I charge $275 for an initial intake appointment and $250 for each individual psychotherapy session. I do not offer a sliding scale. At this time, I only accept credit card payments via Ivy Pay.

No, I do not accept insurance. I am not a participating provider in any insurance networks. You will be expected to pay for each session at the time it is held. If you have out-of-network benefits, I can provide you with an invoice that you can submit to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement. This means you would pay me, then submit the bills or invoices to your insurer, and then your insurance company would reimburse you according to your contract with them. Typically, there is an out-of-network deductible you will have to meet before they will reimburse you.

So to sum up, please remember that you (not your insurance company) are responsible for full payment of my fees. I highly recommend that you learn exactly what out-of-networks mental health services your insurance policy covers. You always have the right to pay for my services yourself to avoid issues with insurance.

Great question! You’re right that fortunately, there are tons of wonderful therapists, with impressive skills, experiences, and strengths. However, in my experience, there are relatively few in this area with specific breast cancer expertise, who focus their practice exclusively on the breast cancer journey.

My clients have reported finding it to be a relief that they don’t have to spend valuable session time teaching me about breast cancer and its treatment, and they don’t have to interrupt their stories to explain terms like “tissue expander” or “flap” or “aromatase inhibitors.” Clients have told me that they value being able to jump right into discussing their concerns without having to stop and give a vocabulary lesson. They also report valuing my familiarity with breast cancer-related symptoms and side-effects, that I’m comfortable discussing concerns about mortality, that I can share the knowledge I’ve accumulated over the years, and that I work to stay up-to-date on scientific advances in breast cancer care. On a personal level, clients report appreciating that I’m down-to-earth, direct, caring, solution-focused, use a good deal of humor, and balance emotional support with practical suggestions.

I do sometimes accept patients with issues other than breast cancer (or genetic risk for breast cancer) on a case-by-case basis, if I think it’s a good fit. My focus has been exclusively on breast cancer for quite a while now, but of course what starts with talking breast cancer usually shifts into talking about other issues (e.g., professional goals, self-care, friends, family, etc.). If you have questions about whether I might be the right fit for you, please feel free to schedule a free consultation to discuss.

My expertise is focused on helping women through the breast cancer journey, and my clinical experience is exclusively with adults. But I’m happy to work with you to find referrals for your loved ones who may be struggling as well.

No, weekly sessions aren’t required. Although most clients choose to attend weekly at first, so we can get to know each other more quickly, bi-weekly, monthly, and occasion-based or as-needed sessions are definitely options depending on the client and their concerns. I’ll offer scheduling recommendations, but I respect your ability to set the pace of the sessions.

There’s really no one magic number. Each client is different, and our time together will depend on your treatment goals. However, research has shown that in general about half of clients improve after eight sessions, and about 75% of clients improve after 6 months. I generally recommend starting with 8-12 weekly sessions and then evaluating your preferences after that.

Yes, at this time, all services are provided over telephone or videoconference.

In a word, convenience. There's no commute, no travel time, no sitting in a waiting room. Women dealing with breast cancer spend more than enough time going back and forth to doctors and sitting in too many clinical offices for far too long. I offer videotherapy using a simple, HIPAA-compliant platform which you can access from your phone, tablet, or computer. Some clients choose telephone-only sessions, which is an option as well. You'll let me know what feels most comfortable for you.

I am licensed in the states of New York and New Jersey.

Common problems for which clients seek my help for are: difficulty adjusting to a new or changed breast cancer diagnosis, adjusting to appearance changes as a result of treatment (e.g., mastectomy, breast reconstruction, hair loss), managing symptoms and side-effects of treatment (e.g., pain, nausea, fatigue), communicating about cancer and survivorship with others (including healthcare providers and people in your support network), having difficulty deciding between treatment options, ruminating over thoughts about your diagnosis (e.g., “Why me?”), having difficulty asking for or accepting the help you need, giving yourself permission to create time and space for self-care, finding it hard to balance what you can get done during treatment and what you think you “should” be able to do, and feeling fear of cancer recurrence.

No, as a psychologist in New York and New Jersey, I cannot prescribe medication. However, I am happy to collaborate on your case with other providers (e.g., psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners) who can and do.

Of course! Lots of people cry during sessions. Often therapy is the first opportunity you have to take the time and space to feel your feelings, and to let down your guard. Therapy can feel like a relief because you can express your emotions without having to worry about me or how I’ll handle it. There's no need to self-monitor or try to be stoic. My hope is that therapy is a safe space for you to feel and react in whatever way feels genuine, natural, and cleansing to you. I'm here for it all ☺

Of course! (Or should I say f*** yes!) I want you to feel comfortable speaking in whatever way feels spontaneous and natural for you. Again, no need to self-monitor or worry about being “proper.” Just be yourself.

Not at all! You'd be surprised how much laughter is mixed in. Although we’ll often be discussing serious topics, and they can be heavy at times, most of my clients describe the work with me as surprisingly comfortable and fun. I'm a big fan of using a spoonful of gentle humor to help the therapy go down. If you haven’t already, check out the @snarkycancer account on Instagram. The creators do a fantastic job of acknowledging how hard cancer can be in a funny, incredibly relatable way. I’ve been told that sessions with me can sound a bit like posts here.

Overall, I’d say I take an organic, spontaneous, client-centered approach to treatment. Generally, you’ll set the agenda each week by telling me what was most concerning or upsetting the week before, as well as about your successes, progress, and pleasant or rewarding events. Based on that initial discussion, I’ll work to offer you insights, coping skills, ways of reframing or reconsidering situations, and education to help you feel less anxious, more informed, and more confident about your ability to cope with stressors.

There so many excellent resources online, but a good starting point is this article from the American Psychological Association this article.

Sorry about that…but yes! The more I know right up front, the more quickly we can jump into working together. Thanks for your patience ☺

Yes I do! Eliza is a micro Bernedoodle. You won’t always see her on screen for sessions, but she may wander in to say hello, and she’s very likely napping in the background. She (and I) are looking forward to meeting you!