Frequently Asked Questions

Start with a free 15-minute phone consultation. Call (917) 692-3867 or send a request through the contact page. The call is a chance to describe what you want to work on, see whether you feel comfortable with Moshe, and hear how his approach could help. If the practice is not the right fit, you will be referred to someone else. The first session is then scheduled by phone.

No. The first session is a full working session and is charged like any regular session. What is free is the 15-minute phone consultation offered to every new inquiry. Use that call to ask questions and decide whether you want to book. Feeling comfortable with your therapist is one of the most important factors in therapy, so the call is worth making.

The office is at 260 Madison Ave #8023, in Midtown Manhattan, close to Grand Central Station. The location was chosen for short travel time and easy access, both for people who work in the city and for those coming in from the wider New York metro area. Sessions are held in person at the office and online by video.

Each session is 45 minutes, and sessions are usually weekly. Weekly meetings leave enough time to work on an issue, process it afterward, complete any homework and build momentum. Some clients meet every other week because of family, work or financial reasons. For the first session, plan to arrive 10 minutes early to review and complete the standard intake forms.

There is no set answer. Some problems can be resolved in a few sessions and others take much longer. Therapy should continue as long as you are making progress, until the problems that brought you in are resolved to your satisfaction. Toward the end, clients who have kept up their changes often move to sessions every other week or less. Continuing or stopping is always your decision.

Yes. Moshe Ratson was born in Israel and provides psychotherapy in Hebrew as well as in English, for individuals and for couples. If you would prefer to work in Hebrew, say so when you call (917) 692-3867 for the free phone consultation or to schedule your first appointment.

Couples therapy, marriage counseling and marital therapy are the same thing. The focus is the relationship between two people, not one person with a specific diagnosis. Relationship problems and individual struggles are usually linked. Constant arguing can leave you anxious, angry or depressed, and trouble controlling your temper leads to more arguments. The work addresses both the relationship and each partner’s part in it.

You and your partner identify the points of conflict in your relationship and decide what needs to change, both between you and in how each of you behaves. That involves learning to communicate more effectively, listen more closely, stop competing with each other, find common life goals and share responsibilities. Sometimes a session resembles individual psychotherapy, sometimes mediation, and sometimes it is educational.

Yes, couples counseling can be very helpful even when the future of the relationship is uncertain. It is common, especially for couples in crisis, for one or both partners to have mixed feelings about staying together. Counseling gives you a place to explore that uncertainty, get clear about your options and define your goals.

You can still start. Not every family member has to attend for marriage and family therapy to be useful. A family member who is not interested at first often gets involved later when at least one person in the family is motivated. When one person in a family changes, it also helps the others to change.

Family therapy is a type of psychotherapy that helps a family, or individuals within it, understand and improve how family members interact and resolve conflict. It can involve the whole family or several members. It is useful when a family has trouble getting along, and also when one member has a problem that family relationships may be contributing to or maintaining.

Anger management counseling is a structured process that helps you understand, regulate and express anger in healthy, constructive ways. The goal is not to eliminate anger or push it down. Anger is treated as a signal that points to something, such as an unmet need or a crossed boundary. The work is learning to respond to that signal with clarity and control instead of reacting on impulse.

You learn to recognize the early warning signs of anger and to identify the triggers, thoughts and unmet needs underneath it. From there you practice skills for the moment itself: calming your body with relaxation and breathing techniques, changing unproductive thought patterns, and communicating assertively, which means standing up for yourself with “I” statements without attacking or backing down.

Group therapy is a small group of people who meet regularly to talk about their feelings and problems and to support one another, guided by a trained therapist. It suits people who want support, more self-awareness and new ways of coping with personal or relationship challenges. Some groups focus on one theme, such as anger management, social anxiety, assertiveness, or self-esteem and confidence.

No. You control what you share, how much and when, and you are encouraged not to disclose anything you are not ready to. Most people feel anxious about speaking at first and find they can within a few sessions. You also benefit from listening to others and thinking about how it applies to you. Members commit to keeping the identity of participants and what is said confidential.

