Michael A. Gray, LCSW, MFA
Psychotherapist
I didn’t always see myself in the role of a therapist. I was initially introduced to therapy in college when a professor could see I was having difficulties with balancing my life and suggested that I might benefit from talking to someone. I was fortunate enough to find a warm, caring therapist who provided a non-judgmental space where I could share the things I didn’t necessarily feel comfortable talking about with other people. It was a very positive experience for me and I appreciated the opportunity to have a space where I could process my thoughts and feelings in a healthy manner with someone who had an outside perspective on my situations.
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I had never considered a career in the mental health field and in college chose to focus on pursuing a degree in fine arts. I completed a BFA in Graphic Design from Ohio University and several years later completed an MFA in Visual Communications at Virginia Commonwealth University. For 15 years I worked as a graphic designer in a variety of industries in LA, Chicago, and New York. I also taught graphic design courses at Virginia Commonwealth University, Pratt Institute, and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Although I was very invested in my design career, and my work in academia, I always felt something was missing in my professional life. And so after many years in the design field, and with the support and encouragement of my therapist at the time, I decided it was time to explore a new professional direction, and I applied to the Master of Social Work program at the NYU Silver School of Social Work. During my first semester, I participated in a field placement that allowed me to see how working in the therapeutic field could be a new career direction and I felt an almost immediate shift in my professional aspirations.
My experience in the mental health field has been diverse, and I have worked in a variety of environments with a vast range of individuals presenting with unique issues. After ten years of working in primarily community clinic environments in Philadelphia, PA and the Greater New York City area, in 2021 I transitioned to my own practice on a full time basis. My practice currently consists of a diverse group of individuals ranging from adolescents to seniors of different ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and sexual and gender orientations. Given my personal and professional experience, I often work with individuals in the creative industries, career changers, or individuals looking to address their life direction. In addition, I also work with a large clientele of LGBTQAI+ individuals and people who participate in alternative sexuality (i.e., poly, kink, etc.), and I am very supportive of these communities. I believe in accepting everyone for who they are, where they are, and who they might want to become, and I look forward to the opportunity for both of us to learn together.
INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Social Worker in the State of New York, and because of state licensing, I can only see clients who currently reside within New York State (location in the state is not limited). My primary modality of treatment is psychodynamic psychotherapy, or traditional “talk therapy,” utilizing a relational perspective toward my work with clients. More information about my therapeutic process can be found in the FAQ section. I only work with individuals in treatment; however, I am happy to provide referrals to therapists for other services should they be better suited for your treatment goals.
I am currently offering virtual and in-person appointments in my office in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, located beside the Williamsburg Bridge. I require everyone attending in-person appointments to have the Covid vaccination series, and I am also fully vaccinated with additional boosters. If you are immunocompromised, I would like to discuss this before attending in-person sessions to ensure your safety. Should the CDC make any changes to healthcare providers offering in-person services, I will default to their guidance. Video sessions are conducted through SimplePractice, a HIPAA-compliant service that I use for billing and other business services. Should there be connectivity issues, I have HIPAA-compliant Google Meet and Zoom accounts.
Individual therapy starts at $175 per session, and I offer a sliding scale for self-pay clients. I will provide a Superbill for all self-pay clients for taxes and reimbursement purposes. If you plan on submitting claims to your insurance company for reimbursement, I recommend verifying coverage with your provider to ensure that your plan covers out-of-network mental health services and to better understand your financial responsibility for sessions.
I am currently in-network with the following insurance plans: Aetna, Optum (United Healthcare, Oscar) and Cigna (Wellfleet). I sometimes cap the number of insurance clients I accept, so although I may be in-network for the aforementioned insurance plans, I may only periodically accept new insurance clients. It is also important to note that although I am an approved Medicare and Medicaid Provider, I do not accept these plans in my practice, but I can offer referrals to providers who may currently be accepting new clients.
