Therapy FAQs

If you’re asking that question, it’s usually a good place to start.

Many of our clients are high-functioning—they’re managing their responsibilities, showing up for others, and keeping things together on the outside. But internally, they feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns they can’t seem to shift.

Livia:
You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. If your thoughts feel constant, your stress is high, or you’re tired of managing everything on your own, therapy can help you feel better and regain a sense of control.

Kathleen:
You may also be going through something difficult—grief, illness, or a major life change—and simply need a space to process and feel supported. Therapy offers that space.

Many of our clients are capable, responsible, and successful in their daily lives.

They work, go to school, care for others, and meet expectations—but internally feel anxious, pressured, or emotionally exhausted.

Livia:
High-functioning doesn’t mean you’re not struggling. It often means you’ve gotten very good at pushing through—sometimes at the expense of your own well-being.

Kathleen:
It can also mean you’re the one others rely on, which makes it harder to slow down and focus on your own needs.

The first session is focused on understanding what’s bringing you in and what you’re looking for.

Livia:
I’ll ask direct questions to get a clear sense of what’s going on and begin identifying patterns right away. My goal is for you to leave with some clarity—even after the first session.

Kathleen:
We’ll also move at a pace that feels comfortable for you. You don’t have to share everything all at once. The focus is on helping you feel understood and supported from the beginning.

Both—but we don’t need to start by going deep into the past to begin helping you feel better.

Livia:
We focus first on what’s happening right now—your thoughts, patterns, and symptoms—so you can experience relief as soon as possible. From there, we can explore deeper patterns when it’s helpful.

Kathleen:
At the same time, we create space to understand your experiences more fully. This often helps bring meaning and long-term change, especially when you’re navigating loss or life transitions.

This varies, but many clients begin to notice some level of relief early in the process.

Livia:
I take a practical, results-oriented approach, so we focus on strategies that can help reduce anxiety and overwhelm relatively quickly.

Kathleen:
At the same time, meaningful change takes time. We work at a pace that allows for both immediate support and deeper, lasting growth.

Yes.

Livia:
I specialize in working with individuals struggling with eating disorders, as well as the underlying patterns of perfectionism, control, and self-worth that often drive them.

Treatment focuses not only on behaviors, but on understanding and changing the thoughts and emotional patterns behind them.

Yes.

Kathleen:
I work closely with individuals navigating grief, chronic illness, and end-of-life experiences—either personally or within their families. This includes anticipatory grief, loss, and the emotional weight of caregiving.

The goal is to provide a steady, supportive space where you can process what you’re going through and feel less alone.

Yes, we offer telehealth sessions.

We work with clients in:

• Melville, NY

• Nassau County and Suffolk County

• Across New York State

• Florida

This depends on your goals and what you’re looking for.

Livia:
Some clients come in with specific concerns and want focused, shorter-term work.

Kathleen:
Others benefit from ongoing support, especially when navigating more complex or long-term challenges.

We’ll work together to determine what feels right for you.

We specialize in working with high-functioning individuals who are used to managing everything on their own—but are ready for something to feel different.

Livia:
Our work is both strategic and effective. We focus on helping you feel better quickly while also creating lasting change.

Kathleen:
We also provide a space that is steady, supportive, and nonjudgmental—where you can process what you’re going through without pressure.

The first step is reaching out.

You can request an appointment or schedule a consultation. From there, we’ll match you with the clinician who is the best fit for what you’re looking for.

All of the therapists at our practice are Out-of-Network providers. This means that we are not in-network with any insurance providers. What this means is the following:

• If your plan has out-of-network benefits, your insurance provider typically will reimburse you directly after you have met your deductible. We encourage you to reach out to your insurance provider to find out how much they will reimburse you for therapy services at New York Counseling Services LCSW, PLLC.

• You are responsible for the full cost of therapy sessions upfront. 

• New York Counseling Services LCSW, PLLC will provide you with a Superbill on a monthly basis that you will then submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement. 

Please contact us directly if your insurance company needs CPT coding information for Superbills. 

We accept payments through Quickbooks.