FAQ

Whether or not you “need” therapy is a deeply personal decision. That said, some of the signs and symptoms that suggest that therapy is indicated and could be useful include: often feeling down or highly anxious; decreased interest or motivation to pursue your usual activities and/ or goals; repetitive intrusive thoughts and engagement in repetitive, apparently meaningless behaviors or rituals; fear and avoidance of places and activities that you may have previously engaged in, and that others do not have trouble with; frequent thoughts of death or of killing yourself (if you are actively suicidal, please seek emergency treatment immediately). In addition to the above, many individuals chose to go to therapy to help them adjust to changes in their lives, make difficult decisions, improve relationship patterns, avoid procrastination, learn better ways of coping with everyday stress, and other concerns. If you are unsure if therapy can help you, it may be useful to schedule an appointment for a consultation to determine what your options are for getting help with your problem.

You’ve already taken your first step by exploring Nellie’s website! To set up an initial consultation, please contact her by phone, 718-551-5127, email Nellie.harari@gmail.com, or complete the contact form on this website. All messages and emails will be returned within one workday. Once an appointment is scheduled, Nellie will securely email you several forms to be reviewed, completed and signed, including practice policy documents and symptom questionnaires and checklists. Please complete and return the documents prior to the initial consultation to ensure most efficient use of time during your appointment. The initial consultation is a 45- minute long discussion about your current struggles, your mental health and life history, and your goals for treatment. By the end of the consultation, Nellie will provide you with recommendations and an initial plan for treatment, which at times may include further assessment of your difficulties. Following the consultation, treatment is usually conducted once a week, until improvement allows for a gradual tapering off of regular meetings. An important part of CBT is also committing to working on your therapy in between sessions by engaging in collaboratively determined assignments, such as psychoeducational readings, monitoring thoughts and behaviors, and practicing new skills learned in therapy.

Cognitive – behavioral therapy (CBT) is an empirically-validated form of therapy that is active, goal-directed, and effective. It focuses on examining the connections between your thoughts, emotions and behaviors, and using this knowledge to help you move toward making changes in your life.

Length of therapy depends on what is causing an individual’s distress, as well as what one’s goals are. Generally, CBT is effective at treating various mental health and emotional problems quickly- in a matter of months, rather than years. Please call Nellie for a free brief phone conversation to discuss how long you can expect therapy to last for you.

Due to the convenience, ease and efficacy of telementalhealth services, most clients prefer to meet with Nellie virtually. For those who prefer meeting in-person, Nellie’s office is  conveniently located in Brooklyn Heights, just over the bridge from downtown Manhattan. 

While therapy by videoconferencing may not be what many of us are used to, research has shown that it is an effective form of therapy.  Please see links provided in the Services tab to learn more about telemental health.

To better serve her patients and in consideration of their clinical needs, Nellie does not accept any forms of insurance. Patients see her on a self-pay basis. Depending on your particular insurance plan, you may be able to submit Nellie’s receipts as claims for out-of-network benefits, at varying rates of reimbursement. In the interest of making CBT more accessible, she does offer a sliding scale for a limited number of patients who qualify.

Nellie accepts cash, checks, Zelle, and credit card. Please note that Nellie’s formal name for financial transactions and on service receipts is Kornelia Harari, PhD.