Please note that I only provide weekly therapy sessions, ranging from 40 to 55 minutes. I do not offer bi-weekly or less frequent sessions unless someone has seen me for an amount of time where we both agree that sessions can be reduced or if there is a conflict in scheduling availability and I am unable to provide consistent weekly sessions. I believe weekly sessions are most effective for therapy, and consistency in treatment is very important for developing a therapeutic relationship and achieving your goals in treatment. Less frequent sessions can become “check-ins” and focus less on actual therapeutic work. If we decide to work together, I will provide further documentation on sessions, attendance and cancellation policies, and other relevant information to your involvement in treatment that will need to be reviewed and agreed to prior to starting treatment.
SUPERVISION CONSULTATION FOR LMSW/LCSW
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of New York, I also offer supervision services to those seeking licensing hours. I completed SIFI Training at Hunter College and have experience in providing clinical supervision to other clinicians. I believe that supervision should be affordable and understand the process of licensing so I offer supervision at $75 per 45-minute consultation session, but this fee can also be negotiable.
I am also periodically involved in a group supervision with fellow practitioners that I coordinate and anyone participating in individual supervision is welcome to join this group.
TREATMENT EXPERIENCE
• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Body image
• Chronic illness
• Compulsive disorders
• Depression
• Disordered eating
• Gender issues/questioning
• Grief and loss
• LGBTQIA+
• Male issues
• Poly, kink, alt sex
• PTSD
• Relationship issues
• Sexual issues
Please note that based on the prevalence and significance of these issues I may offer referrals if I feel specialized treatment may be more effective to a client, or if different types of treatment may be useful in addition to our sessions.
LICENSURE
• New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker (087342)
EDUCATION
• New York University: Master of Social Work (2012)
• Virginia Commonwealth University: Master of Fine Arts/Graduate Fellowship (2005)
• Ohio University: Bachelor of Fine Arts (1999)
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
• Private Practice: Michael Gray LCSW LLC: Brooklyn, New York | Psychotherapist (2019-Current)
• Brooklyn Center for Psychotherapy: Brooklyn, New York | Psychotherapist (2018-21)
• Union Settlement: New York, New York | Psychotherapist (2016-18)
• The Wedge Recovery Centers: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Mental Health Therapist (2015-16)
• PATH: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Child & Youth Services Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Therapist (2014-15)
• Washington Square Institute: New York, New York | Clinical Intern and Clinician (2011-14)
• Gay Men of African Descent: Brooklyn, New York | Clinical Intern (2010-11)
MEMBERSHIPS
• AASECT: American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (2023)
Currently pursuing requirements for Sex Therapist Certification
CERTIFICATIONS
• Seminars in Field Instruction (SIFI) (2017)
• Pennsylvania State Drug & Alcohol Services Provider (2014)
SPECIALIZED MENTAL HEALTH TRAININGS
• Child-Parent Psychotherapy
• Complicated Grief
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• Harm Reduction and Motivational Interviewing
• International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals Symposium
• Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs certification
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The following are some questions I periodically am asked by clients and potential clients:
I’ve never been in therapy, so what can I expect, and how can I know if I’m doing it right?
This is something everyone asks, including myself in my own treatment: there is no way to do therapy “right.” I consider therapy to be self-directed, meaning you’re in charge of sessions and the direction of your treatment. At times if I know someone has an overall goal or issue to address, I can help guide them in that direction, but I don’t feel it’s my place to direct sessions. I can ask questions or prompt discussions but I'd like for clients to feel they have control in their sessions.
I also often say therapy isn’t always quantifiable. There are some modalities of treatment based on decreasing symptomology, which can hypothetically be measured, but in general, after you have been in sessions for a while, you should consider how therapy makes you feel and what you feel like you’re getting from treatment. It can take a while to feel connected and ready to share and that’s okay. Be willing to give it some time to see where sessions are going and what the relationship between you and your therapist feels like. Feeling emotionally heavy or challenged before, during, or after sessions are normal feelings to experience, but you should communicate any negative feelings resulting from sessions with your therapist to make sure the work is not detrimental to your emotional well-being. In my opinion, our goal is to reduce the significance of issues that prompted treatment in a healthy manner so you can better understand yourself internally and lead a more emotionally fulfilling life.
