How To Find Addiction Therapy In NYC

by Zencare team

Addictions are a prevalent issue in New York. Around 12% of New Yorkers experience addiction or abuse disorders each year, and nearly 2 million state residents struggle with a substance use disorder. [1]

Addictions that New Yorkers face include alcohol use disorder, gambling addiction, and drug addiction. For these – and other – addictions, there is hope, and treatment, available.

Research indicates that different types of therapy approaches are effective in treating addictions. Different treatment approaches for recovery include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, mindfulness practices, and art therapy, among others.

If you’re actively, or considering, seeking treatment for addiction, read on to find out more. Below, you’ll learn about different treatment options, how to use your insurance for therapy, and where and how to find addiction therapists near you in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Sections
  1. Health insurance for addiction therapists in NYC
  2. How much does addiction therapy in NYC cost?
  3. Sliding scale addiction therapists in NYC
  4. How to afford addiction therapy in NYC that’s within your budget
  5. What to look for in an addiction therapist in NYC
  6. What issues can addiction therapists help New Yorkers with?
  7. Therapy types for addiction recovery
  8. Additional treatment options for addiction

Health insurance for addiction therapists in NYC

Find an addiction therapist in NYC who accepts your insurance below.

Addiction therapists in NYC who accept insurance

Can't find your health insurance, or don't see many addiction therapists listed within your health insurance network? Some therapists, especially in NYC, are unable or choose not to take health insurance.

To expand your search options, try filtering by sliding scale, or applying for out-of-network benefits (more details below).

How much does addiction therapy in NYC cost?

If you do find a counselor who accepts your health insurance, you may only pay a copay at each session. These usually range from $20 to $40 per session.

If you cannot find an addiction therapist who takes your health insurance, you will pay for therapy sessions out of pocket. In these cases, addiction therapy in NYC costs on average $150 to $250 per session. You can also seek therapy at a sliding scale rate, as explained below.

Related: How health insurance for therapy works

Sliding scale addiction therapists in NYC

“Sliding scale” fees refer to the range of session fees that a therapist may accept for clients who are paying out of pocket and have limited financial resources. For instance, a therapist's standard session fee could be $200 per session – but they might offer a sliding scale cost of $125 - $175, depending on what you can pay.

Therapists who accept sliding scale are able to work flexibly within your budget, and offer lower fees to help you receive mental health care.

You can find addiction therapists who offer sliding scales in NYC below.

NYC sliding scale addiction therapists

How to afford addiction therapy in NYC that’s within your budget

If you do not have the financial means to pay for therapy with out-of-pocket fees, you have options! Consider the following:

1. Sliding scale

Sliding scales are a flexible rate per session based on your income.

2. Using out-of-network benefits

Using out-of-network benefits means you’ll have a portion of each session fee reimbursed by your insurance company. This opens up benefits like affordability and a quicker start date.

For more details, visit our guide to using out-of-network benefits.

What to look for in an addiction therapist in NYC

Not all addiction therapists use the same treatment methodologies. Knowing what to look for, and weighing simple questions like the ones outlined below, can empower you to start your recovery faster and more easily.

Prior to your initial call:

1. Credentials and licensure: Addiction specialists may be psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, or other licensed mental health professionals. Your therapist should have advanced training in treating addictions, and be licensed to practice in New York state.

2. Specific expertise: You’ll want to make sure that your therapist has worked with other clients dealing with addictions like yours.

3. Affordability: Does the therapist take your insurance? Or alternatively, do they offer a sliding-scale payment option (see above)? You’ll want to make sure the cost of therapy is manageable for you before scheduling the first session.  

4. Scheduling: Does the therapist offer treatment at a location that is convenient for you and at times that work with your schedule?

5. Approach: Does this therapist’s approach appeal to me, or does it alienate me? Am I willing to learn more and keep an open mind, or am I going in with a skeptical perspective of the treatment?

On your initial call:

6. Comfort and fit: Do you feel comfortable talking to this therapist, and sense that you have the potential to develop a therapeutic alliance? More than anything else, this factor may determine how successful your treatment ultimately is.

What types of addictions can therapists help New Yorkers with?

  • Alcoholism: Drinking is a part of NYC culture for many residents; some stats estimate that 15% of New Yorkers drink alcohol excessively, with the highest percentage (22%) in Manhattan. [2]
  • Gambling addiction: Problem gambling is estimated to affect 5% of New York adults. [3]
  • Drug addiction: With nearly 4,000 opioid-related deaths in 2017, New York State has seen a significant surge in overdose deaths (4). This doesn’t account for other types of addictions, including stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin; nor depressants like Xanax and valium.

Therapy types for addiction recovery

You have several different treatment approaches for addiction recovery. Your therapist may also incorporate aspects of different approaches in your treatment.

Here are four of the most prominent forms of therapy for addictions. Note, however, that there are other options; when scheduling an appointment with your therapist, ask them which approach they prefer to use in treatment.

1. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for addiction

Cognitive behavioral therapy can help you learn to break the mental habits that support addiction. It involves learning to gain perspective on your own thoughts and recognize the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

CBT is skill-based, and often involves homework and/or structured activities within sessions.

2. Motivational interviewing for addiction

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a short-term form of psychotherapy. It focuses on helping you clarify your goals, and change addiction-related behaviors.

In sessions, your therapist supports you in finding internal motivation for change.

MI is solution-focused and geared toward concrete changes, rather than deep analysis of past experiences or feelings.

3. Mindfulness practices for addiction

Mindfulness practices focus on reducing stress, gaining self-awareness, and cultivating a nonjudgmental view of the world.

Because addiction is so often a coping mechanism to deal with pain and stress, mindfulness practices can be a great way to learn other, healthier ways to cope.

4. Art therapy for addiction

Art therapy provides a way to express your emotions in a safe, creative way. It can help you process painful experiences, reduce stress, and build self-esteem.

Art therapy can be a helpful strategy for finding healthier coping mechanisms and dealing with the underlying causes of addiction.

Additional treatment options for addiction

For some, treatment for addictions goes beyond individual psychotherapy.

Your therapist should be a) prepared to collaborate with other practitioners, and b) able to provide you with information about resources they regularly refer clients to.

A few treatment options that you might consider – with your therapist’s support – include:

  • Medical and pharmaceutical options. Treatment for alcohol and drug addiction often includes a medical component to manage withdrawal. These treatments include naltrexone, suboxone, and methadone.
  • Recovery groups: Recovery groups, where you can meet others facing the same challenges that you are, are a common form of treatment for many different addictions. You can look for local chapters of Alcoholics Anonymous, Sex Addicts Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous, to name a few.
  • Rehabilitation and detox programs: Rehabilitation and detox programs for addictions come in many forms, from long-term residential programs to outpatient programs. These programs often include a variety of services, such as counseling, group therapy, and medical treatment.
  • Hotlines: If you’re having thoughts of suicide or need immediate support, you can always call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at at 1-800-273-8255. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline at 1-800-622-4357 can also help you locate resources and treatment options.