I help people better understand themselves and their relationships, build self-trust, and feel more effective in how they connect with others.
(In-person therapy in NYC; virtual therapy in California, Florida, Upstate NY, and Long Island)
You thought life would look different than it does right now.
You're doing well in some parts of your life while feeling painfully disappointed in others.
Relationships haven't worked out the way you hoped.
You're anxious, second-guessing yourself, or facing some of the same problems again and wondering why this keeps happening.
You want to feel better about yourself.
You want to feel more connected, more confident in your own judgment, and less likely to find yourself back in the same painful situations.
You need something to change.
Many People I Work With
Want deep, satisfying connections with others.
Want to build the kind of romantic relationship they've been hoping for.
Feel successful in their career but are struggling with their personal life.
Find themselves caught in patterns they recognize but still have difficulty changing.
Here, we can talk openly about dating, loneliness, relationships, sex, and how you feel about yourself.
Together, we can look at the patterns in your relationships, the assumptions you may not realize you're making, the feelings you might be overlooking, and the ways fear or past experiences may be influencing what you do now.
Special Expertise in Sexual Health
Alongside my broader psychotherapy practice, I have particular experience working with concerns related to sexuality and sexual health. I'm comfortable talking openly about sex, bodies, desire, relationships, and experiences that may feel difficult or embarrassing to discuss. I also have special expertise supporting people through the emotional and relational impact of a genital herpes diagnosis.
I’m Melissa, a psychotherapist in Manhattan.
I'll engage with you, ask questions, share what I notice, and help you consider things you may not have seen before.
I take what you're going through seriously while also keeping sight of your strengths and your capacity to make sense of difficult things. I'm interested in understanding how things look from where you stand while also helping you consider perspectives that may be harder to see from inside the situation.
In-Person Therapy in Manhattan and Virtual Therapy in California, Florida, Upstate New York & Long Island
If what you've read here feels relevant to what you're looking for, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation so we can talk briefly about what's bringing you to therapy and whether working together might be a good fit.
Contact me here to schedule a time to speak.
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Usually, the free consultation call happens over the phone, though it can also be done virtually.
If you are unsure or nervous, there’s no need to worry. I will guide you through the conversation. I typically begin by asking about what happened that made you interested in counseling. My goal is to get a sense of your needs so I can determine if I can be helpful to you.
After you share a bit about yourself, I may ask a few questions to learn more. I will then take a bit of time to explain how I work, and then give you an opportunity to ask any questions you might have for me about counseling.
If at this point I have a sense that I can be helpful to you and you also feel good about the conversation, then we'll schedule our first appointment.
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During the first session, I typically ask more in depth questions about the primary reasons you decided to come to counseling. My goal is to get to know you much better and to begin thinking more deeply about how I can help.
For some people, this means the first session focuses entirely on their primary concern. For others, we also find time to discuss their background and any other concerns they might be experiencing in their life.
Sessions 2 and 3 will focus on taking a thorough history about your life, mental health, family, etc. This is so I can gather some context around who you are and what components of your life and history are important to thinking about your concerns.
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Yes!
I work with clients around relationship dynamics, family dynamics, self-esteem, dating, low mood, anxiety, professional or career-related concerns, etc. You are a complex human being and all of your concerns are welcome here!
If there’s an area I don’t feel I can help you with or that you might be better served elsewhere, then I can help you find those services.
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I have found that meeting weekly is the most effective way to help clients start to feel better, achieve their goals, and sustain progress. In some cases, I work with people twice per week.
Doing healing work at the level that will sustain long-term change takes time. I’m excited to walk with you through that process.
When we schedule our first appointment after the free consultation call, we’ll talk about what times work best for you.
I typically have weekend, early morning (before work), and weekday openings for in person (or virtual) therapy. I have a few evenings openings for virtual therapy as well.
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Individual sessions are $240 for 45 minutes.
Couples sessions are $275 for 50 minutes.
Group therapy is generally $95 per session, 90 minutes each.
You are entitled to a *Good Faith Estimate that will be provided after your initial consultation if you decide to schedule.
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I am not contracted with any insurance providers. I’ve chosen to remain out-of-network with insurance plans in order to provide tailored care that is not limited by the restraints of insurance.
Payment is due at the time of the appointment. However, if you have out-of-network benefits, I can provide a statement that you can submit for possible reimbursement if your plan allows. I’m happy to guide you through some questions to ask your insurance company to find out what’s covered.
Some questions you may want to consider asking your insurance are:
Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
What percentage of the fee is covered?
What is the deductible? And when does my plan renew, requiring me to pay the deductible again?
Are there any limitations (such as limit to number of sessions)?
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I am passionate about helping clients who struggle with self-esteem, dating and relationships, and issues related to sexual health. I have specialized expertise in helping individuals diagnosed with genital herpes. I also have experience with depression, anxiety, faith-based and spiritual concerns (particularly for those who come from a Christian background), alcohol and other substance use concerns, sexual assault, and HIV. I proudly serve and welcome individuals from the heterosexual, gay/bi, and transgender communities.
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York State (Lic. # 007138). I am also a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California (Lic. #16249) and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida (#MH2296). I previously worked with the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene providing psychotherapy in New York City's public STD clinics. I have provided training to physicians on brief counseling for individuals diagnosed with genital herpes. I have also provided training on counseling individuals diagnosed with genital herpes to students in mental health counseling programs as well as to other licensed therapists. I have received post-graduate training certificates in Interpersonal Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and in Eating Disorders, Compulsions, and Addictions from the William Alanson White Institute of Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis, and Psychology. I am currently in advanced sex therapy training through the Sexual Health Alliance.
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If patients who are working with me in person cannot attend their regular session in person due to illness or another conflict, we can arrange a virtual session in most cases.
In addition, due to difficulty finding therapists in my area of specialty, I offer virtual therapy to individuals in California, Florida, Upstate New York, and Long Island.
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You can reach out via my contact page. I’ll get back to you with a few times for a free 15-minute consultation so we can talk and see if it feels like a good fit.