I believe therapy should be as accessible as possible, and I’m happy to discuss cost, insurance, and financial concerns openly before we begin.I am currently in-network with many plans through Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem, Aetna, and Cigna/Evernorth. Coverage varies depending on your specific plan, including your copay, deductible, coinsurance, and whether you are receiving therapy online or in person. I recommend verifying your behavioral health benefits directly with your insurance company before beginning treatment.I am not in-network with Medicare or Medicaid.If I am not in-network with your insurance plan, you may have out-of-network benefits that reimburse you for a portion of the cost of therapy. I can provide the documentation you need to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Your insurer can tell you whether your plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits and what your deductible and reimbursement rate may be.For clients paying privately, please contact me for my current session fee. I also maintain a limited number of sliding-scale appointments based on financial need and availability.Please don't let concerns about cost prevent you from reaching out. We can talk openly about what you can realistically afford and whether there are options that might make therapy more manageable. If I'm unable to offer a fee that works for you, I'm also happy to help direct you toward providers or resources offering lower-cost therapy.Questions about insurance or fees? Feel free to contact me before scheduling.

I offer online therapy through telehealth to clients located in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Florida.If you have questions about how telehealth works, insurance coverage, privacy, whether online therapy is right for you, or how approaches such as ERP can be provided virtually, please visit the Telehealth page under Services Offered.

Yes. Who I Work With—and When I May Not Be the Right FitPart of providing good therapy is recognizing when my practice, level of care, or areas of expertise aren't the right match for what someone needs. Not every therapist is equipped to address every concern, and being clear about the services I do and don't provide is an important part of helping people find appropriate care.Age and Type of TherapyI work exclusively with adults age 25 and older and provide individual outpatient psychotherapy. I do not offer therapy for children, adolescents, or adults under 25, nor do I provide couples or family therapy.Areas Outside My Scope of PracticeWhile I work with a variety of mental health concerns, certain conditions and treatment needs fall outside the primary focus of my practice. These include:Eating disorders requiring specialized treatment.Primary psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.Personality disorders as the primary focus of treatment.ADHD as the primary focus of treatment. You can certainly have ADHD and work with me, but if you're specifically seeking ADHD-focused treatment, that isn't my area of expertise.Severe substance use disorders. Substance use concerns are considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on severity, treatment needs, and whether specialized services or a higher level of care would be more appropriate.Primary domestic violence offender treatment, including court-directed intervention programs.Sex offender treatment and other specialized forensic treatment programs.Active or significant suicidal risk requiring ongoing crisis intervention, intensive monitoring, or a higher level of care.Having one of these diagnoses or concerns does not automatically mean we cannot work together. However, when the primary reason for seeking therapy falls outside my training, treatment focus, or practice capabilities, I may recommend a provider who specializes in that area.Court-Ordered Treatment and Legal MattersMy practice provides voluntary outpatient psychotherapy, not court-mandated treatment, forensic evaluations, or legal advocacy services.I do not accept clients seeking therapy primarily to fulfill court, probation, parole, or other legal requirements, including:Court-ordered or legally mandated treatment.Domestic violence or substance use treatment required as part of a legal proceeding.Probation-related treatment or compliance monitoring.Jail re-entry or other correctional treatment services.I also do not provide forensic evaluations, expert witness services, litigation-focused opinions, or legal advocacy.My role is to provide psychotherapy, not to serve as an evaluator, legal advocate, or expert witness in a legal proceeding.Custody, Parenting, and Family LitigationI do not conduct child custody or parenting evaluations, make recommendations regarding parenting time or decision-making, or provide reunification therapy.I also generally do not accept clients seeking treatment primarily in connection with active, high-conflict custody or parenting litigation, particularly when the expectation is that I will provide opinions, recommendations, or documentation to support a legal position.My focus is on the therapeutic process, rather than evaluating family members or making determinations for the courts.Documentation, Disability Claims, and Third-Party RequestsI do not accept clients whose primary purpose for entering therapy is to obtain documentation, evaluations, recommendations, or evidence for legal, employment, disability, or other third-party purposes.This includes requests involving:Workers' compensation or disability claims.Personal injury litigation.Employment disputes or fitness-for-duty evaluations.Legal proceedings requiring clinical opinions or supporting evidence.Letters, reports, or recommendations intended primarily to support a legal or administrative claim.I also do not provide independent medical or psychological evaluations, forensic reports, or expert opinions.As with any psychotherapy practice, routine clinical records are maintained, and legitimate requests for records are handled in accordance with applicable laws, confidentiality requirements, and professional obligations. However, I cannot guarantee that therapy records will support a particular claim or legal outcome, and I do not structure treatment around producing evidence for third parties.Level of Care and AvailabilityMy practice is structured around once-weekly outpatient psychotherapy, with regularly scheduled appointments.I do not provide crisis intervention, intensive outpatient treatment, ongoing safety monitoring, or frequent between-session clinical support.If you require multiple therapy sessions per week, regular between-session check-ins, immediate crisis response, or a level of support that cannot safely be maintained between weekly appointments, a different treatment setting may be more appropriate.This doesn't mean your concerns are too severe or that therapy cannot help. It simply means that your needs may be better addressed by a provider or program offering more intensive or specialized support.Readiness for TherapyFinally, therapy with me requires some willingness to examine your own patterns, consider different perspectives, and take responsibility for the things that are within your control.That doesn't mean everything happening in your life is your responsibility. Other people, relationships, circumstances, and past experiences can contribute significantly to the difficulties you're facing, and therapy should absolutely make room to explore those experiences.You also don't need to arrive at therapy knowing exactly what you want to change or how to change it. That's part of the work we can do together.However, if you're looking exclusively to establish that everyone else is the problem, without any willingness to explore your own reactions, choices, or opportunities for change, my approach may not be the right fit.Finding the Right Therapist MattersThe goal isn't for everyone who contacts me to become a client. It's for you to receive the care that best meets your needs.An appropriate therapeutic fit considers your goals, the nature of your concerns, the therapist's training and expertise, and the level of support you need.If I believe another therapist, specialty, or treatment setting would better serve you, I'll be transparent about that. Finding the right care is more important than simply starting therapy with the first available provider.

