Where is the office located?
My office is anywhere you need it to be! With teletherapy, you can meet with me via phone from any private place with a signal. My physical location is in Queens, New York City, but I can meet with anyone from anywhere in New York State.
Do you accept insurance?
I do not accept any insurance. I have an association with Advekit, and you are welcome to go through them to see if you are eligible for out-of-network reimbursement. Please understand they are separate from me, and I can’t advise about insurance. They are tremendously helpful, though! And won’t charge for assistance in reviewing your benefits.
What do I do to get started?
Call or email me for a free consultation. We will talk on the phone for 15 minutes or so, and I’ll listen to your concerns and get a sense of how I can help you. After the consultation, we can set a start date, and I will send you a link to my confidential electronic client portal, where you can complete some documentation. Once that is done, we can meet for our first session.
What documentation?
Like at a doctor’s office, tattoo shop, or gym, therapy requires consent and an understanding of expectations to be safe and effective.
I ask everyone to review and sign explanations of privacy as a person attending therapy, consents to attend therapy, and explanations of my private practice policies (the nuts and bolts of things like contacting me between sessions, cancellations, and payment).
What is art therapy?
Art therapy uses the process and product of art and art-making as an element in therapy. For some people, making art in session is soothing, helps take the focus off “being in therapy,” and reduces “Zoom fatigue.” Some people prefer to work on art between sessions – I can send art prompts that you can work on in your own time, and we will explore them in session. And some people prefer regular talk therapy. I can (and do!) use all these approaches in any combination in my work.
What if I can’t draw?
Lots of art making doesn’t involve drawing realistically, and I tailor all my prompts to you and your needs. We can explore different materials used in different ways to achieve personal expression – being an “artist” isn’t a prerequisite at all.
Do I have to do art?
No – this is your choice to make. Licensed creative art therapists, like myself, are therapists who can do all the things you think of when you think of therapy – listen while you process, offer reflections, and hold the space for you. The art-making part is a bonus you can take advantage of as frequently or infrequently as you like.
What are the benefits of therapy?
Therapy helps you learn about your inner world. You’ll better know what you feel and find better and healthier ways to manage those responses. As this emotional process makes more sense, you’ll experience tangible benefits in your life.
You’ll see yourself getting better at saying “no” to things you don’t want to do, being less irritable and snapping at others, and enjoying something you enjoy more deeply. You can stop being as overwhelmed as you may have been in the past. Your self-knowledge will deepen, creating a ripple effect in almost everything you do.
How long do I need to be in therapy?
It varies! Most committed people will start to see changes in their personal lives. There’s no hard deadline because therapy and wellness are journeys, not destinations.
Will I have to take medication?
Taking medication is a personal choice that you and I can discuss in the session. I provide support for you and will help you process whatever you choose to do.
Do you prescribe medications?
I do not. I am a psychotherapist, which means I have an education and license to practice psychotherapy. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe psychiatric medications. As a therapist, I have connections to a network of referrals and am happy to discuss your thoughts on medication as part of our work.
How long have you been in practice?
I have been a therapist for a little over ten years.
Have you been in therapy yourself? Do you tell your therapist you’re a therapist? Do you talk about me?
I have been in therapy, and I still am currently! Therapy is transformative in my life. My therapist knows I am a therapist; and no, I don’t talk about you. My therapy is my space for my stuff, as your therapy is for you.
What is your educational background?
I have undergraduate degrees in psychology (a bachelor’s) and studio art (an associate degree in sculpture). I have a master’s degree from the School of Visual Arts in Creative Arts Therapy, specializing in Visual Arts.
Are you licensed?
I have a license and board certification as a psychotherapist and have additional certifications in substance use, grief, and bereavement. All these had educational components followed by licensing and certification exams as part of the requirements for ongoing education to stay current.
Do you take notes?
I take notes rarely. I will be present with you as you share. At the end of the session, if there is something you’d like to return to or if there is something you’d like to talk more about, I will note it. But I won’t be frantically scribbling while you are sharing.
