In Therapy

My Approach

What happens in the room...

Raising self-awareness

Raising self-awareness

You'll begin to build the awareness needed to create change outside the therapy room. Becoming mindful of your everyday thoughts, feelings, and behaviors will be the foundation of our work together.

Exploring outdated patterns

Exploring outdated patterns of coping

Digging deeper into your recent and not-so-recent history is essential to unearthing old thought patterns and behaviors that are no longer working for you.

Uncovering unconscious motivations

Uncovering unconscious motivations

Understanding how your underlying feelings, fantasies, defense mechanisms, and motivations may be preventing you from getting unstuck and truly connecting in your relationships.

Individual Therapy

Your Relationships

Your Relationship with Others

Therapy can help you understand the dynamics you have with those closest to you. Maybe you're stuck in the same patterns with partners or loved ones, repeating cycles that leave you feeling frustrated or unheard. Or perhaps you've people-pleased your way into relationships where you have very little voice or agency. Whatever relationship dynamics have been overwhelming you, our work together can help you find the clarity and empowerment needed to create more meaningful, satisfying connections that feel sustainable.

Your Relationship with Yourself

From the moment we're born, we're affected by what goes on around us. In infancy, our primary caregiver is our world, and we rely on them to meet our needs. These earliest experiences shape us, and we develop both helpful and counterproductive ways of coping with life. Talk therapy can help you understand how your formative years continue to inform your present-day relationships and patterns. We'll also explore what might be getting in the way of developing self-compassion and self-acceptance.

Couples Therapy

Your Partnership

Whether you're having a crisis with your spouse or partner or hoping to bolster your relationship, my first order of business is to help you communicate with each other in a productive way.

I help couples access and articulate the underlying feelings that have been like bricks in a wall, serving as a protective barrier from emotional and physical intimacy. I also encourage partners to put thoughts and feelings into words rather than acting upon them both in and out of the therapy room.

Ultimately, we work toward feeling safe enough to speak freely to one another, rewiring how you communicate on an ongoing basis.

FAQ

Common Questions

Do you accept insurance?

I am an out-of-network provider, which means I don't bill insurance directly. However, many plans offer out-of-network benefits that can reimburse you for a meaningful portion of session fees. I'm happy to provide a superbill (an itemized receipt you can submit to your insurer).

Do you offer in-person sessions?

Yes. I have sessions both in-person at my Flatiron office in Manhattan and via Zoom.

Do you offer a 15-minute consultation so we can get acquainted?

Yes. A brief consultation is a chance for us to ensure we're on the same page before moving forward. I'll ask about what's bringing you to therapy now, a bit of your history, and what you're hoping to get out of our work together. It's also an opportunity for you to ask questions and get a feel for whether we'd work well together.

How long are sessions, and how often do we meet?

Sessions are 45-50 minutes. We start by meeting weekly, which gives our work enough continuity to build momentum.

When is the right time to start therapy?

Many people wait until things feel impossible, but therapy is equally valuable when you feel stuck, when patterns keep repeating, or when your inner life feels tense or chaotic.

Ready to get started?

I'm currently working in-person and via Zoom. My office is in the Flatiron area of Manhattan.

Get in Touch

Nicole Matusow, LCSW

Individual Therapy | Couples Therapy | Group Therapy  ·  NYC

New York, NY 10010