Frequently asked questions.
Fees, insurance, matching, and what sessions actually look like. If your question isn't here, ask us — we answer within one business day.
Beginning therapy at BIPS
How do I get started?
Register through our contact form with your insurance information and scheduling preferences. Our intake coordinator verifies your benefits, confirms your fee, and matches you with a clinician — before you commit to anything.
You'll then get access to our secure Patient Portal to complete paperwork and upload your insurance cards, and your first session can be scheduled.
How do you match me with a therapist?
You'll be paired with a clinician whose training, certifications and approach fit what you're navigating — not whoever has an opening.
When you register you'll share your concerns, goals, and any preferences about your therapist. If the match doesn't feel right after your first session, tell us and we'll find a better one.
Do you offer a free consultation?
Individual clinicians may offer a brief phone consultation — ask us. Our intake coordinator can also answer questions about fit, fees and next steps before you register.
How long until I get an appointment?
It varies by clinician and specialty. Many clients are matched within 24–48 business hours of registering. If your need is urgent, say so and we'll prioritise your intake.
Costs and coverage
What are your session fees?
Fees depend on clinician level and specialisation:
- Clinical interns — $50–75 (September to May)
- Master's-level therapists — $100–225
- Senior staff psychotherapists — $225–400
- Couples therapy — $130–350 per session
- Couples intensives — $2,000–2,200
- Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation — $495
Does BIPS accept insurance?
Some clinicians are in-network with Aetna and Northwell Direct in New York. In Massachusetts and Oregon, some accept Aetna, BCBS and select regional plans.
Everything else is out-of-network. We provide superbills and submit claims on your behalf, so you can use your out-of-network benefits without the paperwork.
We are not in-network with Medicaid or Community Plans. Those clients may be eligible for a low-fee private pay arrangement — ask us.
What does out-of-network mean for me?
If your plan has out-of-network benefits — many PPO plans do — you pay our fee and we give you a superbill, a detailed insurance receipt. Your insurer reimburses you directly.
How much depends entirely on your plan and whether your deductible is met. Rather than guess, we verify your specific benefits before you begin and tell you what you'll actually pay.
Do you offer sliding scale or reduced fees?
Yes. We have a financial hardship application for a steep sliding scale. When we set a fee we look at income verification alongside your situation and what you're carrying right now.
A limited number of pay-what-you-can sessions are also available for self-pay clients who aren't using insurance.
Our clinical intern tier ($50–75) offers closely supervised therapy at a significantly reduced rate. Ask before assuming care is out of reach.
What is a Good Faith Estimate?
Under the No Surprises Act, if you're uninsured or not using insurance you have the right to a written estimate of expected costs before treatment begins. We provide these.
If your actual bill comes in $400 or more above the estimate, you have the right to dispute it. More at cms.gov/nosurprises.
What to expect in sessions
What kind of therapy does BIPS offer?
Integrative psychodynamic psychotherapy is our foundation — relational, depth-focused work on how early experience and internalised patterns shape your present life.
Clinicians also draw on approaches suited to what you're working on:
- EMDR — trauma processing using guided eye movements
- IFS — working with the different parts of you to reduce internal conflict
- AEDP — using emotion and connection to support healing
- EFT — attachment-based couples work on the cycle underneath the argument
- CBT — identifying and shifting unhelpful thought patterns
- ExRP — the gold-standard treatment for OCD
- Somatic therapy — body-based work for nervous system regulation
How long are sessions, and how often?
Individual sessions run 45–60 minutes, couples 60–90. Weekly is the default, but frequency is tailored to your goals and we can work with irregular schedules.
How long does therapy take?
There's no single answer. Some people come for a few focused months around one concern; others do longer work that deepens over years. We keep talking openly about your goals and whether therapy is serving them.
Are your therapists supervised and trained?
Extensively. Every clinician receives several hours of clinical supervision and education each week, targeted to their specialty, and holds advanced certifications earned through post-graduate training.
All pre-licensed clinicians are supervised by doctoral-level psychologists, LCSWs and LMHCs. Every clinician also has an annual continuing education budget.
What if it isn't working, or I want to change therapists?
The therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of outcome, so fit matters. If something isn't working we want to know. Speak to your therapist, or contact our intake coordinator about a rematch. We take it seriously.
Locations, telehealth and privacy
Where are you located?
- Greenpoint, Brooklyn — 117 Dobbin St
- Union Square, Manhattan — 18 E 16th St
- Midtown West, Manhattan — 850 7th Ave
Telehealth is available throughout New York State, Massachusetts and Oregon.
Do you offer online therapy?
Yes — video sessions for clients in New York, Massachusetts and Oregon through our secure Patient Portal and HIPAA-compliant platform. For most concerns it's as effective as in person, and coverage is generally equivalent.
Is BIPS welcoming to LGBTQ+ clients?
Unconditionally. We are affirming across gender identity, sexuality, race, culture, religion, body and relationship structure. That isn't conditional and it isn't negotiable.
Our Gender Care Program serves trans and gender-diverse clients with non-pathologising, WPATH-informed care — therapy, evaluations, letters of medical necessity, and coordination with medical providers.
What is your cancellation policy?
We have a 24-hour cancellation policy, and late cancellations and no-shows are subject to a fee. We will always offer a makeup session where we can.
Your therapist reviews the specifics in your first session, and it's in your intake paperwork.
Is my information confidential?
Yes. Clinical information is protected under HIPAA. There are limited legal exceptions — imminent risk of harm, and mandatory reporting for child abuse — which your therapist reviews with you in the first session.
All documentation, billing and video sessions run through a secure, HIPAA-compliant portal.
We do not use or endorse any artificial intelligence platform that holds client data.
Still have a question?
Ask our intake coordinator. No commitment, and we reply within one business day.
Get in touch All client services
We are not a crisis service. If you need help now, call or text 988, or go to your nearest emergency room.