Question 1

What is therapy?

Accepted Answer

We are all unique, with unique histories, strengths, challenges, and goals, and as such, therapy with us will always be individually and compassionately tailored to you and the growth that you most want to see in your life. We can say, though, that it is a process, one that can help you in identifying and honing your strengths or better understanding and changing negative patterns, serve as meaningful support during a major transition, tackle problems, or heal from a traumatic experience(s) or emotional wounds. Through our work together, you will come to better understand yourself as well as how your history, thoughts, feelings, behavioral patterns, and relationships (past and present) all influence how you see yourself, relate to others, and move through life and the world.

Question 2

How do I know if I need therapy or when I should see a therapist?

Accepted Answer

There is no one right answer to this question, but chances are, if you are sitting here questioning if now might be a good time to seek therapy, that’s probably the best indicator that it might be worth a try to see if the support from a therapist could help. One thing that all of us believe is that everyone can benefit from therapy. Therapy is also not something solely reserved for crisis situations. Clients reach out to us because they are struggling in their relationships or at work, feeling unhappy and/or anxious more often than not, having difficulty concentrating, sleeping, communicating, setting boundaries, believing in themselves and their potential, navigating major life transitions, or simply find themselves unable to manage the many day to day stresses of life alone anymore. Therapy is a process, one that is collaborative and deeply supportive. It is also vulnerable and can be scary and/or overwhelming to start, which we always want to validate. If you are ready to work towards making change, we would be honored to join you on this journey.

Question 3

I’ve never been to therapy before - what can I expect?

Accepted Answer

You may come into that first session feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or excited to begin; it’s different for everyone and we know that. A primary focus in the very beginning is on becoming familiar with one another, and building comfort and trust in the dynamic and the space. We will share with you a bit about confidentiality and how it works in therapy, and we will ask you questions to learn more about you, what’s going on in life, what brought you in, and what you might want to focus on together moving forward. This is a collaborative process and we want you to truly feel heard, seen, and supported. We are here to share reflections, observations, and feedback, and over more time, to possibly challenge you to consider other perspectives or possibilities. We are here for you, and everything is always tailored to you, your needs, and your goals.

Question 4

How long does it take to feel better?

Accepted Answer

This is a great question! The answer is that it really differs from person to person, with some starting to feel seeds of relief after just a session or two, and others needing multiple sessions to start feeling shifts. There are multiple factors that contribute, including your history, the challenges we are tackling together, and your goals, just to name a few. With our new clients we always recommend meeting weekly, though for clients who come to us in the midst of crisis, we may consider twice a week to begin. We have clients who find therapy to be so beneficial that they end up making it a long-term part of their lives, a piece of their self-care puzzles. It all depends, but one thing we believe is that absolutely everyone is capable of change, and taking the time to establish and nurture a trusting therapeutic relationship is key to facilitating growth and change.

Question 5

What are some of the benefits of therapy and what can I expect to get out of seeing a therapist?

Accepted Answer

There are so many benefits that can come from therapy! One big one is developing a better understanding of yourself and what is most important to you. Many of our clients come to us seeking to improve their relationships (romantic, family, friendships, and/or professional) and ways of communicating or navigating conflict/differences in those relationships; others come looking to strengthen self-esteem, understand and shift behavioral patterns that no longer serve them, better their coping skills, and to generally feel enhanced wellbeing, happiness, and fulfillment in life.

Question 6

What types of therapy do you offer?

Accepted Answer

At Manhattan Psychotherapy Services we offer individual, couples, and family therapy. We meet with clients remotely over video or the phone, as well as in person at our office.

We specialize in multiple approaches to treatment including: psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, attachment-based therapy, trauma-focused therapy, relational, strengths-based therapy, and mindfulness.

Please learn more about our approaches here…(https://www.mpslcsw.com/our-approach) (can we insert a link here that takes people to the “Our Approach” page?)

Question 7

What is Psychodynamic Therapy?

Accepted Answer

Psychodynamic therapy focuses on gaining insight into your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors; essentially your life, how you got here, and what makes you you. Oftentimes, unresolved conflicts, experiences, and hurts from our past, as far back as early childhood, can keep us stuck there, which can greatly affect our mental health and emotional wellbeing. This type of therapy is effective for anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, improving self-esteem, body image issues, unresolved trauma, among many other concerns.

Please learn more about psychodynamic therapy here.(https://www.mpslcsw.com/projects/psychodynamic)

Question 8

What is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is grounded in the belief that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all interconnected. One of the first steps is to collaboratively work to identify negative, irrational, or unhelpful thought patterns (some examples we hear from many of our clients include automatic thoughts such as “I’m not loveable/No one will ever want to be with me” or “I’ll never be good enough”) as well as counterproductive behaviors that contribute to emotional distress and feeling stuck. During sessions we will look to more deeply understand how these thought patterns developed over time, starting from very early on in childhood; they are shaped and honed by the many messages we internalize about ourselves, others, and the world, our life experiences, and also how we later interpret and act on all these many messages and experiences.

Please learn more about cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) here.(https://www.mpslcsw.com/projects/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-(cbt))

Question 9

What is Trauma-Focused Therapy?

Accepted Answer

Trauma-focused therapy can help clients with reducing symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional reactivity. Long-term healing means processing and integrating traumatic memories, enhanced self-esteem and self-awareness, and a greater sense of control over your life and future; it also means a restored ability to engage in fulfilling and meaningful relationships. The impact of trauma is complex and multi-faceted, and we are here to help foster a renewed sense of hope and resilience.

Please learn more about trauma-focused therapy here.(https://www.mpslcsw.com/projects/trauma-focused-therapy)

Question 10

How can I request a new appointment?

Accepted Answer

You can send us an online request here (https://www.mpslcsw.com/contact)or please feel free to email us (mailto:info@mpslcsw.com)or call us at (646) 598-2747. We look forward to connecting with you!

Question 11

Do you offer a free consultation?

Accepted Answer

We do! This brief call is a great time for us to find out a little bit about you, what’s going on in life, and how we can help. We also want to give you a chance to ask us any questions you might have. Based on the information you share with us, we will then match you with one of our therapists.

Question 12

How often will I meet with my therapist and how will we meet? Do you ever meet remotely by phone or online? In-person?

Accepted Answer

Clients will typically meet with a therapist once per week. If a client comes to us in the midst of a crisis, we may recommend meeting more frequently to begin. Sessions are about 45 minutes long and can be held remotely over video or by phone, or in-person at our office on the Upper East Side in New York.

Question 13

Do you take insurance?

Accepted Answer

We understand that insurance can be a significant consideration for many of our clients, so we aim to help simplify and support you through the process. Please learn more about Manhattan Psychotherapy Service’s insurance process here.(https://www.mpslcsw.com/simplifying-insurance)

Question 14

What are your fees for therapy?

Accepted Answer

Our fees range from $200-275 per session. Please visit our “Simplifying Insurance”(https://www.mpslcsw.com/simplifying-insurance) page to learn more about the out-of-network insurance process and how to get reimbursed for therapy. If you do not have any out-of-network coverage, please feel free to reach out to us to see about a sliding scale cost that is affordable and fair.

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