Frequently asked questions

Are you a good fit for me?

It can be difficult to know whether any doctor or therapist will be the right one for you based solely on a website. Let’s have a complimentary phone consultation, up to 30 minutes, to help us both decide whether we are a good fit to work together.

Can I keep my therapist?

Having one person provide both psychotherapy and medication management services can be more convenient and more affordable. It also makes sense to stay with the same therapist if you feel a good connection with them. In those cases, I will happily collaborate with your therapist to ensure you receive the best care.

What are the benefits of seeing an out-of-network, private practice psychiatrist?

Many people prefer to work with private-practice psychiatrists. This approach allows you get to know your doctor before committing to therapy, and also allows for highly specialized and personalized care. All your correspondence will be directly with me, rather than a secretary or rotating staff. And depending on your insurance plan, it may actually be cheaper for you to work with an out-of-network psychiatrist. Read more on this topic here.

Do you provide telepsychiatry (video) services?

Yes. Please check with your insurance company to confirm your out-of-network benefits specifically for telepsychiatry, which may sometimes be different from the benefits for in-person visits. For each visit, you must be physically located in either New York or New Jersey. For any other locations, you and I would need to discuss the laws specific to that area.

What is the initial evaluation like?

Initial evaluations range from 90 minutes to 2 hours. Part of this session will have a conversational feel, and part of it will involve a thorough history and evaluation. At the end of this session, we will discuss possible diagnoses and treatment strategies, including types of psychotherapy and the possibility of medications. This is also an ongoing conversation—I will not usually give a diagnosis or prescribe a medication at the first visit. It is important to not rush those decisions.

Do you accept insurance?

I am not in-network with any insurance plans. Payment is due at the time of the visit. I provide a monthly invoice that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. You may also consider services such as Reimbursify or Claims (note that I cannot personally vouch for these services). If it would be difficult to pay at the time of each visit, we can discuss a payment plan.

How much will treatment cost?

Please connect with me to discuss my current rates. At all times the initial phone consultation is free, and rates are explicitly discussed before any treatment is started. In accordance with the “No Surprises Act,” you have the right to request a “Good Faith Estimate” of the expected cost of my services.

Do you offer a sliding scale?

I am, at times, able to offer a sliding scale, based on need and subject to availability. If needed, we would discuss this during our initial phone call, and we would agree on a financial plan prior to getting started. I work with all potential clients to try to not let finances be a barrier to us working together.

What forms of payment do you accept?

You may pay by cash, check, Zelle, Venmo, or Paypal. I am happy to discuss alternatives with you if you need.

What is your cancellation policy?

I ask for 24 hours notice, or one full business day, whichever is greater. If you cancel on shorter notice, then the full fee of the appointment is required prior to the next session. To account for emergencies, I offer every client one “Freebie” cancellation per calendar year, no questions asked. It is not a problem if you are occasionally late; we would just need to maintain the scheduled end time.

How much will my insurance plan reimburse me?

Please note that each plan is unique. I will be happy to discuss any of this with you on the phone as well, but all details will need to be confirmed directly to you by your insurance company. Here are questions you can ask your insurance company:

  • What are my “out-of-network mental health benefits?”

  • Is there a deductible? How much is it?

  • Once the deductible is met, what percentage of each visit will be covered? And up to what limit?

  • What is my out-of-pocket maximum? How will my reimbursement change after I reach my out-of-pocket maximum?

  • Are those numbers different for psychotherapy visits vs medication management visits?

Read more on this topic here.

What information about you should I have before I call my insurance company?

Your insurance company may want some information about my practice:

  • My practice zip code is 10019

  • My NPI Number is 1467847830

  • Here are some “CPT codes” I may use, which tells your insurance company which services I provided to you:

    • Initial evaluation: 99205, 90838

    • Psychotherapy: 90834, 90837

    • Medication management: 99213, 99214, 99215

    • Medication management + psychotherapy: A medication management code + either 90836 or 90838. For example, “99214 + 90836,” “99213 + 90838,” etc.

    • Please note, for video sessions, a “-95” would be added to each of the above codes. For example, “90834-95”, or “99214-95 + 90836-95”