William Brosh, L.C.S.W., F.S.W. - FAQs

175 West 13th St., Suite 1A

New York, NY 10011

212. 206. 1715.

Because of the current Covid-19 pandemic, all sessions are being conducted by video and telephone

Frequently Asked Questions

What method or style of therapy do you use?

Similarly to many therapists working today, I am not a “theory” snob. I don’t rely on a specific methodology based on a single theoretical perspective. Rather, treatment is based on a blending of different concepts.

Often, this will include elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Reality Therapy, existential philosophy and mindfulness meditation.

I believe that any perspective that has been shown to be useful, is worth adding to our psychological tool-kit. (If we were ever to discover that magic works, I’d be happy to use that too!)

What is most important to me, is that my method, or style of talk therapy, is focused on your goals... and personalized to what best fits what you need during any particular time in the treatment.

What is your opinion of medication as opposed to talk therapy?

Since I am a talk therapist, you would be right to assume that my bias is toward talk therapy. My preference is to begin by exploring if talk alone is sufficient for you to reach your goal - whether we are seeking symptom management, emotional relief, or behavioral change.

Research continues to show that talk therapy, when given sufficient time, is at least as effective as medication, and often achieves better outcomes.

However, I don’t see medication and talk therapy as oppositional forms of treatment. Rather, they are two different methods in the "tool-kit" that may be selected to achieve results.

In cases where the psychological pain is very entrenched, which can limit the effectiveness of the talk treatment, medication may be indicated. I am not a physician who can prescribe medication, but I can refer to a pharmacologist, as needed.

For a balanced and comprehensive comparison of talk therapy vs. medication go to:

http://www.consumerreports.org/health/free-highlights/manage-your-health/depression/talktherapy.htm

How do you see the difference between psychotherapy and life coaching?

For me, life coaching is similar to what I call counseling. It requires me to be more concerned with giving advice and direction to an individual for quick relief to a problem (or symptom) than I would normally do in traditional therapy. While both methods are very supportive, traditional therapy is geared more toward helping the individual to resolve issues and initiate change by learning how to better know her/himself. Depending on the circumstances, treatment may involve blending both counseling and psychotherapy.

Do you address spiritual issues?

This is an interesting question – more complicated than it may initially appear. To answer, I would first need to define my sense of what “spiritual” means. A simplified way to put it (if that’s even possible!) might be thus: the capacity to experience “awe,” and to incorporate it, as much as possible, into each daily activity. What is awe? I believe it is the awareness of the enormous task of being at ease with not knowing – or not needing to know – all the answers. It is about being able to take comfort in the questions.

One of the benefits of any good therapy is an increase in awareness – being at peace with others and with oneself. This, to me, is a spiritual enhancement. Yes, a little too simple a description, but… to be continued! (You may find more on this in my blog.)

How long does treatment last?

The snarky answer to the question is “As long as it takes!” But seriously, therapy can be of limited duration – what we call Brief Treatment or Crisis Counseling – which can be agreed upon to last from eight to sixteen weeks. Realistically, the goal of this kind of treatment is usually to gain symptom relief or to address a specific problem area (for example: bereavement, a problem in the workplace, etc.). If, however, the goal is lasting change in a problem area, with more profound improvement in the quality of life, then an open ended, longer term treatment is indicated.

How long are the sessions?

I have a flexible policy for the length of sessions. Individual counseling is generally the standard 45 minutes. (We occasionally add 5 minutes if it is necessary to wrap up a crucial idea or thought.) But, longer sessions, up to 90 minutes, can be scheduled. Fees are commensurate with appointment lengths. For couples, counseling is usually scheduled for 70 to 90 minutes, depending on the nature of the work.

What are your rates?

My standard rates are reasonable when compared with other providers in Manhattan. Also, depending on what hours are available, I can offer fees on a sliding scale, according to your income, when necessary. Exact fees can be agreed upon after an initial consultation. Fees are payable by check or cash at the end of each session.

What if I miss a session?

My cancellation policy is similar to that of most other therapists. If you inform me in a reasonable amount of time in advance of your appointment (usually 24 hours), I will make every effort to reschedule you within the same or the next week. If a make-up cannot be scheduled [excluding an emergency], you are responsible to pay for missed sessions.

Do you take insurance?

I am a Medicare Provider, but I do not take other health insurance plans. However, if you have coverage for mental health services, I will provide you with appropriate monthly statements that you can submit to your insurer for reimbursement.