What is therapy like?

Therapy involves developing a relationship with a mental health professional (like myself) to help you navigate a difficult situation or mental health challenge you are currently facing. You and your therapist will talk about what’s bothering you and explore different ways you might cope with and better understand the difficult circumstances you are facing.

What happens at a first appointment?

The first few appointments are “getting to know you” sessions. You’ll go over some administrative necessities first and then we have a conversation about what brought you to therapy, where you’re really struggling, and what you’d like your goals to be in our therapeutic work. Then you and your therapist will talk about how they can help you achieve those goals and make a plan for what our work will look like moving forward.

Therapy is a very personal endeavor and it is important that you feel comfortable with your provider. Clark Psychotherapy always emphasizes to new clients that if they aren’t feeling as though they are “clicking” with their therapist, they do not need to move forward - no hard feelings! We want everyone to get the right care for them, even if it isn’t with us.

Where do we meet?

Both Brianna and Elise offer telehealth and in-person appointments. Our offices are located in Albany, NY, and the exact address will be shared with you when you schedule an appointment.

How does telehealth work?

Clients are invited to create a personal account in the practice’s client portal. Clients are able to directly join their telehealth appointments from this portal at the time of the session. All that is required is a strong wifi connection, a device with webcam and microphone capabilities, and privacy for yourself. Keep in mind that the scope of your therapist’s license necessitates that you be physically located in the state of New York at the time of your appointment.

How much does therapy cost?

Cost depends on whether or not you plan to use health insurance. If your therapist is in-network with your insurance provider, usually the cost per session is a standard co-payment (unless your plan has a deductible). If your therapist is out of network for your insurance plan, or you’d prefer not to use insurance, the rate is $160 per session. We offer a sliding scale to clients for whom that rate is an undue burden, with a floor of $110/session. If you will be paying out of pocket, in accordance with the No Surprises Act, you will be provided with a “good faith estimate” of your anticipated costs prior to our first session.

What insurance plans do you take?

Brianna is in network for CDPHP and Highmark/BlueShield of Northeastern NY. Elise can accept CDPHP plans.

How frequently will we meet?

Your therapist will likely defer to you regarding session frequency. Some people like to meet weekly, others biweekly, monthly, or even on an as-needed basis. Many folks start off meeting with me weekly and then slowly decrease their session frequency as their situation stabilizes. In cases where your therapist has concerns regarding your well-being or ability to make progress on identified goals, they might suggest increasing frequency.

How long does therapy take?

The length of your time in therapy is very personal and situation-specific. Some people find that they are able to very quickly identify and achieve their therapeutic goals and are comfortable wrapping up their work after a handful of sessions. Others prefer ongoing support and meet for much longer, sometimes years. There is no one “right” amount of time to be in therapy and it is usually up to you how long we continue our work together. Very rarely, your therapist may suggest a reduction in session frequency or that you consider transitioning to a different provider if they feel that therapy may have become habitual rather than supportive or that your care needs have extended beyond their area of expertise.

How do I schedule an appointment?

You can reach out to Brianna or Elise on the contact page and let us know you’re interested in scheduling an appointment. From there, we’ll find a mutually agreeable time for a brief phone call to see if we could be a good fit for your needs and to schedule your first appointment.