect, instability, or felt unsafe being yourself, therapy focused on complex trauma may help. These experiences can have lasting effects, even if they don’t seem “serious enough” to count as trauma.
This type of therapy focuses less on quick fixes and more on understanding patterns, building safety, and working through experiences that are hard to put into words.
What are signs of complex trauma?
Complex trauma looks different for everyone. Some common signs include:
- Difficulty maintaining stable relationships
- Intense emotions or feeling emotionally numb
- Chronic depression or anxiety
- Feeling constantly on edge
- Memory gaps or dissociation
- Difficulty trusting others
- Persistent shame, guilt, or self-blame
- Harsh self-criticism or self-destructive behaviors
- Suicidal thoughts
- Self-destructive behaviors
What is relational trauma therapy?
Relational trauma therapy focuses on how your past relationships—especially early ones—shape how you feel, think, and connect with others today.
Rather than just focusing on symptoms, we look at deeper patterns and experiences that may still be affecting you. We may also incorporate practical tools from approaches like CBT, EMDR, IFS, or DBT when helpful.
The goal is not just symptom relief, but deeper, long-term change.
What’s the difference between therapy and trauma therapy?
Trauma therapy focuses more directly on how past experiences continue to affect you in the present. This may involve processing past events, understanding triggers, and learning how to feel safer in your body and relationships.
While general therapy may focus on current problems or coping strategies, trauma therapy goes deeper into the root causes of those patterns.
How long does therapy take to work?
Most therapy sessions last 45–50 minutes and happen weekly. Many people start to feel some relief within the first few sessions.
How long therapy lasts depends on how much you’re looking to change and/or heal from. Some people feel relief in a few sessions, especially when working on a specific issue. Deeper, long-term change—like healing from trauma or changing relationship patterns—typically takes longer.
Can I really change?
Yes—therapy can lead to real, lasting change.
Research shows that with consistency, support, and the right therapeutic relationship, people can change long-standing patterns, improve relationships, and feel more at ease in their lives.
Change isn’t instant, but it is absolutely possible.
What if I don’t know what to talk about in therapy?
That’s completely okay. Many people start therapy unsure of what to say. Your therapist will help guide the conversation and ask questions to help you explore what’s coming up for you. There’s no “right” way to do therapy.
What will therapy cost me?
Session fees range from $125 to $325 depending on the clinician. We accept Aetna in-network and can help you use out-of-network benefits with other insurance plans. We also offer private pay and limited sliding scale options.
Therapy can be a fundamental part of developing a healthy lifestyle. We aim to make therapy as accessible as possible and will work with you to understand your options. Investing in your mental health and future is almost always well-worth it. See our rates page for more information.
How do I get started?
To get started, fill out our contact form or give us a call at 212-547-9853.
We’ll schedule a free 10–15 minute consultation to learn what you’re looking for and see if we’re a good fit. Most clients are able to schedule their first session within a short timeframe.
We offer both virtual and in-person sessions in midtown Manhattan, serving clients in New York City and surrounding areas.
