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About Me

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 LGBTQIA+ 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.

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INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES

As a New York State-Licensed Clinical Social Worker I can only see clients who currently reside within New York State. I am offering in-person appointments in my office in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, and for those not located within the area, or for those who prefer remote video sessions, I am also currently offering virtual sessions.

 

My primary modality of treatment is psychodynamic psychotherapy, or traditional “talk therapy,” utilizing a relational perspective. 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 such as couples, family therapy, or group therapy should they be better suited for your treatment goals.

 

Individual therapy starts at $175 per session, and I offer a sliding scale for self-pay clients. I am currently in-network with the following insurance plans: Aetna, Optum (United Healthcare, Oscar) and Cigna (Wellfleet, MVP). 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.

For all self-pay clients, I will provide a Superbill for taxes and reimbursement purposes. If you plan on submitting claims to your insurance company for reimbursement it will be important to understand the terms for out-of-network mental health coverage. This information can best be accessed by contacting your Member Services for your specific plan.

Although I am an approved Medicare and Medicaid Provider, I do not currently 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, or if there is a conflict in scheduling availability and I am unable to provide consistent weekly sessions. If, after a consultation call, we decide to work together, I will provide further documentation on policies, billing, and other terms of service.

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 during times it is running.

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 A. 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)
  *AASECT Member c
urrently pursuing requirements for Sex Therapist Certification

CERTIFICATIONS

• Seminars in Field Instruction (SIFI) (2017)

• Pennsylvania State Drug & Alcohol Services Provider (2014)

SPECIALIZED MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING

• 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

• Trauma-informed treatment: The Body Keeps the Score with Bessel van der Kolk, MD

• 60+ training hours in providing sex therapy treatment

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The following are some questions I periodically am asked about therapy:

I’ve never been in therapy, so what can I expect, and how will I know if I’m doing it right?
I believe that therapy should be client-led, with you directing the sessions and me providing guidance. There’s no “right” way to do therapy; it’s about how you feel and what you gain.

It may take time to see if the therapeutic relationship and style of treatment is correct for your needs and I encourage you to periodically reflect on how you feel sessions are progressing. It’s normal to face emotional challenges while in treatment, but therapy should not be detrimental to your well-being in any way. Our goal, ultimately, is to help you understand yourself better and work towards living a fulfilling life.

What type of therapy is best for me?
There are many types of therapy and it can sometimes be challenging to figure out what you are looking for and what is best for achieving these goals. I recommend that individuals consider your goals for pursuing therapy prior to seeking services and this can help better decide what type of therapy would be most effective for you. I frequently reference this resource that helps to better explain some different types of therapy. During our consultation, I’ll help you to assess if my approach aligns with your goals and should my background and experience not match what would be most beneficial to your goals for treatment I would guide you towards what might be a better fit for your needs.

Does therapy ever end?
Therapy is open-ended, based on your needs and how you feel you are progressing towards your personal goals. Some individuals “graduate” from therapy after they feel they have met their goals or have the insight that they need to continue on independently. Never feel obligated to continue treatment due to your relationship with the therapist or the potential challenge of having a difficult conversation. This can be a learning opportunity to better communicate your emotions and your needs, which can be beneficial in your personal life. I also always ask that clients address this conversation in person since it allows for us to have a dialogue and I might be able to help you in finding alternative services, while also reframing some of our work together and progress that I have seen over our time together. I feel that closure can be very important in ending treatment and the therapeutic relationship for both the client and the therapist.

Are there any things you, as a therapist, feel uncomfortable discussing?
I feel adequately trained to address most issues that clients bring to treatment. However, there are times I might refer to a specialized provider should I feel they are more appropriately trained to address your issues. I encourage individuals to also take your time in addressing anything that you might feel uncomfortable with sharing or exploring in treatment, knowing that you can discuss anything at any time.

Would you see two people who know each other? 
I generally avoid treating individuals who know each other due to potential conflicts. If you are being referred by a current or past client, or a professional source, please let me know this so I can assess whether there might be a conflict in treatment. 

Why is therapy expensive?
Therapists in private practice have numerous expenses that can inform how we set our rates, including office space for those of us operating in physical spaces, continuing education requirements for licensing, personal therapy, and other general expenses. I believe that therapy should not be a financial burden so I provide sliding scale rates to clients and I currently accept three insurance plans – Aetna, Cigna (Wellfleet and MVP), and Optum (UnitedHealthcare, Oscar, Oxford). 

How do therapists cope with hearing about everyone’s problems, and especially listening to really bad things? 
Therapists learn to compartmentalize content from our work with clients in a healthy manner that should not be impactful on our own personal lives. Should we find something personally challenging, therapists should have a network of colleagues and supervisors who can help us during these times. I personally engage in my own therapy in addition to individual supervision and group supervision, and I feel these spaces provide me with the support that I need to become a better therapist who is present and focused on providing you with the best treatment that I can.

How should I refer to you?

Just Michael, please, and my pronouns are he/him/his.

SEND A NOTE:

I am interested in:
For therapy services:

If you do not receive a response within 48 hours please send another message, email, or text.
In general I am more responsive to text and email. Thank you.

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141 South Fifth Street

Office West Suite 1 (Basement)

Brooklyn, New York 11221

Tuesday-Saturday, by appointment only

929-359-3914

michaelgraylcsw@gmail.com

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