Frequently Asked Questions

I mainly offer virtual sessions (phone or video conference), but I’m based in Manhattan on the Upper West Side and plan to have some in-office sessions available within the next year. I at times will meet clients in the community when possible.

So, as long as you’re in Connecticut or New York, we can work together anywhere you can connect to the Internet!

Monday: 9 am – 8 pm
Tuesday: 8 am – 5 pm
Wednesday: 9 am – 5 pm
Thursday: 9 am – 8 pm
Friday: 8 am – 5 pm

I understand that it can be difficult to meet during standard workday hours. Virtual therapy can help because you can do sessions during lunch breaks or on a commute.

I do not work on weekends, but I try to be as flexible as possible with my schedule and can, at times, offer sessions outside of the hours listed above.

I recommend starting at least once per week, but some clients prefer twice per week when starting to accelerate progress.

Through the course of treatment, we may reduce how often we meet to give you opportunities to practice skills independently and face challenges with less support.

There’s no specific timeline for the treatment course; it completely depends on you and your needs. The work ends when you feel ready, having learned new skills and accomplished the treatment goals we developed together.

Some clients want to continue sessions indefinitely because they value the space for themselves to process and problem-solve. However, my goal is for you to complete therapy and no longer need the structured support of regular sessions.

I typically see clients make significant progress toward their goals after 12 sessions.

I have a 24-hour cancellation policy. If you need to cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice, I charge the fee for the session. However, I allow one late cancellation free of charge.

I am in-network with Aetna insurance. If you have another carrier, I can provide you with a statement that you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement under your out-of-network benefits.

I do not offer couples counseling.

However, I recognize that you might be facing challenges in your relationships. We can work together to develop relationship skills that will benefit you in your romantic and non-romantic relationships. We can also work on developing relationship habits that benefit you and your partner(s).

It varies, depending on your particular needs.

Typically, we will discuss the areas you want to work on and how they affect your day-to-day life. We will then use those situations to identify specific approaches to help you navigate them more skillfully.

Yes, but only when necessary.

The work I do with clients typically results in the learning of new skills. Practice is necessary if you’re going to become adept at using these skills outside of our sessions. Practice outside our sessions allows us to gather data about what is effective for you and what isn’t… and to shift our approach as necessary to benefit you.

I am trained in and use motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), person-centered therapy, mindfulness, and positive psychology.

I frequently receive training in new approaches to ensure I provide you with the most effective, research-supported interventions.

I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), meaning I completed a master’s degree in social work and then completed licensing requirements in Connecticut and New York.

My master’s program was a two-year, full-time program requiring the completion of two supervised internships. After receiving my master’s degree, I was required to complete three years of full-time work in clinical environments under the supervision of a licensed clinician. I then had to complete a licensing exam to receive the LCSW designation. To maintain this license, I’m required to complete regular continuing education courses.

I also received my Doctorate of Social Work (DSW), which I received after completing a three-year program involving advanced academic work in leadership, education, and advanced clinical practices. It required the completion of an externship, which I satisfied by co-teaching two undergraduate social work courses. It also required completing a capstone project, which I fulfilled by conducting a systematic review of current research on effective parenting practices to develop healthy technology usage in children.

Before starting my private practice, I worked as a school social worker at the middle and high school levels for three years. I then worked as a clinician for over a year at a partial hospitalization program/outpatient clinic for young adults with mental health and substance use issues.

It’s important to recognize that research has found that the quality of the relationship between client and clinician is the most important predictor of successful treatment. Therefore, I do everything I can to develop a connection with my clients and regularly seek feedback about our work together.

There are many ways to approach this work, and I am flexible, depending on your needs. If you don’t feel we are a good fit, you need to let me know, and we can make changes, or I can help you find someone who can better meet your needs.

You can always share with me if something doesn’t feel like a good fit for you or if there’s something I can adjust to make the process more effective.

Life coaching and therapy can feel very similar. Some attempt to distinguish that therapy focuses more on mental health issues and resolving prior issues… while life coaching focuses on helping people achieve future goals.

My education and experience allow me to support clients navigating mental health challenges while addressing future goals. Life coaches have varying training and experience and are not typically subject to licensing and training requirements.

I do not see a distinction between the two. I offer life coaching in addition to therapy. I focus on my clients, creating change to help them achieve their goals and have the future they want.

I have successfully worked with clients across various backgrounds and experiences.

I understand that such similarities can benefit our therapeutic relationship, but they are unnecessary.

As we work together, you will help me understand your unique story, which benefits the therapeutic process.

Of course, and it’s encouraged!

One of the benefits of virtual therapy is that you have easy access to your pets, and it can be helpful to have them there to help you feel comfortable.

You might occasionally see a furry tail come across my screen or a cat on my lap during our sessions.

One of the things I’ve loved most about becoming a social worker and working with clients has been learning things that can help me in my own life.

Learning about and regularly practicing meditation has had a massively positive impact on my life. It was a difficult habit for me to develop, but the process helped me understand how to better support my clients in implementing healthy habits.

I’m also working on making running into a consistent habit and finding it very therapeutic.