Welcome to my NYC-based practice! I am a Clinical Psychologist working with students and professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of themselves and facilitate meaningful changes in their lives.

Many of my clients feel restless, empty or like something is missing from their lives. Wrestling with these experiences can lead to anxiety, feeling stuck, tense relationships with loved ones, or feeling uncertain on how to navigate a life transition. My goal is to foster new insights and skills to help you move forward.

I believe that healing is effected in a warm, empathic, positive and collaborative space in which we help you become more whole in the Jungian psychoanalytic sense. This means resolving inner conflicts and/or traumata that stand in the way of pursuing your passions and actualizing your potential. This work entails more than just focusing on symptom reduction, and can lead to deeper, long lasting growth.

My therapeutic approach is based on Jungian analytic psychology and evidence-based cognitive behavioral treatment. I custom-tailor treatment to your needs by balancing deeper, insight-oriented work with skills-based approaches to reduce suffering. This means working with you to address painful feelings immediately, through practical coping techniques, and also exploring the roadblocks to expressing yourself more authentically. We will gain insight into your relationship patterns by better understanding your past, (re-)connecting with your values, and freeing yourself from traumatic experiences and/or ineffectual coping strategies.

Please note:

  • All sessions are virtual at this time.

  • Insurances accepted: Aetna, NYU Aetna Student Health plan.

  • For all other insurances, I will provide a super-bill for out-of-network benefits and/or your FSA/HSA.

  • I am not a MediCare/MedicAid provider.

Specialties

Anxiety

We all experience anxiety – it is our natural alarm system. While anxiety is a natural part of life, it only becomes an issue if you feel like it is keeping you from doing the things you want to do.

Anxiety can take many forms – being social, public speaking, being intimate, saying “no,” trying something new. Learning to manage your anxiety and saying yes to new opportunities despite the risks can be a daunting but achievable journey. One that is certainly worth the risk!!!

There are also many effective therapeutic ways to work with anxiety. We will collaborate to find the best-suited approach for your personality and lifestyle. Once we understand your goals, we would work on developing your confidence, assertiveness, and self esteem to reach them.

LGBTQIA+

Being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community makes you more vulnerable to physical and mental health pressures due to sexual minority stressors which may lead to experiences of discrimination, bullying, sexual/gender identity concealment, homo- and trans-phobia, and stigmatization.  These stressors can also have profound impacts on your personality, sense of self, quality of intimate relationships, and lead to mood and substance use problems.

If you have encountered such stressors, you may have already learned to cope with them. If they have shaped your expectations in a painful or restrictive manner however, such as feeling alone, expecting rejection, hiding parts of yourself, or engaging in risky behaviors, then let’s work together on developing freer, healthier ways to be yourself and engage more authentically with the world.

Trauma / PTSD

Trauma (Greek for wound) is a deeply subjective experience that changes the trajectory of your life. People suffering from PTSD often feel painfully alienated, may alternate between feelings of numbness and hyper-vigilance, or struggle with nightmares, flashbacks and calming themselves down when triggered.

If you are experiencing such symptoms, or if specific places, dates, people, or songs trigger you and hijack your day, please reach out. While difficult, there is a path out of the hellish landscape your psyche is trapped in. My work with you will be tailored to your specific experience and needs.

My Approach

I practice Jungian psychotherapy and have had extensive training in Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioral modalities. Psychology seeks to help you know yourself.

Man’s task is to become conscious of the contents that press upwards from the unconscious. As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being. (CG Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections.)

Carl Jung developed the individuation process, through which a person consciously develops their unique life philosophy to become whole, thus living more fully and authentically. He decried the increasing specialization and reliance on technology of our society, as it disconnects us from our instincts and Nature. While the pursuit of specialization may bring success, it also increases one’s loneliness, as specialization often comes with perfectionism, critical thinking and difficulty finding time to relax.

The Jungian approach works to unite conscious and unconscious aspects of your personality to relieve the suffering that comes from being too perfectionistic and focused on success. The aim is to build harmony, by resolving inner conflicts and bringing other aspects of your personality online.

So what can you expect?‍ ‍

Therapy is what you need it to be. No topic is too big or too small. By gaining a more encompassing understanding of yourself, you can free yourself from old, unconscious patterns and beliefs that are holding you back.

In terms of day-to-day work, we’ll talk a lot about you, what’s happening in your life, and what your experiences mean to you. We’ll also make room for the Unconscious, by working with your dreams, fantasies and creative yearnings.

