Do you or a loved one need support to address what is troubling you? We provide a warm and trusting space to work on those challenges. We specialize in addressing issues related to adoption, attachment, grief & loss and relationship conflict in children and adults.
We understand the importance connection and safety have on healing.
As of January 2025, we are now accepting new therapy clients!
We are able to offer a wide variety of therapy services in diverse modalities to help meet your or your family’s unique needs. Our services our available to individuals, couples, and families, and we serve people of all ages, from children and adolescents through adulthood. We are able to meet in-person as well as through virtual sessions.
Our one-on-one counseling sessions provide a safe and confidential space for individuals to explore their thoughts, feelings, and challenges. Our therapists are skilled in addressing issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and identity exploration.
For couples facing relationship challenges, our therapists offer guidance to enhance communication, intimacy, and understanding. We work collaboratively with you to improve the overall quality of your partnership.
We believe in the power of family connections. Our family therapy sessions focus on improving communication, resolving conflicts, and strengthening relationships within your family unit.
Our child therapists utilize play therapy and other child-centered approaches to help children express themselves, develop coping skills, and build self-esteem. Parents are always involved along the way.
Spence-Chapin offers virtual and in-person therapy to residents of New York and New Jersey. Clients are able to switch between In-Person and Online sessions with their therapist whenever they choose.
Spence-Chapin therapists are also adoption-competent and experienced in helping individuals, couples, and families navigate adoption-related issues. Adoption-competent therapy is available to every and any person within the adoption constellation.
If you feel anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed by your current situation? Are you having challenges with relationships or want to improve your family’s interactions? Therapy can help you. At Spence-Chapin, we provide a non-judgmental space for individuals, couples, children, and families to feel heard and supported. We tailor our approach to meet your needs, providing a blend of behavioral and relational therapy to best support you and affect positive change.
Seeking out therapy is not always easy. The search for finding a therapist can be hard. Putting aside the time and financial resources for therapy can also be a challenge. At Spence-Chapin, our therapists know that many people may have reason, both from the outside world and from inside themselves, that make them hesitant to take that first step to meet with a therapist. That’s why we have put together a Welcome Letter for our clients to provide them with an idea of what to expect when starting therapy for the first time or returning after a break. We want all of our clients to know that awaits you in therapy is the space to seek out understanding and healing, at a pace that feels right, and with a competent counselor to guide you through.
Consultations provide short-term and flexible support that anyone across the world can access. They can offer you guidance and individual support when facing a particular challenge such as navigating open adoption, search and reunion, and more. Any issues or experiences in adoption can be explored in a consultation. Consultations are available for prospective adoptive parents just starting their adoption journey or for adoptive parents, adult adoptees, and birth parents who would like to explore a specific topic. We provide a safe space for you to talk to a professional in the adoption field who can help guide you to the answers you are looking for.
As adoption experts, we provide specialized therapy services tailored to the needs of adoptive families, adoptees, and birth parents. Our expertise includes identity formation, openness in adoption, and navigating adoption-related challenges.
Our therapists offer compassionate support to individuals and families as they navigate the complex emotions associated with loss.
Our therapists work with children and adolescents to address behavioral challenges, offering strategies and interventions to promote positive behavior and healthy development.
If you’re dealing with the effects of trauma or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, our therapists provide evidence-based therapies to alleviate symptoms and promote healing.
We offer guidance and tools to help individuals manage and overcome feelings of anxiety and depression, promoting mental well-being.
Neurofeedback is a technology that allows the brain to train itself to work better. Based on decades of research, Neurofeedback trains the brain to improve its patterns and communication, which enables the client to better function in their daily lives. Because Neurofeedback is easy to participate in and does not require talking about past experiences, it benefits young children, trauma survivors, and clients who have not seen the progress they hoped for with talk therapy or medication. At Spence-Chapin, we integrate Neurofeedback with Psychodynamic Therapy to amplify the potential for long-lasting improvement.
