What is the process to get started with therapy?

If you are interested in setting up an initial appointment, please call 917-426-6181 or email me at ebzakarin@zakarinphd.com to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. I'll ask you to briefly share what you’re looking for help with at this time and will answer answer your questions about my background and practice. Email is often the fastest way to contact me at the start so we can set up a time to talk. If it seems like we might be a good fit to work together, we will set up an initial consultation appointment.

During the initial consultation appointment (1 hour), we will review your history and current concerns in more depth. If you are a parent reaching out about therapy for your child or teen, we will schedule two separate appointments - one for parents and one for your child or teen (each 1 hour). I will then provide recommendations for next steps, which may include ongoing therapy appointments with me or a referral for another provider if I feel they are better suited to meet your needs.

How often would I need to come to therapy?

Most of my patients attend weekly therapy sessions depending on the nature of their concern. Our initial consultation appointment will last 60 minutes and follow-up appointments are typically 45 minutes. As your symptoms begin to improve, we can taper off our sessions and meet less frequently as you feel comfortable.

Do you accept insurance?

Payment is due at the time of service. I am not in network with any insurance providers at this time. Clients are billed directly for therapy sessions but I will provide you with weekly or monthly invoices to submit to your insurance provider if you have out-of-network reimbursement. Each bill includes the necessary information for submission to your insurance company.

How do I find out how much my insurance company will reimburse me for your service?

If you would like to find out how much your insurance carrier will reimburse you, I recommend calling your insurance company and asking them how much they will reimburse for therapy. It can be helpful to ask them the percentage of the doctor's fees they will reimburse, if there is a deductible, and what their maximum allowable is. Services provided by a licensed clinical psychologist are often considered an eligible qualifying expense under most flexible spending plans. 

What is your cancellation policy?

Regular sessions are important for our work together, especially at the beginning. When you must cancel, please give me at least 24 hours notice. Your session time is reserved for you and I am rarely able to fill a cancelled session unless I know well in advance. You will be charged the full fee for sessions canceled with less than 24 hours notice.

Are sessions in-person or virtual?

I offer both in-person and virtual sessions. For virtual sessions, we will use a secure, HIPAA compliant video platform. I am licensed in New York and can provide telehealth services to individuals located throughout NY State. For in-person appointments, my office is located in Columbus Circle.