 You’ll know therapy is working when you find that you’re more…

  • Accepting of yourself and others,

  • Attuned to your feelings, thoughts and body sensations,

  • Adaptive rather than reactive to stressful situations,

  • In loving, enriching and mutually supportive relationships

  • Wholly and authentically you. 

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life, and you will call it fate.” — Carl Gustav Jung

“One of the most wicked destructive forces, psychologically speaking, is unused creative power ... If someone has a creative gift and out of laziness, or for some other reason, doesn't use it, the psychic energy turns to sheer poison. That's why we often diagnose neuroses and psychotic diseases as not-lived higher possibilities…” — Marie Louise von Franz

Background

My love for psychology was born from living around the world. I’ve loved sharing in people’s cultures, celebrating their diversity, and understanding what brings them joy. Nowadays, in my practice, this passion continues and means helping my clients overcome obstacles to a freer, joy-filled life.   

As a world citizen, I am accustomed to working with international people immigrating and settling in the US. Originally from Vienna, educated in the Lycée Français, I grew up in Austria, France and South Africa before coming to the US for college. I offer therapy in English, French and German.

As an anxiety and trauma specialist, I have helped clients overcome their social or general anxiety so that they can pursue their goals, live authentically and find their voice. I also have significant training and experience in working with survivors of sexual assault, PTSD, stigmatization, bullying, homophobia, and emotional/verbal/physical abuse.

Prior to private practice, I worked 5 years at NYU’s Counseling Center, where I was part of the Trauma, Mindfulness, and Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity specialty teams. I have trained in highly diverse settings in NYC including Mount Sinai Beth Israel, the Manhattan Veteran Affairs, the Center for HIV Educational Studies & Training, Parnes Community Clinic in the Bronx, and Fordham University Counseling Center.

I earned my doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Ferkauf Graduate School, which is affiliated with the Albert Einstein Medical School. I also have an MBA from Columbia Business School and a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the Cornell School of Engineering, and a Baccalaureate from the Lycée Français.

“The most common form of despair is not being who you are.” 
― Søren Kierkegaard

“The truth about intimate relationships is that they can never be any better than our relationship with ourselves.” 
― James Hollis

Let’s Connect

Getting Started

Step 1 - Consultation Call

Research indicates that the most important predictor of success in therapy is fit – i.e. how comfortable you feel with your therapist. During our initial call, we will discuss what you are looking for and cover logistics such as scheduling, cost, and office policies and procedures. You decide from there if you would like to move ahead with scheduling an initial session. If for whatever reason you decide that we are not a good fit, I will do my best, based on our conversation and my initial assessment, to connect you to someone who is.

Step 2 - Therapy Costs

The cost of therapy will depend on your in-network or out-of-network insurance benefits:

In Network: My practice is in-network with the NYU and Columbia student insurance plans (Aetna Student Health), as well as most NY-based Aetna plans. This means that you will have a copay or co-insurance fee, usually $20-50, per session, depending on the insurance plan you have.

Out of Network: many commercial health insurance plans (eg Cigna, Anthem, BCBS) provide reimbursements for a large portion (50-70%) of your out-of-pocket therapy costs, making out-of-network therapy much more affordable. To expedite this discussion, you can call your insurance provider to inquire about your out-of-network mental health benefits. Ask them about your behavioral/mental health benefits (deductible and coverage amounts) for “Outpatient Mental Health Office Visits.” (CPT codes: 90834 or 90837 for individual therapy). Some insurances distinguish between services provided in-person versus telehealth. You will also want to ask if there is a “maximum reimbursable charge”.

Step 3 - Paper Work before the First Session

You will receive an e-mail invitation to create an account through my client portal. These consent forms only take a few minutes to complete and should be completed before your intake session.

Step 4 - Beginning the Therapeutic Journey

The first three to five sessions are an important time to gather information. It is a time for me to get to know you and help you articulate your treatment goals, and as a result you may find that I ask more questions at this stage. Just as significantly, it is a time for you to discover how therapy feels to you — whether you feel comfortable sharing your experiences and feelings, whether what you share is received with understanding and acceptance, and whether you have confidence in my ability to help you. By the end of this consultation period, we will both have more clarity on how to move forward in the most helpful way for you.

Please fill out the form below when you are ready to start. I look forward to hearing from you!