What type of therapy might be best for me?
There are numerous different types of therapy, but I recommend individuals consider their therapy goals and what they want to gain from treatment. There are many specialized services available to those seeking therapy, such as skills-based treatment like CBT and DBT, intensive trauma treatment modalities such as EMDR or TF-CBT, substance treatment (facilitated by a CASAC), art therapy, and many other types of treatment. I find this resource to be a good explanation of the different types of treatment you might consider.
I practice psychodynamic psychotherapy, often referred to as “talk therapy,” utilizing a relational approach to my work with clients. My sessions tend to be relatively informal and conversational since this is how I feel most comfortable in the room. This might be altered though, depending on the issue someone is addressing. Sometimes I might also encourage a supplement to individual therapy, such as a group or skills-building program, to address issues that I may not specialize in. During a consultation call I can better determine if I feel my modality of treatment is appropriate for your goals and if not I will share my thoughts about what types of treatment might be more effective.
Does therapy ever end?
That is totally up to you. My belief is that therapy is open-ended, and I feel comfortable meeting with clients as long as they find it beneficial to them. Some people choose to “graduate” from therapy after they’ve accomplished their goals, if they feel they have resolved some issues that prompted treatment, and/or if they have determined that they have improved insight into other ways to manage any issues that surface. Sometimes people will also take a break and return to treatment when they feel they have something else they would like to address, or if they would just like to have a place to process and explore their thoughts. I'm always receptive to someone resuming sessions as long as we both feel treatment was effective and the appropriate match for you.
I feel one of the most ineffective things in treatment is to maintain involvement in sessions because you feel guilty for leaving the therapist or disappointing them. This likely reflects other behaviors and would be valuable to discuss with your therapist. Likewise, if you feel your therapist is not the right fit, that’s okay too. This is another conversation that is best to have with your therapist instead of avoiding the situation or disappearing from treatment and being unresponsive to outreach.
Do you prescribe medication?
While most therapists, LCSW’s (like myself), LMHC’s, and other mental health professionals are state licensed providers, we are not doctors unless we have a terminal degree, such as a PhD, or an accompanying medical license. Since I am not a medical provider I am not licensed to provide medical services, so a psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or another medical professional would need to be consulted for medication. If you or I feel it might be helpful to speak to someone about psychotropic medication while engaged in therapy I am happy to discuss this and provide referrals. I also like to work collaboratively with medication providers, so I am always receptive to participating in a call with your provider to discuss the involvement of medication in combination with therapy.
Are there any things you, as a therapist, feel uncomfortable discussing?
For the most part I feel most issues are not off limits with treatment. With my background in community mental health, and working with a diverse clientele, I feel well-versed in most things people would like to address in treatment. If I do not feel comfortable with an issue I would tell you during a consultation call and I would likely recommend other types of treatment I feel might be more appropriate for your issues.
Some issues I am cautious about addressing in my practice are active self-harming behavior that can be life-threatening, recurrent and intrusive active suicidal ideations, long-standing active substance abuse issues (beyond recreational use and that are better suited for a professional intervention involving medical care), or extensive mental health issues. While I am comfortable addressing these issues in treatment, I feel it is more beneficial to be involved in treatment with a provider, such as an outpatient or inpatient mental health facility, where they can offer continuous crisis services and direct coordination of a higher level of care if necessary. These environments also regularly offer monitored and readily accessible psychiatric services in addition to therapy so you are able to obtain all services in one environment. If you feel these issues reflect your current experiences I am more than happy to talk through them to see if I feel I am an appropriate provider or I will provide you with direct contacts for arranging more comprehensive services.
