Frequently Asked Questions

Pragmatic Questions

Where are you located?

My practice is 100% virtual. I am based out of New York and see clients from anywhere. I am licensed in NY, GA, AZ, and NV.

What are your hours?

I hold sessions on Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am – noon.

How long are the sessions, and how are they conducted?

Sessions are 50 minutes long and are conducted via a HIPAA-compliant Zoom line.

Do you offer free consultations?

Yes! You can click here and book a free 15-minute call with me to get your questions answered and see if we’re a good fit.

How do I make an appointment?

That’s easy! Click this link to schedule a 15-minute discovery call with me. I’ll ask you a few questions to get to know your situation and make sure I can help you. From there, if you are also feeling good about working with me, we can schedule a session.

I already know I want to work with you, can I book an appointment without scheduling a call first?

I prefer to have a brief call with you before booking an initial appointment to ensure we are the right fit for each other. The call is no more than 15 minutes. If, after speaking, we decide to move forward, I’ll schedule our first session together before we get off the phone.

What is your cancellation policy?

I require at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Appointments canceled without sufficient notice will be billed at the full session fee.

Do you take insurance?

I do not bill insurance directly, so I’m considered out of network. I’d be happy to provide you with the Superbill receipt to submit to your insurance if you have any out-of-network benefits or if you have a health savings account you’d like to use.

How do I pay for therapy?

I accept payment in the form of ACH transfer, Zelle, Venmo, or PayPal. If you plan on using a Health Savings Account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA), I will provide you with documentation that you can submit for reimbursement of these services.

Why don’t you take insurance?

I used to be paneled with insurance companies, but I found that it diminished the therapeutic process. I discovered too many limitations to the types and amount of services I could provide.

By operating a self-pay therapy practice, I’m free to provide high-quality, innovative care without the limitations of insurance requirements superseding my clients’ needs.

Why is it so hard to find a good therapist that takes insurance?

Each provider may have their own reasons for not taking insurance. I can’t speak for everyone, but there are a few common reasons to consider:

Privacy, for one. Many insurance companies request patients’ treatment notes and base coverage decisions on them. They require a diagnosis to justify payment and that diagnosis will also dictate the length of the session. Meaning, if you don’t have the “right” diagnosis, sessions are limited to 40-45 minutes. Also, patients who show fast improvement may be pulled from coverage before they’re ready to stop therapy. Many in-network plans also have a cap on the number of therapy sessions an insurance company will pay for each year.

Another, more indirect effect of working in-network is that service quality sometimes suffers. When therapists join an insurance company’s network, they must agree to lower their rates. To make ends meet, those therapists must often take on far more patients than they’re comfortable with. As a result, they may suffer from burnout themselves over time and lack the emotional energy to be fully present for each patient. If you’ve ever experienced feeling overworked and underpaid, you can probably appreciate the toll it takes on you and the quality of the work you do.

I want to work with you, but I have a tight budget. Are your fees flexible?

We will discuss specific pricing and payment options during your free consultation call. I offer different package pricing options to help reduce your overall therapy costs so if you are experiencing financial hardship, let’s talk about it.

Therapy Questions

How long are the sessions and how frequently will I need to come?

Individual Psychotherapy sessions are 50 minutes and conducted via secure Zoom video conference.

We will discuss the frequency of sessions during our consultation depending on your unique needs, but typically, I recommend starting with weekly sessions and adjusting the pace as needed and appropriate.

How is coaching different from therapy?

Coaching is forward-facing. Instead of dealing with the past, we focus on the here and now and moving forward. Coaching is focused on tactical steps (and accountability!) to build the life you want. I use a unique hybrid model that incorporates coaching into our therapy sessions, which is designed to help you reach your therapy goals with velocity.

Who do you work with?

I help dynamic, high-achieving, professional people who are accomplished in some areas of life but struggle with others. Does your personal life or career (or both) look good on paper, but you feel like something is missing? I can help.

What age range do you work with?

I work with adults from ages 20 – 70. Most of my clients fall in the mid-twenties to late forties age range.

What types of issues do you specialize in?

Most of my clients deal with anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, self-image, imposter syndrome, grief and loss, relationship issues, divorce and separation, personal growth, finding meaning and purpose, social anxiety, and career concerns.

What therapy modalities do you use?

I use a hybrid mixture of techniques that are customized for each client to include some or all of the following: Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solutions-Focused Therapy, Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, Person-Centered Approach, Positive Psychology, Life Coaching, and grief counseling.

Do you work with couples?

I see most of my clients individually. However, many of my clients are dealing with relationship issues, and when appropriate, we may include their partner in sessions together.

Do you work with people in the LGBTQ+ community?

Yes. I also work with people who practice alternative lifestyles (polyamory, ethical non-monogamy, BDSM) as well as individuals dealing with problems in intimacy and sexuality.

What is your professional training and experience?

BA in Psychology from SUNY New Paltz

MA in Psychology from Marist College

Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York

Licensed Professional Counselor in GA, AZ, and NV

Certified in Leading Fundamentals and Leading, Engagement, and Contribution, by Landmark Training Academy

Event Leader at Landmark Worldwide

How long have you been a therapist?

I’ve been a therapist for over 20 years. I know, I don’t look old enough to have that much experience, right? Thanks 😉

Are you licensed?

