Every person is different and I take a nonjudgemental and accepting approach to understanding you. Once I understand what is going on for you, I take a focused and collaborative approach. My goal is to get you feeling better as quickly as possible.

Why See Me?

With all the therapists out there, why see me?

1) I have trained and supervised hundreds of mental health professionals, so you can be sure you are getting a high level of expertise when you see me.

2) I have a PhD in Clinical Psychology and am a tenured psychology professor at Long Island University with 20 years of clinical experience.

3) I am a cognitive-behavioral (CBT) psychologist with a wide range of specialized training.

4) I only accept a limited number of clients at any one time. This means that unlike many other overcommitted psychologists, I will give you my full attention.

5) I am a recognized expert in the treatment of adults and children, having appeared on MSNBC, the Washington Post, Parents Magazine, and other outlets.

Here's a link to a research study I'm involved with on sleep!

Have a look at my chapter on the Treatment of Pediatric Enuresis and Encopresis!

Here's a recent peer reviewed scientific journal article I co-authored on Time-Out!

If you'd like even more information, here is my full curriculum vitae. It is written for academia, but it might be helpful to see what my academic work has consisted of.

Training

I am a New York State licensed psychologist (license number 017589, valid until 12/31/2022) and have received extensive training at the following institutions.

 

I earned a B.S. in Human Development from Cornell University.

I earned an M.S. in Clinical Psychology and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

I completed a one-year predoctoral internship in the Department of Psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center.

I completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Stony Brook University, conducting research on parenting and partner aggression.

I was previously on the Psychiatry faculty at the NYU School of Medicine.

I joined the Clinical Psychology faculty at LIU-Post (Long Island University/C W Post Campus) in 2001. I am currently a tenured associate professor.

Professional Organizations

Choosing the Right Therapist

Here are two helpful links to help you understand how to choose a therapist and what cognitive behavioral therapy is:

What to Expect From Therapy

Guidelines for Choosing a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist

Does Your Child Need Therapy?

How to Work Well With Your Child's Therapist

Insurance

I am an out-of-network provider. That means that I do not directly accept payment from insurance companies. However, you may be able to be reimbursed for my services by your insurance company.

I am now working with a company that does all the work for you and is free for you as one of my clients! Nirvana Health will tell you how much reimbursement you can expect and will even submit claims for you! I pay them so you don’t have to.

If you have out-of-network benefits, I will accept payment when treatment is rendered and I will give you a statement (called a “Superbill”) for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. I am happy to provide whatever information the insurance company requests, but the decision to reimburse is completely theirs.

It is helpful to call your insurance company in advance of your first visit so that you understand your out-of-network benefits. You will want to ask your insurance company the following questions:

Do I have out of network benefits?
Do I have a deductible? 
Is there a separate deductible for mental health treatment?
How many sessions per year are covered?
How much does the insurance company reimburse for each session?

Medical professionals communicate to insurance companies about the type of treatments they provide by using what are called "CPT Codes." If your insurance company asks what CPT codes you will be seeking reimbursement for, ask about the following CPT codes: consultation 90791.90 and individual therapy 90834.

Your insurance company may tell you that there is no need to go out of network because their network includes a number of therapists. Unfortunately, most therapists do not use evidence-based (scientifically supported) treatments. This can lead to wasted time and money. 

Whether you choose to be seen by me or another mental health provider, you should always ask what scientific evidence there is for a particular approach. If a therapist gives you a vague answer or only says that the approach he/she is proposing, “has worked in his/her experience,” you are unlikely to receive a treatment with solid scientific evidence. 

As a full time university professor, who trains dozens of doctoral students every year, I am constantly learning the most advanced psychological treatments that are available. In fact, as an NIH (National Institutes of Health) funded researcher myself, I help create and test some of these very treatments. If there is not an evidence-based treatment for a particular problem, I will tell you so!

Consumer Protections

It is important that anyone interested in seeing a psychologist work only with a licensed psychologist. The following section is a shortened version of information posted on the website of the New York State Education Department. They are in charge of licensing medical professionals.

What is a psychologist?

A psychologist is a health care professional who diagnoses and treats mental, nervous, emotional, and behavioral disorders and ailments. Psychologists' practices also include industrial/organizational psychology, research, and teaching.

Who may use the terms "psychologist," "psychological," or "psychology" alone or in combination with other words and phrases?

Only a licensed psychologist or a person working in an "exempt setting" may use these titles and terms. Exempt settings include chartered schools, settings operated by the government, and most colleges and universities. Students who are working in settings as part of their authorized doctoral program may have titles such as "psychologist-in-training" or "psychology intern."

What credentials do New York psychologists have?

New York psychologists have earned a doctoral degree in psychology from a program registered or accepted as equivalent by the New York State Education Department. Psychologists with doctoral degrees with the letters Ph.D., Psy.D. and Ed.D. all have met the same educational requirements.

In addition, New York psychologists have completed two years of supervised experience, including one year after the doctoral degree. They have also passed a national licensing exam.

Verifying a New York license:

New York psychologists must display a current New York registration certificate; this certificate lists the professional's name, address, and dates of the registration period. You may verify an individual's license and registration on this site.

Scientifically-Based Treatments

There are a lot of psychological treatments out there. How would a client know if they are receiving a treatment that is supported by science?

Every year, billions of research dollars are spent around the world, developing and improving treatments for psychological problems. It can be very confusing for a consumer to know if the treatment a psychologist suggests is supported by research. At a minimum, a client should ask their therapist what evidence supports a particular approach. Consumers can also do their own research. One good place to start is the website of the Society of Clinical Psychology. They have a comprehensive list of evidence-based treatments for a large number of psychological issues.

Trust

Whether you are seeking treatment for yourself or your child, it is an enormous leap of faith to come forward and trust a stranger with private and difficult feelings and thoughts. Credentials and experience can help a prospective client feel more secure that they are seeing someone who will act in their best interests, but seeking help requires trust. I consider it a privilege to be extended that trust and I want you to know that I work hard every day to live up to that responsibility.

The Evaluation Process

Our first session or two will involve an evaluation of your (or your child’s) needs. By the end of the evaluation, I will be able to offer you some first impressions of what our work will include and a treatment plan to follow, if you decide to continue with therapy. You should evaluate this information along with your own opinions about whether you feel comfortable working with me. At the end of the evaluation, I will notify you if I believe that I am not the right therapist for you and, if so, I will give you referrals to other practitioners whom I believe are better suited to help you.