Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to the most common questions about working with
Shayan Salar, LCSW, LCADC at Alchemy Psychotherapy. If your question
isn't answered here, reach out for a free 15-minute consultation -
many specifics are easier to address in conversation than in writing.

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 cannot shift, managing what's underneath through
overworking or substances, or feeling disconnected from yourself despite
external success. There is no diagnostic threshold for starting. If
something feels off and is not resolving on its own, that is 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 are 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 would like to shift through therapy.
The pace is collaborative, there is no expectation that you share more
than feels manageable in a first meeting.

How long are therapy sessions?

Standard individual therapy 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?

Trauma therapy 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, and 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 questions should I ask my insurance company about out-of-network benefits?

Ask your insurance provider: 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. All
clinical recommendations are driven by your needs. I accept credit
cards, debit cards, and HSA/FSA cards through a secure client portal.
Payment is 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 am happy to refer to colleagues
or affordable care options that may better fit your circumstances.

Online Therapy and Licensure

What states are you licensed to practice in?

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas. I am also 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, however this is based on demand. I am happy to accommodate
in-person sessions and can sublet an office from a colleague if that
is 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 will 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 would discuss during your consultation.

Approach and 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 to every client.

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,
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (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 does not 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 am a second-year
student at Somatic Experiencing International.

Populations and 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.