FAQ
The questions I actually get asked.
First sessions, insurance, the “am I even allowed to need this” thing. If yours isn't here, ask anyway.
16 questions
Before we talk
If something is loud enough that you are reading this, that already says something.
Start with the question that's already sitting in the room. And if I'm not the right fit, I'll say so and help you find someone who is.
Chapter one
Getting started
Do I really need therapy?
If something is loud enough that you are reading this, that already says something.
Nobody really “needs” therapy the way they need food or sleep. You do not need rock bottom or a dramatic story. “Other people have it worse” is not a reason to carry it alone. If it hurts, it hurts.
What if I cry the whole time?
That’s fine. That happens.
A lot of people cry in the first session. Some people cry every session for months. Some people don’t cry at all. None of it is a signal about how well therapy is working. If crying feels embarrassing, we can talk about that too. Often the thing people are most afraid of revealing is the exact thing worth looking at.
What actually happens in a first session?
First sessions are weird. I get it.
We get on video. I ask what brought you in. We talk. I’m not evaluating you. I’m listening for fit: whether how I work matches what you want, whether you’re comfortable with my style, and whether what you’re dealing with is something I can help with.
No couch. No “tell me about your mother.” No worksheet. You don’t have to prepare. Most people show up not knowing exactly what to say. I’ll ask questions that help.
By the end, most people know whether they want to come back. That’s what we’re sorting out. If it’s not a fit, I’ll say so and help you find someone who is.
What if therapy didn’t work before?
A lot of my clients come to me after therapy that didn’t move the needle. Sometimes it was fit. Sometimes the approach wasn’t a match for what was actually going on. Sometimes you weren’t ready then. And you are now.
“Therapy didn’t work for me” is almost never the full story. Let’s talk about what you tried, what helped, what didn’t, and what you need now.
How long does therapy take?
It depends on what you’re working on and how deep you want to go.
Some people come in for something specific (a transition, a decision, a pattern) and finish in a few months. Others stay a year or more because there are a lot of layers. You’re in charge. We check in about whether it’s still useful.
I’m not going to keep you longer than you need me.
What if we’re not a good fit?
Then we’re not a fit, and I’ll tell you directly in the consult or after the first session.
It’s not awkward. It’s one of the most useful things I can do for you. I know other therapists I trust, and I’ll help you find someone who works better for what you’re dealing with.
Therapy only works when the fit is right. I take that seriously.
Sometimes you weren't ready then. And you are now.
If you've already found the answer you were looking for, you don't need to keep reading. You can book a free consult here.
Book a free 15-min consult →Chapter two
Logistics & payment
Most major insurance plans accepted (Aetna, Cigna, Optum, United, BCBS, Oxford). Check your insurance benefits through Headway →
Do you take insurance?
Insurance: Aetna, Cigna, Optum, United, BCBS, and Oxford. Check your specific plan through my Headway profile.
Private pay available.
What do sessions cost?
Initial evaluations are $200. Ongoing individual sessions are $160 for 50 minutes.
Do you offer sliding scale spots?
I offer a limited number of reduced-rate spots through Open Path Collective for clients who qualify.
Chapter three
Fit, fears & what therapy is like
How do I know if you’re the right therapist for me?
You mostly don’t know until we talk. And that’s normal.
Reading the site helps. If my voice sounds like someone you could open up to, that’s a useful signal. If it doesn’t, that’s useful too.
The consult is the real test: 15 minutes, free, no commitment. Most people know afterward whether they want a first session. Trust that.
Do you work with LGBTQIA+ clients?
Yes. A large portion of my practice is LGBTQIA+ adults.
I have specific experience with identity exploration, coming out, gender and sexuality questions, chosen family, and family-of-origin work when your identity wasn’t welcomed growing up.
You don’t need to educate me.
I'm not sure I'm struggling enough for therapy. Is this still for me?
Plenty of people wonder that. You do not have to be in crisis to start.
A lot of clients are functioning, but barely. Overthinking, feeling disconnected, or tired of managing it alone counts.
Who don’t you work with?
I work with adults in individual therapy.
I do not provide couples therapy, family therapy, or crisis care through private practice.
If you are in immediate danger, call or text 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Is telehealth therapy as effective as in-person?
For most people, yes. Research backs this up, and so does my own caseload.
You lose the in-person room, but you gain showing up from your own couch, on your lunch break, without commuting across the city. For a lot of clients, that ease is part of why therapy actually sticks.
Do you prescribe medication?
No. I provide psychotherapy only. If medication may be helpful, I’m happy to coordinate with or refer you to an appropriate prescriber.
Do you work with adults who were diagnosed with ADHD later in life?
Yes, and a good amount of my practice is exactly that.
Late diagnosis comes with its own weight: years of wondering what was wrong with you, masking that worked until it didn’t, grief for the kid who didn’t get the right support. We deal with the present-day stuff (executive functioning, burnout, shame) and the backward-looking stuff, too.
Currently accepting new clients
If you've read this far, a quick call is usually the next step.
Schedule your free consultQuestion first? Email Angela@nystateofmindtherapy.com or send a note through the contact page.