I am licensed in NY, GA, AZ, and NV.

What do you do to continue learning and building competencies as a provider?

Personal and professional development is an ongoing process for me. I’m not done, and neither will you be. Every accomplishment and summit I reach is just the bottom of the next mountain I get the opportunity to climb. I have and continue to participate in various institutions’ personal and professional training and development programs. Most notably and consistently, I have been trained at Landmark Worldwide, where I have gained valuable skills and experience using transformational coaching, and I continue to participate in the Landmark Training Academy.

What makes you different from other therapists?

I believe you can get results immediately. You’ve been suffering long enough, and there’s no reason why you need to spend weeks or months talking about it before you finally feel better. My unique style of therapy, combined with my coaching techniques, will help you produce results in a short amount of time.

How long will I be in therapy?

That depends on you. I’m proud to say that my clients don’t usually see me for very long; this is because I am masterful at quickly getting to whatever is stopping them in life and having them transform that area of life for themselves in a short amount of time. Even then, you may prefer to continue the therapeutic relationship but reduce the frequency of sessions to monthly check-ins. We will work together to evaluate what’s appropriate and feels right for you.

What are sessions like with you?

You’ll feel like you’re talking to a friend, but better. It’s like talking to your smart, accepting friend who’s there to give you the advice you want and opens your eyes to different ways of thinking in a relaxed and easy way.

KAP Questions

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a legal, safe, and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Ketamine has rapidly-acting antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, which can begin to take effect within 1-2 hrs. after treatment and last for up to two weeks. It works by blocking the brain’s NMDA receptors as well as by stimulating AMPA receptors, which are thought to help form new synaptic connections and boost neural circuits that regulate stress and mood. Ketamine has also been shown to enhance overall neuroplasticity for lasting symptom improvement.

Ketamine can be administered in a variety of ways, including IV infusion, intramuscular injection, via nasal spray, and using sublingual lozenges. In my work with Journey Clinical, we only use the sublingual lozenge form.

How does Ketamine feel?

The effects of Ketamine, which most patients find pleasant, last for approximately 45 minutes. These effects can make you feel “far from” your body, and facilitate shifts in perception that can often feel expansive in nature. Your motor and verbal abilities will be reduced, so you’ll be lying down in a comfortable position during the experience.

Once these effects subside, we’ll spend the remainder of our appointment giving you space to process and discuss your experience. While it may feel hard to articulate what happened during the experience, patients feel like the insights gained are none-the-less clear. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks after the Ketamine experience.

How does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy work?

Initial consultation with Journey Clinical

You schedule an initial evaluation with a clinician from the Journey Clinical medical team via Zoom. They will go over your medical and psychiatric history with you, provide education on the treatment and determine if you are eligible for KAP.

If Journey Clinical’s medical team determines that you are eligible for KAP, they will develop a personalized Ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan for you.

Journey Clinical’s medical staff will write a Ketamine prescription for you, and a small amount of oral Ketamine will be sent to your home, enough for the first two KAP sessions. You will be taught to take your vitals and self-administer the Ketamine lozenges by Journey Clinical’s medical team in advance of our KAP sessions.

Preparation sessions

Once you receive your Ketamine lozenges, we will schedule time together for our KAP preparation, dosing and integration sessions. Preparation session(s) will be scheduled just like regular therapy sessions prior to the KAP dosing session. The goal of a preparation session(s) is to align on the process and set intentions for our KAP sessions together.

KAP Dosing Session

A typical Ketamine dosing session lasts between 1-2 hours and takes place remotely via telehealth.
During a dosing session, you will self-administer your Ketamine lozenge in your home. You will be in a comfortable, reclining position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music. Although a KAP dosing session may be largely an internal experience, I will be present with you on Zoom the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed.

Integration Sessions

After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts, and insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session.

Follow-up consultations with Journey Clinical

After our first KAP session, Journey Clinical’s medical team schedules regular follow-ups with you to monitor outcomes and prescribe Ketamine lozenge refills as appropriate. The frequency of follow-ups depends on your unique treatment plan, at a minimum of once per quarter.

What is the cost of treatment?

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is an affordable, accessible modality. Although the medical intake and follow-ups are not covered by insurance, they are eligible for out-of-network reimbursement.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

My typical hourly rate is $200/hr. The total cost of a three-hour dosing session is $500.

Journey Clinical Medical Costs

First-time patients

Initial medical consultation with Journey Clinical: $250
Cost of medication: $88 (enough for two sessions)

Ongoing treatment

Follow-up medical consultation with Journey Clinical $150 (at least 1X per quarter)
Cost of medication: $148 (enough for up to six sessions)

How do I sign up?

If you would like to explore the possibility of working with me on KAP, please e-mail me at michelle@createdlife.llc to discuss eligibility and next steps.

What is Journey Clinical?

Journey Clinical is a platform for licensed psychotherapists to incorporate science-based psychedelic therapies in their practice safely and effectively, starting with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). Journey Clinical’s in-house medical team takes on patient eligibility, prescriptions, and outcome monitoring, while I take on the therapy. Their collaborative care model is designed to deliver personalized treatment plans to meet your individual needs and improve long-term outcomes.