Therapy may or may not be able to help you depending on how open you are to the process. Therapy isn't something that is simply done to you. The benefits often depend on your willingness to participate, explore difficult thoughts and feelings, consider new perspectives, and practice what you learn outside of our sessions.Therapy can provide support, new perspectives, practical skills, and strategies for navigating life's challenges. People seek therapy for many different reasons, including anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, relationship difficulties, unresolved childhood experiences, grief, stress, body image concerns, creative blocks, life transitions, and simply feeling stuck.Sometimes therapy is about addressing a specific problem. Other times, it's about understanding yourself better, recognizing patterns that aren't working anymore, and figuring out what you want your life to look like moving forward.Depending on what brings you to therapy, some of the potential benefits may include:Developing a better understanding of yourself, your goals, and your valuesLearning new ways to manage anxiety, stress, and difficult emotionsDeveloping healthier coping strategiesImproving communication and relationshipsProcessing difficult or unresolved experiences from the pastRecognizing and changing patterns of behavior that may be keeping you stuckLearning to tolerate uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and uncertaintyDeveloping greater confidence and self-compassionImproving problem-solving and decision-making skillsBuilding a life that feels more consistent with what actually matters to youA therapist can also provide something that can be difficult to find elsewhere: a different perspective from someone who isn't directly involved in your everyday life.There are no guarantees about exactly what you'll get from therapy, and meaningful change usually requires work both inside and outside the therapy room. But if you're willing to be curious, try something different, and occasionally get a little uncomfortable, therapy can provide an opportunity to make meaningful changes in how you relate to yourself, other people, and the challenges life throws your way.

This is for you to decide. Therapy is for people who, for whatever reason, have reached a turning point in their lives where they feel they can’t handle their problems on their own and need to examine their situations with a another person. If you’re ambivalent about whether or not therapy is for you, examine and reflect on why you’re reading this website in the first place. It might also be helpful to ask yourself: “what is making me think I need to seek out the help of a therapist in the first place?” Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you’ve faced, there’s nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that realization is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you’re at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy.

Therapy is different and an individualized process for everyone. Depending on your issues, some people will feel fine after a few sessions and others will find it beneficial to stay in therapy for a while. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term—for a specific issue, or longer-term—to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions (usually weekly).

Yes, but there are certain circumstances in which I am obligated to report what is discussed in therapy. Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and therapist and I take confidentiality very seriously. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed in an open forum. You can and should expect that what you say in session will remain in session. Upon intake, you will be given a Notice of Privacy Practice detailing my policies on confidentiality. You may want me to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team such as your physician, attorney, etc. By law, I cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission. There are state laws and professional ethics that require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations: Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders. If I have reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming themselves or has threatened to harm another person. If you would like to learn the full extent of confidentiality in my therapy practice, feel free to view my “Notice of Privacy Practice” form in the Client Forms section of this website.

You won’t—at least not right away. It takes time to know whether I’m the right therapist for you, and finding the right fit is an important part of therapy.I can tell you a little about what to expect from me. I’m direct, I tend to be goal-oriented, and I appreciate working with clients who are ready to put in the work. Therapy with me is collaborative and conversational, but I’m also not likely to just sit back and nod for 55 minutes. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, where you’d like to go, and what might actually help you get there.Before scheduling, we’ll talk briefly by phone so you can tell me what you’re looking for, ask questions, and get an initial sense of whether my experience and approach might be a good match.Still, the only way to really know is to meet for an initial session. Most people have a pretty good sense within the first couple of sessions whether I’m someone they can work with. And if it doesn’t feel like the right fit, that’s okay. Finding a therapist you feel comfortable working with matters.I’ve tried to provide as much information as possible throughout this website so you can get a sense of who I am, how I work, and what therapy with me might be like. You can also learn a little more about me outside of my therapy practice at LennyGallo.com.And, of course, feel free to contact me with any questions before scheduling.

