Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help you learn more about me and my NYC therapy practice.
Q: What is the best way to contact you?
A: Whatever you are comfortable with…by phone or by email.
Q: This is my first time in therapy and I’m not sure what to expect or how this process should begin. What questions should I ask when starting therapy?
A: There are no set questions that people ask. My goal is to make you feel comfortable asking whatever it is that concerns you or confuses you about the process. Some potential clients have no questions at the start beyond discussing fees and scheduling. Other people want to know more about my enhanced CBT therapy approach. Very often, people ask if I have experience in helping people improve the primary issue that they are struggling with.
Q: Do I need to be prepared with anything for my first visit?
A: There is nothing you need to bring or prepare, unless the act of preparing what you want to say helps you to feel organized or in control, but this is not necessary. If you have questions about my practice or your therapy, I am happy to answer them in session if they were not addressed prior to the session.
Q: How long will my treatment last?
A: This really depends on your needs and the severity of the issues you plan on improving. I am not one to keep clients in therapy longer than necessary. I like to keep it as an open discussion so that we can track progress and determine what’s best for you.
Q: How long are the sessions?
A: CBT therapy sessions are 45-50 minutes. This is generally considered standard across NYC psychotherapists.
Q: Can I bring my boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse with me to a session if I think it will help?
A: In some situations, it does make sense to have your significant other attend a session or a series of sessions. It really depends on the dynamics of the couple. For some people, it works better to make a referral for couples therapy, but for others, it can be quite effective to have the input of the significant other. Some people begin therapy seeking individual counseling and then realize that the time would be most productive in the format of couples therapy.
Q: I am very embarrassed about what I need to discuss. What should I do?
A: This is quite common at the start of therapy. If you haven’t received much support from friends, colleagues, or family with regard to what you are struggling with, you might be more likely to struggle at the start of therapy with shame, guilt, or embarrassment (e.g., you are experiencing panic attacks and feel too embarrassed to get help from your support network.) Please know that the therapeutic environment I create is one of non-judgment, safety, and acceptance.
Q: How frequent are the sessions?
A: That really depends on the acuteness of your emotional pain, the nature of the identified problems to work on and the timeline for how fast you want to reach your goals.
Q: Are you considered in-network for any insurance plans?
A: I am out of network for all plans, but in many instances I can bill your insurance plan directly. Most Aetna insurance plans allow for direct billing without any hassle for my clients. I can provide you with a statement containing all the necessary information if you need to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Q. What does a clinical psychologist do?
A: A clinical psychologist works with people to improve their social, emotional, mental and behavioral problems. First, a clinical psychologist conducts an assessment of the problem to arrive at a diagnosis via interviews, observation and sometimes psychological testing. Next, they create a treatment plan with the client and help them to identify goals that the client wants to work on. Then, the clinical psychologist carries out psychological treatment to help the client achieve the goals. Progress is monitored over the course of treatment.
I have been conducting psychotherapy in New York City for over 20 years. One benefit of being a clinical psychologist, as opposed to other types of therapists in NYC, is that my clinical doctoral training in assessment and diagnosis tends to be more extensive than what is offered in most other mental health degree programs.
Some clinical psychologists do research, teach or consult for organizations/businesses to solve systemic and individual issues.
Click here for more on the role of a clinical psychologist.
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Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any further questions. I can be reached by phone or email. You can use the Contact Form provided on this site or just email me directly at [email protected].
Click here for the Contact Form to send me a message.
Click here to learn more about getting started in therapy with Dr. Kushnick