The Neurofeedback process involves placing sensors on the scalp to monitor the brain’s electrical activity in real-time. This data is sent to a computer, processed, and returned to the brain as feedback, teaching the brain to regulate itself through games, videos, and other engaging stimuli. In completing this pattern, the brain learns to make positive changes based on its own signals. While activities keep the client’s mind involved, the brain builds long-term flexibility, adaptively improving cognition, emotion regulation, memory, focus, sleep quality, and more. So, rather than ongoing reliance, neurofeedback empowers self-healing neurological regulation. Neurofeedback has shown to be particularly effective in clients who experience developmental trauma, ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, and more. The American Academy of Pediatrics rates Neurofeedback’s impact on ADHD with a level 1, the “Best Support” rating they give medication. Neurofeedback is safe, non-invasive, and effective for children and adults of all ages. You can learn more about Neurofeedback and who it benefits in this blog post.
Play therapy offers children a safe, comfortable outlet to process complex thoughts and emotions that may be difficult to express directly. By using games, dolls, drawings, role play, and more to act out challenging experiences, children can indirectly confront past trauma, loss, abuse, and stressors. This gives them psychological distance to process emotions, gain perspective, develop problem-solving abilities, regulate behavior, and rehearse positive alternatives. Therapists observe the child’s performance to understand root causes of troublesome behaviors and design treatment plans.
So, in the process of playing, children not only communicate and heal but also construct enduring, healthy coping mechanisms that serve as a foundation for their lifelong emotional well-being and interpersonal success.
Psychodynamic Therapy (PDT), a common form of Talk Therapy, explores the connection between past experiences and current struggles to provide insight and improve quality of life. By exploring the psychological and emotional forces that shape a person’s mindset, clients can better understand the way they think and act now.
The PDT process relies heavily on the client-therapist relationship. Guided by the therapist, clients are encouraged to speak openly about memories, fears and dreams. By openly communicating, they may be relieved of their internal symptoms and see improvement in their relationships. This therapy type is ideal for those struggling with internal issues like anxiety, PTSD, and depression. It can help individuals, couples, or families build self-awareness and self-control.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective Talk Therapy treatment that focuses on changing negative thought patterns and teaching coping strategies. Unlike Psychodynamic Therapy, CBT spends less time analyzing the past and more time identifying unrealistic perceptions that contribute to current behaviors.
Therapists aim to shift unhelpful thinking into clarity and objectivity. Through in-session exercises and at-home practice, clients gain concrete skills for facing fears, managing stress, relaxing, and communicating confidently. CBT is empirically proven to help with many issues such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more by providing practical mechanisms for self-improvement. With structured support, clients can learn to respond resiliently to difficult situations and improve their quality of life on their own terms.
At Spence-Chapin, our therapists have Level One training in Theraplay®, a therapy modality that uses guided interactions between parents and their child to address behavioral issues and improve attachment, emotion regulation, and development. Theraplay is particularly effective for children who may have difficult pasts that cause them to act out or have distrust of adults. It is supported by studies indicating that positive relationships early in life build inner security and self-worth. The four key elements focused on are: structure to provide safety, caregiving to comfort, attentive engagement, and challenges that build confidence. Our therapists are guided by these concepts during sessions and aim to foster trust and joy between child and parent.
Based on Theraplay® principles, during the session the therapist leads parent and child through games and nurturing activities that are developmentally tailored to prompt communication and connection. By interweaving psychologically beneficial lessons into play, Theraplay restores healthy relating patterns wherever growth was disrupted. Ongoing attuned interaction cements change through natural reinforcement.
Theraplay® is a registered service mark of The Theraplay® Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.
Spence-Chapin is beginning to apply Level One training of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) principles within practice to heal parent-child attachment bonds strained from developmental trauma to replace fear with trust. Through playful, emotionally attuned dialogue, our therapists explore the child’s past experiences, co-regulate emotions, and co-construct an integrated sense of self. This allows the child to process painful memories, build coping capacities, and form trusting bonds. As compassionate communication replaces fear or rigidity, family bonds will improve.
