400 Jericho Turnpike - Suite 209
Jericho, NY 11753

Frequently Asked Questions

The answer is mostly yes. Usually, the law protects the confidentiality of all communication between a therapist and a client. I cannot disclose anything to anyone without your written permission to do so. In the case of a child in therapy, a parent or guardian provides the written permission.

But there are a few exceptions where authorities must be notified. The most notable being suspicion of abuse, a threat of self-harm, or a threat to hurt someone else.

Not at all. Stay in treatment as long as you feel it is helping you. There is no minimum requirement for participating. Ideally, you keep coming to sessions because you find you are getting something beneficial from them. Most people do. But if not, you do not have to keep coming.

A notable exception is if the treatment is court-mandated. The legal system can require participation in therapy, but therapists don’t.

You are my only priority during the hour (yes, a full hour...not 40 or 45 minutes). In addition to my compassion and undivided attention, I am providing feedback and asking questions throughout our time together. You will never have to wonder whether I am taking your problems seriously.

My goal as a therapist is to become an expert in you. I strive to learn about your experiences, feelings, actions, and beliefs in order to provide you with the best care possible.

Outside of sessions, I am someone who regularly attends workshops, conferences, and trainings in order to stay current with the latest in evidence-based treatment approaches.

No. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy has been shown to work just as well, if not better, than medication for many types of mental health concerns. Those who work with me usually find they make a tremendous amount of progress and experience significant relief without the need for medication. However, if medication is desired or warranted based on the difficulties faced, referrals are made to properly credentialed individuals with whom I have successfully collaborated in the past and feel comfortable recommending.

Yes. Regular communication with the other support professionals in your or your child’s life is often an important component to successful treatment. This can be established once the proper releases of information are signed.

An intake is done to help guide the therapy process. During an intake session (usually the first time we meet), we will talk about your goals for treatment, what led up to the problems you are looking to address, the current circumstances that may be complicating matters, and the skills and strategies that will help you to reach your objectives.

An evaluation is specialized testing that is done to explore a particular concern or provide evidence of an area of need. After it is completed, a report is written to explain what was discovered. This report may include a diagnosis and recommendations. It can help someone gain entry into a Gifted program, receive extra time or other modifications for standardized testing (GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, SAT, ACT, GRE, etc.), become eligible for OPWDD or another special-needs program, or serve as a second opinion for an assessment that was completed in school.

Therapy sessions are $250 for an hour. Payment is expected at the end of each session, and can be made through cash, check, credit card, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Health Savings Accounts.

I am considered by insurance companies to be an out-of-network provider. When insurance offers out-of-network benefits, the process for getting reimbursed for session fees is usually pretty simple:

  • Step 1. At the end of the month, I email you a form with all the information your insurance company wants.
  • Step 2. Send the form to your insurance company.
  • Step 3. They send you payment with either a check or debit card.

If there is any additional paperwork needed, let me know and I take care of it.

You should ask your insurance company how much of the session fee they reimburse, if there is a deductible (if so, how much?), and how they want you to send them the form you receive at the end of the month.

They may want to know that you will be starting outpatient psychotherapy with a licensed psychologist. If they ask for CPT codes (the numbers that let them know the type of service that will be taking place and for approximately how long each session lasts, it is 90791 for the first meeting and either 90837 or 90834 for all the ones that follow.

I try to create a very relaxed environment for my clients. Once you arrive at my office, you’ll be able to sit in a comfortable waiting room where you will not have to sign your name anywhere or explain why you are there. (Because of the nature of the office space, the receptionist may ask who you came to see.) There is an available kitchen area where you can purchase coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or soda.

Once the session begins, we’ll review what has been giving you difficulties, your goals for therapy, and the possible strategies for helping you to reach them. I’ll gladly answer all questions you may have and explain why certain strategies are recommended. Everything is done in a way to facilitate comfort and openness, as it can be stressful to begin working with a new therapist.

It depends on your child’s comfort level, preferences, and goals. Depending on your child’s age, I may ask what he or she wants to do. Sometimes children want help from their parents to explain the troubles they are having, and that is fine. Sometimes children want to have a session mostly on their own, and that is also fine. Usually, the last 10-15 minutes of a session is set aside for providing parents with a general review of what was discussed and will be worked on between sessions.

Certain treatment goals are best addressed with parents in the room with their child (developing communication skills, establishing healthy boundaries, creating a distraction-free space for completing homework), while some goals tend to progress better when a child feels as if he or she has full ownership over the problem (relaxation skills, social difficulties, school stressors).

If a parent wants to discuss specific matters in depth without their child present, a separate session can be scheduled. Feedback sessions to help guide parents on what they can do to assist in their child’s therapy may be beneficial as well.

With older children who may be hesitant to open up and participate in therapy, parents may be asked to stay in the waiting area so that adequate rapport and trust can be built.

If issues with scheduling, transportation, health, or mobility interfere with your ability to come into the office for a session, we can meet via telehealth using a secure videoconferencing platform. Sessions over the telephone or text can also occur, depending on the circumstances.

It depends on the goals and issues being addressed in therapy. It can include practicing relaxation skills or mindfulness strategies, recording situations or thoughts associated with anger or anxiety, engaging in some type of self-care (eating healthier, exercising, developing a hobby, improving sleep routines), being more assertive towards a family member or co-worker, stepping outside one’s comfort zone for a little bit, scheduling time for themselves, utilizing a specific technique for studying, etc.

The homework assignments that follow therapy sessions are usually the next step in the process towards reaching your stated goals.

I provide my cell phone number for clients to use in case of an emergency. I also encourage clients to contact me between sessions if they are having difficulty when working towards a goal. We would discuss what went wrong, and what should be done differently. I return calls, texts, and emails as soon as possible.

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