Online Therapy for Seniors and Older Adults in New York
Warm, unhurried telehealth therapy for older adults across New York State. Much of my career has been spent face to face with seniors around New York City — in their homes, in facilities, and in offices. It's the work I care about most, and it's now available from your own chair.
Getting older brings losses nobody schedules
By the time most of my older clients call me, they've been carrying something heavy for a while. A husband or wife died, and the house has stayed too quiet ever since. The friends who used to call are gone, or in a facility, or too unwell to talk. The doctor added another medication, the license went away, and suddenly getting anywhere depends on someone else's schedule.
What I hear again and again is a version of the same sentence: I don't want to be a burden. So people stay quiet. They tell their children they're fine. They fill the day with television and small errands and hope the feeling passes on its own.
It often doesn't, and it doesn't have to. Depression and anxiety in later life are not a normal part of aging, and they are not a character flaw. They are common, well-understood, and genuinely treatable — frequently in a matter of months rather than years. Grief is different: grief isn't something we fix, because it's what love does when the person is gone. But you don't have to carry it alone, and you don't have to carry it on anyone's timeline but your own.
Why therapy over video works so well later in life
When I worked in person, the biggest obstacle was almost never willingness — it was logistics. Rides that fell through. A snowstorm in February. A hip that hurt too much to sit in a car for forty minutes. Appointments that got canceled weren't a sign someone didn't want help; they were a sign the system asked too much of them.
Telehealth quietly solves most of that. You sit in your own living room, in your own chair, with your own tea. There's no waiting room, no parking, no chance of running into a neighbor. If your energy is better in the late morning, we meet in the late morning. And because there's no travel, sessions actually happen week after week — which is the single biggest predictor of whether therapy helps.
Studies of telehealth with older adults consistently show results in line with in-person treatment for depression, anxiety, and bereavement. My own experience matches that. Something honest happens when someone talks to me from the room where their life actually takes place.
What we work on
The parts of getting older that nobody prepares you for
Retirement
Losing the structure and identity that came with work, and figuring out what fills the days now.
Loneliness
Fewer friends still around, family spread out, and a quiet house that wasn't always quiet.
Loss of independence
Giving up driving, needing help at home, and the frustration and grief that come with it.
Grief
A spouse, a sibling, a lifelong friend — often several losses close together.
Aging
Changes in memory, energy, and appearance, and the worry about being a burden.
Anxiety
Worry about health, falls, finances, or what happens to the people you love.
Depression
Low mood that families often dismiss as "just getting old" — it isn't, and it's treatable.
Life transitions
Moving in with adult children, downsizing, relocating, or entering assisted living.
Chronic illness
The emotional weight of pain, treatment, appointments, and limits on daily life.
Family changes
Shifting roles with adult children, in-laws, and grandchildren.
Caregiver relationships
Depending on a spouse or child for care, and keeping the relationship intact through it.
What sessions are like
We meet by secure video at a time that suits you — no driving, no parking, no waiting room. If technology isn't your favorite thing, I'll walk you through it patiently, and a family member is welcome to help you get set up the first time.
I speak plainly, I don't rush, and I never treat age as a diagnosis. We talk about what's actually in front of you: loss, worry, loneliness, health, family, and what would make the coming years feel more like your own.
I use CBT skills alongside other strength-based approaches, which in practice means we build on what you already do well rather than starting from scratch. You've handled a great deal already.
Sessions are typically weekly at first, then spaced out as things steady. Some people come for a few focused months around a loss or a move; others stay longer because the hour itself has become something they rely on. Both are fine, and we decide it together.
Very often, part of the work is practical: rebuilding a week that has something in it. A senior center class, a discounted matinee, an Able-Ride trip to something you used to enjoy. Feeling better and doing more tend to arrive together — see the New York senior resources page for the programs I point people toward most.
Simple to join
One link, one click, from a phone, tablet, or computer. No app to figure out.
Insurance accepted
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
- Carelon Behavioral Health
- Cigna
Helpful senior resources
Medicare counseling, local senior centers, caregiver support, free entertainment, and crisis lines across New York.
Browse resources →Questions older adults and their families ask me
Is online therapy effective for seniors?
Yes. Research on telehealth therapy with older adults shows outcomes comparable to in-person care for depression, anxiety, and grief. In practice, what makes therapy work is consistency and a good relationship — and video removes many of the reasons appointments get missed: weather, driving at night, waiting for a ride, or a body that doesn't cooperate that day.
What if I'm not comfortable with technology?
Most of my older clients said the same thing before we started. You get one link, and you click it. No account to make, no app to download. I walk you through it patiently on our first call, and a son, daughter, or aide is welcome to help you get set up the first time and then leave the room.
Do you take Medicare?
I currently accept Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Carelon Behavioral Health, Cigna, including many Medicare Advantage plans administered through those carriers. The honest answer depends on your specific plan, so the fastest path is a quick call — I'll tell you plainly what your coverage looks like before you commit to anything.
Can I set this up for my parent?
All the time. Adult children usually reach out first. You can call me with questions, and I'll tell you honestly whether I think I can help and how to raise the idea without it feeling like a verdict on their independence.
Where in New York do you work?
Anywhere in New York State. I'm based in Nassau County on Long Island and much of my in-person career was spent with older adults around New York City, but telehealth means I can work with someone in Queens, Buffalo, or a small town upstate just as easily.
More on fees, scheduling, and how the first session works on the FAQ page. If you're supporting a parent while running your own household, you might also read about therapy for caregivers, or see everyone I help.
Related resources for older adults
Reading I share most often with seniors and their families. Each one grew out of real conversations in session.
How to Cope With the Loss of a Spouse Later in Life
What the first year actually looks like, and what helps on the hardest days.
Read the article"She's Just Getting Older": Why Depression in Seniors Gets Missed
The signs families overlook — and why late-life depression responds well to treatment.
Read the article5 Ways to Manage Loneliness After Retirement
Small, realistic steps back toward connection when the calendar empties out.
Read the articleThe Emotional Challenges of Aging Nobody Prepares You For
Independence, identity, and the fear of being a burden.
Read the articleFinding Purpose and Connection After 65
How purpose gets rebuilt in later life, in ordinary ways.
Read the articleYou can also browse practical local help — Medicare counseling, senior centers, Able-Ride transportation, and free entertainment — on the resources for seniors page.
Looking into therapy for a parent?
Adult children reach out on behalf of a parent all the time. You're welcome to call with questions first — I'll tell you honestly whether I think I can help, and how to raise it with them.