The initial session is the time for you to start to share your story, talk about your goals and what you would like to change and for me to gather information. Another important aspect of the first session is deciding if we are a good fit. Do I seem like someone you can trust? We are establishing a relationship that will become the foundation for working together. You will begin to figure out some goals; I will begin to figure out how to help you get there.

The initial intake session lasts approximately 55 minutes. All subsequent sessions last between 45-55 minutes. If you are interested in a longer session (75 minutes), please contact me regarding availability and pricing.

No, I am not a medical doctor. Many of my patients find medication is helpful, but many of them also progress well in therapy without medication. If you want to be evaluated for psychiatric medication, either contact your primary care physician or a psychiatrist. If you are already taking medication, I can coordinate care with your doctor.

Because of the side effects of many mental health medications, my personal feelings regarding this issue are that medications should be used as a last resort option when talk therapy by itself has proved ineffective. It is well established that the long-term solutions to mental and emotional problems and the pain that results cannot be solved solely by a pill. Many individuals believe medication can be a cure all, but for most people, the reality is that medications only treat the symptoms. Instead of just treating the symptoms, therapy aims to address the root cause of distress and the behavior patterns. There is a time and place for medication in certain individuals, however. If you are on medication or thinking about medication, most doctors would agree that medication in conjunction with therapy leads to the most benefits. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness that may or may not include medication, but this is up to you and your doctor to decide.

All of my clients begin therapy with weekly sessions. I only hold standing appointment times for clients who are meeting weekly. I find that consistency helps us build momentum, develop a strong working relationship, and gives you the opportunity to put what we're working on into practice from week to week.As you make progress and feel more confident managing things independently, we can transition from weekly therapy to as-needed sessions. At that point, you will no longer have a standing appointment and can schedule yourself on my calendar whenever you feel you could benefit from a check-in or some additional support.I do not offer biweekly standing appointments. Every-other-week therapy can sometimes create too much time between sessions to maintain the momentum of active treatment, while also reserving a recurring appointment that could otherwise be available to someone who needs weekly care.If you're specifically looking for a therapist to meet with every other week, monthly, or at another less frequent interval from the beginning, I may not be the best fit for you. That's not because there's anything wrong with that approach—it simply isn't how I structure my practice.Ultimately, one of the goals of therapy is for you to need me less, not more.

24 hour notice is required to avoid a $75 cancellation fee. An occasional exception may be made in the case of an emergency.

My clinical background is rooted in the behavioral therapies, but I don't believe in using a one-size-fits-all approach. Different people—and different problems—often require different ways of working.Depending on what brings you to therapy, I may integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Some of our work may focus on changing patterns of thinking or behavior, while other work may involve exposure, acceptance, understanding different parts of yourself, or processing experiences from the past.I'm generally active, direct, collaborative, and goal-oriented as a therapist. I want us to understand what's keeping you stuck, but I also want therapy to help you do something differently.Ultimately, I don't try to fit you into a particular therapy model. The approach should fit you—not the other way around.

Yes, you can contact me between sessions for brief matters such as scheduling, a quick question, or a short check-in. However, we cannot conduct therapy or have lengthy clinical conversations through text or email. If something requires more discussion, we can address it during your next session or determine whether an additional appointment is appropriate.My practice is not set up to provide 24-hour crisis management or ongoing support between sessions. If you are experiencing an emergency or believe you may be in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.Part of making sure we're a good fit is making sure the level of support I provide matches the level of support you need.

No. Therapy isn't about me trying to live your life for you. It's about helping you learn how to live your life.I may offer a different perspective, point out patterns, challenge you, ask difficult questions, or help you think through the possible consequences of a decision. But just because I might personally feel one way about a situation doesn't mean that's what you should do.My job isn't to make your decisions for you. It's to help you better understand yourself, clarify what matters to you, consider your options, and become more confident making your own decisions.Ultimately, you're the one who has to live with the choices you make.Therapy should help you become more capable of navigating your life—not more dependent on your therapist to tell you how to live it.

Then we talk about it. First and foremost, I want to understand why therapy doesn't seem to be helping. Maybe we need to adjust our goals, change the way we're approaching something, or try a different type of treatment.Sometimes the issue may be that I'm simply not the right therapist for you, and that's okay. If that's the case, we can discuss what might be a better fit, and I'll do my best to help refer you to another therapist or a more appropriate level of care.There may also be times when therapy alone isn't enough. We might discuss whether it would be worthwhile to consult with a psychiatrist or other medical provider about medication or explore additional treatment options alongside therapy.And sometimes, the right decision is simply to end therapy.What I don't want is for us to continue meeting week after week simply because that's what we've been doing. If therapy isn't helping, let's figure out why—and then decide together what the next step should be.