Couples Therapy for New Jersey Couples: Sessions in Midtown Manhattan
New Jersey couples can see Moshe Ratson, LMFT, MBA, in person at his office in Midtown Manhattan, near Grand Central Station. There is no New Jersey office. Most NJ Transit trains arrive at Penn Station, not Grand Central, so plan a short crosstown connection.
Where do sessions take place for New Jersey couples?
In-person sessions take place at 260 Madison Ave #8023, New York, NY 10016, in Midtown Manhattan, a short walk from Grand Central Station. That is the practice’s only office. Couples counseling, marriage counseling and premarital counseling are all held there in 45-minute sessions, usually weekly.
Because in-person sessions happen in New York, the main planning question for a New Jersey couple is the trip. The second, covered further down, is video sessions from New Jersey.
Getting there by NJ Transit train: Penn Station, then crosstown
NJ Transit says five of its rail lines serve Penn Station New York, including the Northeast Corridor from Trenton and the North Jersey Coast Line. Riders from the west can change at Newark Penn Station, and riders from the north can change at Secaucus Junction. Some lines end at Hoboken instead.
Here is the part that catches people out. Penn Station is on Manhattan’s West Side. Grand Central Station is on the East Side. NJ Transit trains do not go to Grand Central, so you need a crosstown leg of the trip. One subway route is to ride to Times Sq-42 St and take the 42 St Shuttle, which provides a free transfer from Times Sq-42 St to Grand Central-42 St. The MTA says the shuttle runs at all times except late nights, roughly midnight to 6 AM. You can also walk, take a bus or take a cab. Use the MTA’s trip planner for the route that suits you, and note that NJ Transit tickets do not cover the subway.
Getting there by PATH, bus or ferry
PATH. If you live near a PATH station, the 33rd Street routes bring you into Midtown. The Port Authority lists Hoboken to 33rd Street at about 15 minutes and Journal Square to 33rd Street at about 23 minutes on weekday days and evenings, with Journal Square trains running via Hoboken at other times. The 33rd Street station connects with the B, D, F, N, Q, R and W subway lines. From there, the N, Q, R or W runs uptown to Times Sq-42 St, where the 42 St Shuttle crosses to Grand Central.
Bus. NJ Transit runs several major bus routes into Midtown at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The MTA’s shuttle map shows the bus terminal at the Times Sq-42 St station, so the same shuttle connection applies.
Ferry. NY Waterway runs ferries from New Jersey terminals such as Edgewater to West 39th Street in Midtown, and advertises free connecting shuttles throughout Midtown.
Whichever way you travel, check service alerts before you leave. Rail and PATH service changes are common, and the first trip always takes longer than you expect.
Can you do video sessions from New Jersey?
Licensed in New York State, Moshe Ratson (LMFT, MBA) welcomes inquiries from individuals and couples in other states. Telehealth eligibility is evaluated individually based on state licensing regulations and professional requirements. Contact spiral2grow to explore whether therapy services may be available in your location.
If you want to see how video sessions run, see how online couples therapy works, step by step.
Is it worth crossing the river for couples therapy?
It can be, but it is not the only sensible choice. A therapist near home saves you the trip, and that is a good reason to look locally. The case for coming into Manhattan is fit: an approach and a therapist you both trust, and a time that works with your commute. For help comparing, see questions to ask a couples therapist.
How do you make a weekly Manhattan session work from New Jersey?
Sessions are usually weekly, and the work tends to go well when you can keep a steady rhythm. A few habits help New Jersey couples do that:
- Anchor it to a workday. If either of you already commutes into Manhattan, a session before or after work avoids a separate trip. Partners coming from different places can meet at the office, or one of you can come to the office while the other joins by video. The article on couples therapy for busy professionals in NYC has more on fitting sessions into a full schedule.
- Build in a buffer. The practice asks for at least 48 hours’ notice to cancel, and a missed appointment without that notice is charged in full. Leave enough margin for a late train.
- Use the ride home. The trip back across the river can give you time to cool down after a hard session before you are back with children or chores. Some couples agree not to restart the session’s argument until the next day.
- Be realistic about the total time. Count door to door, both ways, every week. If that number is too large to sustain, it is better to know before you start.
What does the work with Moshe Ratson look like?
Moshe Ratson, LMFT, MBA, describes his couples work as active, compassionate, practical and results-oriented. He draws on Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, the Gottman Method and mindfulness practices, and sessions focus on the patterns that keep problems going and on skills like communication, de-escalation and boundaries. See couples counseling and marriage therapy for more on the service.
The practice does not bill insurance directly and works as an out-of-network provider, so check your plan’s out-of-network mental health benefits first. If your coverage comes through a New Jersey employer, the same questions apply: whether you have out-of-network benefits, how much of the deductible you have met and whether the plan limits sessions. The guide to whether insurance covers couples therapy walks through them. Contact the practice for current fees.
If there is fear, violence or control in your relationship, couples therapy is not the right first step. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233.
Start with a phone call
If you live in New Jersey and are considering sessions in Midtown Manhattan, request a free phone consultation with Moshe Ratson, LMFT, MBA. Use the call to talk about your situation, the trip, and whether video can be part of the plan where you live.
Common questions
No. The only office is in Midtown Manhattan at 260 Madison Ave #8023, a short walk from Grand Central Station. New Jersey couples who meet in person travel into New York. For video, telehealth eligibility is evaluated individually based on state licensing regulations and professional requirements.
There is no single answer. NJ Transit trains arrive at Penn Station, PATH trains reach 33rd Street, buses arrive at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and NY Waterway ferries land at West 39th Street. From Penn Station or the bus terminal, one option is the subway to Times Sq-42 St and the 42 St Shuttle to Grand Central.
spiral2grow does not bill any insurer directly and works as an out-of-network provider. If your plan, wherever it is based, includes out-of-network mental health benefits, you may be reimbursed for part of the fee using the receipt the practice gives you. Call your insurer to check your deductible and session limits.
Licensed in New York State, Moshe Ratson (LMFT, MBA) welcomes inquiries from individuals and couples in other states. Telehealth eligibility is evaluated individually based on state licensing regulations and professional requirements. Contact spiral2grow to explore whether therapy services may be available in your location.
Sources
- Getting to New York by Train, NJ TRANSIT
- New York City, NJ TRANSIT
- 42 St Shuttle timetable, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
- About PATH, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
- 33rd Street Station, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
- Edgewater Ferries to Midtown & Downtown, NY Waterway
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.
