If what you have read here resonates with you, the next step is a phone call. I prefer to speak directly with prospective patients before scheduling an appointment. It gives us both a chance to ask questions, and it is often the first indication of whether we might work well together. There is no obligation, and there is no wrong way to have that conversation.
You can reach me at (201) 207-2199.
The first session is a conversation, not a formal evaluation. I am not administering tests or focusing on a diagnosis. I am interested in hearing what brings you in, in your own words, at your own pace. You may not know exactly what to say, and that is fine. Most people don't. What matters is that you showed up.
We will use the first few sessions to get acquainted and to determine together whether this kind of work feels right for you.
Individual psychotherapy sessions are 50-minutes. For individual psychotherapy, we typically meet once per week, though frequency can be discussed based on your needs and goals.Â
Psychoanalysis, by its nature, requires a greater commitment, three sessions per week, which is what allows that work to develop the depth and continuity it depends on.
My fee is consistent with the going rate for licensed psychologists in private practice in Bergen County. I am happy to discuss details during our initial phone consultation.
I am a private pay practice and do not participate in insurance networks. However, many insurance plans provide partial reimbursement for out-of-network mental health services, and therapy is an eligible expense under most HSA and FSA accounts. I can provide you with a receipt with the information your insurance company will need to process a claim.
If you need to cancel or reschedule, please contact me as soon as you know. Whether a missed session is charged depends not on a fixed notice window but on whether we are able to find another time before your next regularly scheduled appointment. If we can reschedule, there is no charge. I find this approach more fair than a rigid 24-hour rule, and it reflects the kind of good faith I hope we bring to the work itself. I have this section here because people want to know that I have thought about this, but as with many things, this will be more meaningful when we can speak with each other.