Therapy & Counseling

I work with individuals and couples representing diverse racial and cultural backgrounds and identities with a wide variety of presenting issues in both short and long term treatment (including marital and couples therapy). Clients range in age from late adolescence through the elderly.

All sessions are done via telehealth using Doxy.me, a HIPPA secure audio-video platform for telehealth services.

Although my practice is a general one, I have specializations in:
  • Trauma – childhood and adult sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Psychological and emotional sequelae related to medical illness

General Practice includes:
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Depression
  • Career and vocational issues
  • Death, dying, and grief issues
  • Relationship issues
  • Racial, ethnic, and cultural identity issues including sexual minorities
  • Stress management
  • School difficulties
  • Life transitions 
  • Personal growth
  • Women’s issues
  • Men’s issues

Clientele served: 
  • Adolescents
  • College students
  • Adults
  • Seniors
  • Elderly

Services Offered:
Approach to Treatment 
My approach to treatment is grounded in humanistic, developmental, and positive psychology and is multiculturally-sensitive and client-focused. Because I use an integrated-eclectic approach, treatment is tailored to each client (individual or couple). That is, my intent is to adapt the therapeutic approach and interventions we use to your individual background, identities, and changing needs in a caring, compassionate, and empowering way.

For those seeking more detailed information, I have training and am skilled in a wide variety of therapeutic approaches and techniques including but not limited to behavioral, cognitive, cognitive-behavioral, Gestalt, Adlerian, existential, feministic, interpersonal process, client-centered (Rogerian), systems, humanistic, psychodynamic, cognitive development, family systems, motivational interviewing, problem solving, and mindfulness. 

About Therapy and Counseling
Developing a strong therapeutic relationship founded in safety, trust, and honesty is essential to effective therapy, symptom relief, and treatment outcomes – my goal is for us to establish a non-judgmental supportive environment where you feel safe enough to talk about what is important to you. 

Therapy is a collaborative process where we work together towards your goals for therapy. It requires your intentional and active involvement. To be successful, you will need to work on your issues both within our sessions and between sessions at home. 

I envision my role as a catalyst working together to determine that which is best for you, to discover your inner truths, and to empower you to do that which is right and true for you. 

Risks and benefits; What to expect
Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. Because therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, shame, anger, frustration, loneliness, fear, and helplessness. On the other hand, psychotherapy has also been shown to have many benefits. Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. But, there are no guarantees of what you will experience—every person is different. 

You can expect your growth to be discontinuous. At times, you may feel you've reached a plateau, where minimal growth seems to be occurring. At other times, you may feel yourself being stressed and stretched as new issues emerge for you and as you grow personally and interpersonally. 

Typically, you can expect to grow the most when you talk about your most challenging, painful, and often shameful experiences. It is equally important to talk about successes and positive experiences where you did something well. 

The old adage tends to be true: you will get out of therapy what you put into it; the more risks you take in and outside of our sessions the greater the potential for growth.

Fees and Health Insurance
Appointments
  • After the initial diagnostic interview, therapy clients are usually seen once a week for either 45 minute sessions or 50-60 minute sessions. I am typically available to see clients two afternoon and evenings (usually Tuesday and Wednesday, or Tuesday and Thursday depending on my schedule). Sessions are scheduled on the hour starting at 1 p.m. with 6 p.m. the last appointment of the day. 
  • I invite you to contact me so I can answer any questions you may have and schedule an appointment. 

Insurance
  • I am a participating psychologist in many health insurance panels – Blue Cross and Blue Shield (e.g., Highmark Northeaster NY, Western NY), Capital District Physicians Health Plan (CDPHP), Medicare, and NYS Empire Plan (NYSHIP)/Carelon Health. I strongly encourage you to contact your insurance company prior to beginning therapy to determine your benefits, co-pays, and deductibles, if any. 
  • I also see clients for private pay (not submitted to health insurance) and for out of network benefits where I am not a participating provider and you submit the bill to your health insurance company. 
  • Please note that I do not participate in Empire Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Medicaid, or MVP. 


For more information see: 
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
  • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
  • Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
  • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
  • Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises  or call 800- 985-3059.
You may also have rights under the New York Emergency Medical Services and Surprise Bill Act. For more information call 800-342-3736 or email surprisemedicalbills@dgs.ny.gov. You may also file a complaint at https://www.dfs.ny.gov/IDR.
 

Resources and helpful links:    
General American Psychological Association Help Center  Eating Disorders PTSD and Trauma Children and Parenting For Couples and Marriage Substance Abuse and Addiction Careers & Vocational