It depends on the person. Sometimes group therapy is the main or only approach, and sometimes it is used alongside individual therapy. People often find that working in both at the same time supports growth in complementary ways. Short-term groups devoted to a specific issue typically run for 8 to 12 sessions, and members are asked to commit to the full series.

Coaching is a professional partnership between a coach and a client, built around goals the client sets. You choose the focus of the conversation. The coach listens, offers observations, asks questions and introduces concepts that help you see possibilities and decide on actions. Coaching concentrates on where you are now and what you are willing to do to get where you want to be.

Coaching is forward moving and focused on the future. It supports personal and professional growth through goal setting, action, accountability and follow-through. Therapy deals with healing pain, dysfunction and conflict within a person or a relationship, and often works on difficulties from the past that affect how you function emotionally today. Feeling better can be a natural result of coaching, but its main focus is actionable strategies for specific goals.

Start by summarizing what you would expect to accomplish. Coaching is most useful when you have a fairly clear idea of the outcome you want. Then ask yourself whether you value collaboration and another point of view, and whether you are ready to give the time and energy that real change in your work or life requires. If the answer is yes, coaching may be a good fit.

It varies with your needs and preferences. Some clients work with a coach to reach one goal or complete one project, and others continue for a longer period. The length depends on the kind of goals you set, the way you like to work, how often you meet and the resources you have available for coaching.

Yes. The practice offers online sessions by video, on Zoom. You log in at a time scheduled in advance, and each video session is 45 minutes, the same as an office session. Online sessions are convenient when travel, schedule or accessibility makes it hard to get to the Midtown office.

No. Online sessions are not appropriate for everyone and are not a substitute for medical treatment. They are not the right choice in an emergency, if you are having thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, if you have psychotic symptoms, or if you need intensive support, hospitalization, a prescription or a medical diagnosis. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or call 911.

You need a computer with internet access, and a broadband or reasonably fast connection helps. Choose a place where you can be present for the full session without interruptions or distractions. If a technical problem cuts a session short, it is resumed or rescheduled as soon as possible. Tell Moshe if something is unclear or if you have concerns about working online.

Fees depend on the service you are looking for. Please call (917) 692-3867 or send a request through the contact page, and Moshe will go over the cost with you during the free phone consultation, before you book a first session. A sliding scale is available, so ask about it on the call if cost is a concern.

The practice does not bill insurance directly. It works as an out-of-network provider. If your plan includes out-of-network benefits, you may be reimbursed for part of the fee, and the practice gives you a statement of services to submit. Call your insurer first to ask whether your plan covers mental health services, whether you have an out-of-network deductible, and whether it limits sessions per year.

You can pay by check, cash or credit card. Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards are also accepted. If you plan to seek out-of-network reimbursement, ask for a billing receipt and the practice will provide one for you to send to your insurance company. Claims for reimbursement are submitted by the client, not by the practice.

No. Coaching is not healthcare and is not covered by insurance. Coaching fees vary with the program you choose and how often you meet, and each client sets up a program with the coach based on their needs. Raise any financial questions in the first conversation, before an agreement is made. Some companies offer coaching as part of their employee benefit packages.

Cancellations need at least 48 hours’ notice. If you do not show up for a scheduled therapy appointment and have not notified the practice at least 48 hours in advance, you are required to pay the full cost of that session. If you know you cannot make an appointment, call (917) 692-3867 as early as you can.

Yes, with the limits the law requires. The practice has a legal and ethical responsibility not to disclose information about your sessions to third parties without your permission. The law does require disclosure without prior consent in certain cases to protect clients and others, for example child abuse or danger to yourself or someone else. Confidentiality is discussed with you before counseling begins.

The practice is not an emergency service and cannot respond to a crisis. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or call 911. That applies if you are thinking about harming yourself or someone else, or if you fear for your safety. Once you are safe, you are welcome to contact the practice to schedule a regular appointment.