Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer online therapy in New York that accepts insurance and Medicaid?

Yes. NYC Affirmative Psychotherapy provides online therapy in New York that accepts insurance, including select Medicaid plans. Our therapists offer LGBTQ-affirming, culturally responsive care through telehealth, making it easier to access affordable therapy from anywhere in New York State.

How long are therapy sessions?

Our individual therapy sessions are 45 minutes. Couples sessions are 50 minutes. Group sessions may vary slightly.

How do I meet with my therapist?

Our practice is fully remote, so you will meet with your therapist via a HIPAA-compliant video chat platform that does not require a download. You will receive a direct link to your appointment each week via email.

Do I have to be in New York?

Our therapists are licensed in NY state to work with NY state residents. Although the practice is fully remote, we can only treat you if your residence is in NY state. Students who are enrolled in a NY state college or university are eligible. We do have several NJ licensed therapists that we can match you with if you are a New Jersey resident.

How do I pay for sessions?

During the intake process you will be able to add one or more credit/debit/HSA/FSA cards to your secure client portal. This card will be charged each week after your appointment.

What if I need to reschedule?

Just reach out to your therapist directly via email, and if they have an opening that works for you, you can reschedule.

What if I live in New Jersey but I work in New York?

Under telehealth regulations, we are licensed to work with NY state residents it does not matter if you are physically in the state during your session. However we do have some NJ licensed therapists that we can match you with if you are a NJ resident.

What is your cancellation policy?

We require 48 hours notice for any cancellation or rescheduling request to avoid a fee. This work requires a commitment to weekly sessions, so we also limit the number of cancellations throughout the year. You can discuss this with your therapist.

Do you keep notes about what I say in session?

Yes. The laws and standards of our profession require that we keep clinical treatment records. We can prepare a summary for you if you request it within a reasonable time frame. Because these are professional records, they can be misinterpreted and/or upsetting to untrained readers. If you wish to see your records, we recommend that you view them in our presence so that we can discuss the contents. We do charge an appropriate fee for professional time spent in responding to this request.

Can I choose my own therapist?

You can inform us if you prefer a specific therapist on our intake form. If they don’t have an opening that fits your schedule, we’ll offer an appointment with another therapist that we think will be a fit for you.

Do you prescribe medication?

Our practice only provides psychotherapy. However we can refer you to a psychiatric provider who can prescribe medications if necessary.

Which insurance plans do you accept for therapy?

NYC Affirmative Psychotherapy offers online therapy/telehealth in New York and accepts a range of insurance plans, including major commercial insurers and select Medicaid plans. We are in-network with Aetna (including Meritain Health), Anthem / Blue Cross Blue Shield/ Empire BCBS, MetroPlus Health, United HealthCare (including Oxford and Oscar and NYCE PPO), and Wellfleet Student Insurance.

Do your therapists accept Medicaid for therapy in NY?

Yes, NYC Affirmative Psychotherapy offers online therapy that accepts Medicaid for eligible clients in New York. Our therapists provide telehealth services that are covered by Medicaid plans, allowing clients to access affirming and culturally responsive therapy without paying full out-of-pocket costs.

At this time we DO accept Anthem, United Healthcare and MetroPlus Health Medicaid and Marketplace plans. We do not accept Medicaid plans from Aetna or “straight Medicaid.” If you are on one of these plans, you can opt for our sliding scale. Check here for details and to see if we are in-network with your insurance.

How much does therapy cost with insurance?

The cost of therapy at NYC Affirmative Psychotherapy depends on your insurance plan. Many clients pay only a copay or coinsurance for online therapy sessions, while some Medicaid plans cover therapy at little to no cost. We verify your insurance benefits in advance so you understand your expected costs before beginning care.

Is psychotherapy confidential?

Yes, what you talk about is confidential and we will take every measure we can to safeguard your information. It is unethical for us to disclose information about our work together (with a few exceptions listed below where we are required by our profession to break confidentiality).

In the event there is clear and imminent danger to yourself or another person.
If you disclose information that provides evidence of current abuse or neglect of a child or an older adult.
You authorize your therapist to disclose information (e.g., to another treatment provider or family member).
In certain legal proceedings, which is very rare, and we are under court order.

Can I do therapy every 2 weeks (bi-weekly)?

NYCAP offers weekly therapy appointments, but not any other frequency of therapy. However, you can cancel up to 5 sessions per calendar year with no fee.

Do you offer affordable therapy if I don’t have insurance?

Yes. NYC Affirmative Psychotherapy offers affordable online therapy options for clients in New York and New Jersey, including sliding scale rates based on financial need. Our goal is to make LGBTQ-affirming and anti-oppressive therapy accessible, whether or not you have insurance coverage. Sliding scale information is here.

Why is the practice closed for a week in June?

One of the tenets embedded in NYC Affirmative Psychotherapy’s philosophy is a commitment to serving queer communities of color. We express that commitment by not only providing psychotherapeutic services to historically marginalized populations, but by also creating job opportunities for those same communities that we serve. We continuously strive to ‘practice what we preach’ and we want to center and celebrate our staff through the lens of rest and celebration. Annually our practice will be closed from the Saturday before Juneteenth until the Monday after NYC Pride. For more information see here.

Can I find an LGBTQ-affirming therapist, Black or BIPOC therapist, or LGBTQ-affirming therapist through your practice?

Yes! NYC Affirmative Psychotherapy provides online LGBTQ-affirming therapy in New York, including therapists who specialize in working with queer, trans, and BIPOC clients.

Our team includes Black and BIPOC therapists and is committed to providing culturally responsive, anti-oppressive care. Clients seeking therapy with a therapist of color can request this preference, and we do our best to match you with a therapist who aligns with your identity and lived experience.

All therapy is provided via secure telehealth, so you can work with an identity-affirming therapist anywhere in New York State.

We prioritize thoughtful matching and will work to connect you with a therapist who understands your experiences and provides affirming, identity-aware care.

Where is NYCAP located?

We serve residents of the entire state of New York (and New Jersey) via online therapy.

Have a question we haven’t answered? Use this form to send us an email.

Please do not include sensitive information. If you need to email us about something sensitive, use contact@nycaffirmative.com and send from your own email account.