Couples Therapy for Brooklyn Couples: Midtown Office or Online

If you live in Brooklyn, you can work with Moshe Ratson, LMFT, MBA, in person at his Midtown Manhattan office near Grand Central Station, or Online by Video from home. There is no Brooklyn office. The 4 train runs from Brooklyn to Grand Central-42 St every day, so for couples near that line the trip is one subway ride.

Where do Brooklyn couples meet with Moshe Ratson?

Sessions happen in one of two places. The office is at 260 Madison Ave #8023, New York, NY 10016, in Midtown Manhattan, a short walk from Grand Central Station. The other option is Online by Video, held on Zoom, which you join from home or another private room. Both formats run 45 minutes, and couples counseling, marriage counseling and premarital counseling are offered in either one. Some couples combine the two, and one partner can come to the office while the other joins by video.

So the real question for a Brooklyn couple is not whether you can get help in Brooklyn, but which format fits your week. The answer usually comes down to your subway line, your schedule and how you feel about talking from home.

Which subway lines run from Brooklyn to Grand Central?

Grand Central-42 St station is on the Lexington Avenue line. Two of its express trains reach Brooklyn, but on different schedules, and the difference matters if you are thinking about an evening session.

• The 4 train. According to the MTA timetable, 4 trains run daily between Woodlawn in the Bronx and Crown Heights-Utica Av in Brooklyn, express in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Its listed stops include Nevins St, Atlantic Av and Grand Central-42 St. Late at night and early in the morning it runs local and extends to New Lots Av.
• The 5 train. The 5 reaches Brooklyn only part of the time. The MTA says that on weekday daytimes most 5 trains run to Flatbush Av-Brooklyn College, but at other times they turn back at Bowling Green in Manhattan. If your session is on a weekday evening or a weekend, plan on the 4 rather than the 5 for the Brooklyn part of the trip.

If your line goes to Times Square instead. Many Brooklyn neighborhoods are closer to lines that serve Times Sq-42 St than to the 4 or 5. The 2 train, for example, runs at all times between the Bronx and Flatbush Av-Brooklyn College and stops at Times Sq. From there, the 42 St Shuttle runs across to Grand Central-42 St with a free transfer. The MTA lists the A, C, E, N, Q, R, W, 1, 2, 3 and 7 at Times Sq-42 St, and says the shuttle runs at all times except late nights, roughly midnight to 6 AM.

Service changes for construction are common, especially on weekends, and the MTA notes its timetables can change without notice. Check service alerts before you leave, and give yourselves a buffer the first time. Arriving flustered from a delayed train is a hard way to start a session.

Is the trip worth it, or is video easier?

Count the whole commitment, not only the 45 minutes. Sessions are usually weekly, so a round trip from Brooklyn repeats every week for as long as the work continues. For some couples that is a reasonable trade. For others it becomes the reason sessions start slipping.

The office tends to work well for Brooklyn couples when:

• One or both of you already work in Midtown and can meet there after work.
• Home is crowded, has thin walls, or has children who are rarely asleep at the right time.
• You argue more at home and want a neutral room where the conversation stays contained.
• The ride back gives you useful time to settle before you walk in the door.

Video tends to work better when you are coming from different directions, when you have young children and limited childcare, or when the commute is the main thing stopping you from booking. Partners can join from the same room or from two places. The practical side, from testing your camera to keeping kids out of earshot, is covered in how online couples therapy works, step by step.

You do not have to pick once and for all. Some couples start in the office to build a working relationship with the therapist, then use video in weeks when the subway or a babysitter falls through.

How should you choose a couples therapist if you live in Brooklyn?

Commute matters, but it should not be the only filter. A therapist ten minutes away is not a good choice if the two of you do not trust them, and a longer trip can be worth it for someone whose approach fits. As the practice puts it, feeling comfortable with your therapist is one of the most important factors in therapy.

A few questions help you weigh commute against fit:

• Does the therapist work mainly with couples? Couples work is a distinct skill. Ask how much of their practice is couples and what they draw on.
• Do you both feel heard on the first call? Each of you should feel the therapist will not take sides.
• Can you keep the schedule for months? Pick a time and format you can actually sustain, not just manage for the first two sessions.
• Is there a fallback? A therapist who offers both office and video sessions gives you a way to keep going when the commute or childcare changes.

For a fuller list, see questions to ask a couples therapist before you book. Choosing a therapist closer to home is a perfectly sound decision. The point is to choose on purpose.

What does couples therapy with Moshe Ratson involve?

Moshe Ratson is a licensed marriage and family therapist with an MBA. He describes his approach as active, compassionate, practical and results-oriented, drawing on Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, the Gottman Method and mindfulness practices. Sessions look for the pattern that keeps a problem going and build skills such as communication, de-escalation and boundaries, with periodic homework between sessions. You can read more on the couples counseling page and the overview of couples therapy in Manhattan.

The practice is self-pay and works out of network, and HSA and FSA cards are accepted. Contact the practice for current fees. A sliding scale is available, so ask about it if cost is a concern.

When is it time to reach out?

Many couples wait until things feel unbearable. It is usually easier to change a pattern earlier, when the same argument keeps coming back, when you feel more like roommates than partners, or when trust has been damaged and neither of you knows how to talk about it. If one of you is unsure whether to stay, that is a reason to talk to someone, not a reason to wait. For a longer list, see signs you need couples therapy.

One exception: if you are afraid of your partner, or there has been violence, threats or controlling behavior, couples therapy is not the right first step. Start with individual support and the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Talk it through first

If you are in Brooklyn and weighing the Midtown office against Online by Video, request a free phone consultation with Moshe Ratson, LMFT, MBA. The 15-minute call is a chance to ask about format and scheduling before you commit to anything.

Common questions

Sources

• 4 train timetable, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
• 5 train timetable, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
• 2 train timetable, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
• 42 St Shuttle timetable, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)

This article is part of the Couples Counseling Guide. It is general information, not a substitute for care from a licensed professional who knows your situation.

This article is for general education. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.