Also, it’s important to note that should you feel uncomfortable with sharing specific information at any time in treatment just let me know so those are topics I might not return to in sessions in the future or until you’re ready to share them with me.
Would you see two people who know each other?
Generally, I would not see two people who know each other. This would include two members of a family, individuals in a relationship, friends, roommates, coworkers, or other close acquaintances. My decision not to provide treatment to people who know each other is because it could become a conflict of interest and an ethical issue. This is primarily because as your therapist I try to see things from your perspective without outside influence.
Occasionally, after starting sessions with someone, I might find out that they are speaking about someone I may know (personally or professionally) and in this case I would likely terminate sessions. I try to be aware of potential conflicts during my consultation call or an intake session, but unfortunately this happens sometimes. If this were to happen I would discuss this issue with a client without sharing any identifying information and recommend some referrals of other providers. If you are referred to me by someone please let me know when you initially contact me so we can discuss whether sessions might be a conflict of interest.
Why is therapy so expensive?
As an individual in private practice we have many professional expenses we have to consider – such as malpractice insurance, office space, bookkeeping services, accountants, technology fees (we are required to use only HIPAA-compliant video services for virtual sessions, record keeping, and communications), professional supervision and consultation, annual continuing education requirements, certifications or specialization training, state licensing fees, taxes, personal health insurance, and even our own therapy services.
There are also challenges with accepting insurance which is why many practitioners choose not to be credentialed with insurance plans. Not only does accepting insurance require a practitioner to go through an extensive and lengthy credentialing process, but filing insurance claims can be laborious and then there are also time constraints with any follow-up administrative work to address any billing issues. Insurance companies also pay a fixed rate per individual client and depending on the insurance provider this can be much lower than what an individual would pay out-of-pocket for sessions. Therapists can also be audited by insurance companies which require submitting individual documentation and this can feel intrusive to some therapists, and potentially the client. In addition, sometimes insurance companies require approval for the continuation of services covered under a plan and this can delay the availability and continuity of services.
I believe that all therapists would like to provide services in an extremely affordable manner, and I personally accept a number of clients in my practice who I see at no charge or on a sliding scale based on their financial situation. To offset this accommodation, and to be able to continue to offer it, it requires charging other clients at a slightly higher rate.
For those paying for sessions independently, check with your insurance provider to see if you have out-of-network coverage. If you do have this coverage it would allow you to see a licensed mental health provider who is not a registered insurance provider and then you can potentially submit receipts to recoup at least some of your costs for sessions (depending on if your provider covers this service and offers reimbursement). A portion of your sessions may also be filed for taxes as a medical expense, depending on what the IRS standards are for the year. I provide all individuals with a Superbill for payments which has all of the required information to submit claims to insurance should you want to do this.
How do therapists cope with hearing about everyone’s problems, and especially listening to really bad things?
Therapists do hear a lot of heavy things and often we hold a lot of intense emotions for clients. Through our education and our extensive work with clients and supervisors in order to be licensed professionals, therapists learn how to compartmentalize information in a healthy manner. Many things we, as therapists, and you as a client, can leave in the therapy room to only address in a safe, controlled environment and I often recommend this as a way to cope with any significant issues that arise during treatment.
Personally, I manage any personal experiences resulting from my profession by being involved in my own ongoing therapy and utilizing a network of trusted professional supports. In addition, I consult with a trained supervisor who helps me better manage any issues that I might experience with a client (counter-transference) and who helps me by providing guidance towards treatment approaches. I am also fortunate to be part of a supervision group with colleagues where I can process my work with clients and gain additional insight and support if needed. My goal is always to process my feelings and anything in my personal life outside of sessions to avoid impacting my work with a client or having this content enter our sessions.
If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to send me a message or ask me during an initial call or in future sessions should we decide to continue working with each other.
141 South Fifth Street
Office West Suite 1 (Basement)
Brooklyn, New York 11221
Tuesday-Saturday, by appointment only
929-359-3914
