faq
Questions, answered.
Answers to the most common questions about working with me at Alchemy Psychotherapy. If your question isn't here, reach out for a free 15-minute consultation — many specifics are easier to address in conversation than in writing.
Request a free consultgetting started
Getting started
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
Therapy can help if you find yourself stuck in patterns you understand intellectually but can't shift, managing what's underneath through overworking or substances, or feeling disconnected from yourself despite external success. There's no diagnostic threshold for starting. If something feels off and isn't resolving on its own, that's enough.
Do you offer a free consultation?
Yes. I offer a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to discuss what brings you in, answer initial questions, and determine whether my approach is a good fit for your goals. Consultations are not therapy sessions — they're a conversation to help you decide whether to take the next step.
What does the first therapy session look like?
The first session is a biopsychosocial assessment lasting 60 to 90 minutes. We discuss your history, what brought you in, your relational and family context, and what you'd like to shift through therapy. The pace is collaborative; there's no expectation that you share more than feels manageable in a first meeting.
How long are therapy sessions?
Standard individual sessions are 45 minutes. A 30-minute session may be appropriate when clinically indicated and agreed on collaboratively. The initial biopsychosocial assessment runs 60 to 90 minutes. Group therapy sessions are 90 minutes. All sessions are conducted via secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth video.
How long does trauma therapy usually take?
Timelines vary by trauma type and individual response. Single-event trauma often improves over several months. Complex or developmental trauma — repeated or long-term experiences — typically requires longer work, often a year or more, with progress measured in nervous system regulation, relational shifts, and reduced reactivity rather than fixed session counts.
insurance & fees
Insurance, fees & payment
Do you accept insurance?
As of May 1, 2026, I am strictly private pay and out-of-network. I no longer accept insurance directly. If you have out-of-network mental health benefits, I can provide a Superbill on the first of each month, which you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement based on your specific plan.
What is a Superbill and how do I use it for reimbursement?
A Superbill is an itemized monthly statement of therapy services that includes the diagnosis code, CPT code, dates of service, fees paid, and my license and NPI numbers. You submit it to your insurance company to request reimbursement under your out-of-network mental health benefits. Reimbursement amounts depend entirely on your specific plan.
What should I ask my insurance company about out-of-network benefits?
Ask: Do I have out-of-network mental health coverage? What percentage do out-of-network benefits reimburse? Is there a separate deductible for mental health? Am I covered to see a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who is out of network? How many sessions per year are covered, and is there an annual dollar cap?
What are your fees and what payment methods do you accept?
Biopsychosocial assessment (intake): $300. Standard 45-minute session: $250. Thirty-minute session, when clinically determined: $185. I accept credit cards, debit cards, and HSA/FSA cards through a secure client portal, processed at the time of each session.
Do you offer sliding-scale or reduced-fee sessions?
In limited circumstances, a reduced fee is available based on financial need and current caseload availability. Sliding-scale spots are not guaranteed and are discussed during the initial consultation. If reduced-fee availability is full, I'm happy to refer to colleagues or affordable care options that may better fit your circumstances.
online & licensure
Online therapy & licensure
What states are you licensed to practice in?
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas, and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) in New Jersey. I offer telehealth therapy to adults located in any of these four states at the time of the session.
Do you offer in-person therapy?
Yes, though this is based on demand. I'm happy to accommodate in-person sessions and can sublet an office from a colleague if preferred. Most of my practice is delivered through secure telehealth, which research consistently shows produces outcomes comparable to in-person therapy for the majority of adult presentations.
How does online therapy work?
You receive a unique session link by email before each appointment. Sessions take place over a HIPAA-compliant secure video platform on your phone, tablet, or computer. You'll need a private space, a stable internet connection, and a device with a working camera and microphone. The therapeutic process itself is identical to in-person work.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Peer-reviewed research consistently finds telehealth psychotherapy produces outcomes comparable to in-person therapy for most adult presentations, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use. For severe presentations requiring in-person assessment or crisis stabilization, a referral to higher levels of care may be more appropriate, which we'd discuss during your consultation.
approach
Approach & modalities
What is trauma-informed therapy?
Trauma-informed therapy is an orientation, not a single technique. It recognizes that past trauma shapes present nervous system responses, prioritizes physical and emotional safety in every session, moves at a pace your system can tolerate, and selects modalities based on their evidence base in trauma recovery rather than applying a one-size-fits-all protocol.
What modalities do you use in your practice?
My approach is integrative and includes Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Experiencing, psychodynamic and attachment-informed therapy, CBT, DBT, REBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), exposure therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. I draw from what fits your nervous system and goals rather than applying a single model.
What is Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy?
Internal Family Systems is an evidence-based modality that views the mind as a system of parts — protective, managerial, and exiled — organized around a core Self. IFS helps clients understand and work with these parts compassionately rather than against them, often producing meaningful shifts in shame, chronic anxiety, and trauma responses that talk therapy alone doesn't reach.
What is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing, developed by Dr. Peter Levine, is a body-based approach to trauma resolution that works with nervous system responses rather than only narrative memory. It helps the body complete stress responses that became stuck during trauma, often producing relief in chronic tension, dissociation, and hypervigilance. I'm a second-year student at Somatic Experiencing International.
populations
Populations & specializations
Do you specialize in working with BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, or culturally diverse clients?
Yes. I practice from a culturally responsive, harm-reduction lens with significant experience working with BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, and culturally diverse populations. Cultural context, identity, and intersectional experience are integrated into how I understand a client's history and patterns — not treated as separate from the therapeutic work itself.
other
Other common questions
Do you prescribe medications?
No. In New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas, psychiatric medications must be prescribed by a licensed physician or psychiatric nurse practitioner. I work closely with prescribing providers when medication is part of a client's care and can provide referrals to trusted psychiatrists or psychiatric nurse practitioners when needed.
Do you provide family therapy or couples therapy?
I don't identify as a primary family or couples therapist. However, I may invite a partner or family member into a specific session for a defined purpose and limited duration when clinically appropriate. For ongoing family or couples work, I maintain a referral network of skilled clinicians and will provide referrals as needed.
What if I am in a mental health crisis between sessions?
Online therapy is not appropriate for crisis stabilization. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, suicidal ideation, or risk of harm to yourself or others, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room. I can also help coordinate referrals to higher levels of care when clinically indicated.