In sessions, the DDP-informed therapist first helps parents understand both the impact of parenting a hurt child and their own attachment histories. This fosters empathy amidst challenges. Next, the therapist sensitively engages the child around difficult themes through art, puppets, or conversation. The therapist then relays feelings, interprets behaviors, and facilitates discussions with parents. Spence-Chapin’s DDP-informed therapists will guide the parents through mirrored parenting approaches to best reinforce learning at home. Research shows increases in child security, empathy, and regulation with decreases in anxiety, defiance, and control needs. By integrating past and present experiences into a coherent narrative within strengthening relationships, DDP relieves developmental trauma.
Adoption-competent therapists provide ongoing support to address the complex emotions and identity needs facing adopted children and transracial families. Therapists focus on promoting cultural pride and positive identity development to ease the transition of youth into adoptive homes.
Young, adopted people are often still developing their identities and may need help from their adoptive family to understand and/or stay connected to their racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Tailored post-adoption services rebuild attachment and belonging for youth. For example, connecting with traditions and forging community bonds can sustain the young person as their self-concept shifts.
Therapists can build trust by creating open dialogue about experiences for youth of color. Professionals practice and encourage cultural humility by recognizing inherent biases, committing to learning about other cultures, and regularly reflecting on and critiquing embedded perceptions. The overall goal is to help children realize their potential free of discrimination or unresolved trauma.
Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children is a non-profit organization that was founded over a century ago. Since our inception, we have been providing adoption support services but have grown to provide a wide range of services, including therapy, to individuals and families who need support navigating life’s challenges!
Along with our adoption competency, Spence-Chapin’s therapy services can help people who are impacted by trauma, who are experiencing challenging family dynamics, or who are struggling with finding a path to parenthood.
Our team can consult with you further about your history and clinical needs to help determine if Spence-Chapin services will be a mutual fit for you.
Spence-Chapin is able to offer ongoing therapeutic sessions for clients residing in New York and New Jersey, as these are the two states where our therapists are licensed. Therapy sessions occur in-person at our Manhattan office or via video calls. All sessions are 45 minutes each and are offered during Spence-Chapin’s typical business hours (Monday through Friday between 9:00-6:00pm Eastern).
If you live outside of the area we serve for therapy, we invite you to learn more about our consultation services below.
If you live outside of the area we serve for therapy, we invite you to learn more about our consultation services. Our licensed staff members offer goal-oriented single consultations in-person at our Manhattan office or via video conferencing for people worldwide. Consultations are intended to address a specific topic, issue, or challenge. Consultations are not on-going therapeutic services but are a great fit for those seeking short-term support with an experienced worker. This service provides a safe space for clients to talk to a professional who can help guide them to the answers they are seeking. Consultations are 1-hour sessions at the rate of $100 each with an LMSW or $125 each with an LCSW; these sessions are not insurance reimbursable, and financial aid is not available.
But if you live outside of the area we serve for therapy and are seeking ongoing therapeutic services near you, our team can provide you with a few clinical resources that may be helpful in your research. Please contact our Family & Community Support team for clinical resources.
Spence-Chapin’s clinical team is currently comprised of three Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSWs), a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSWs), and graduate-level Social Work Interns who are supervised by a licensed therapist. All our teammates conduct therapy sessions with children, teens, adults, parents, couples, and families.
Please note, we do not offer sessions with psychologists or psychiatrists.
Yes, there are different fee structures for therapy. Spence-Chapin offers a rate of $50.00 per session for therapy with a Social Work Intern. Our rate for therapy with an LMSW therapist is $175.00 per session, and our rate for therapy with an LCSW therapist is $200.00 per session.
We also accept Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Cigna insurances. If you hold an insurance policy with one of these providers,
Spence-Chapin’s accounting team can assist with investigating your insurance coverage.
If you hold an insurance policy outside of the three insurances we currently accept, we encourage you to inquire with your insurance provider to see if your policy includes any out-of-network benefits, coverage, or reimbursement for therapy services. If so, Spence-Chapin can provide you with super bills and clinical receipts for independent insurance submissions. This is discussed directly between clients and their insurance provider for more information about the selected policy and coverage but could be an additional payment avenue to explore.
If you will be paying out-of-pocket without insurance, we do have income-based sliding scale fees available for those who submit a Financial Aid Application, the approval of which is determined by our accounting team; please let us know if you would like to learn more about financial aid.
As noted above, Spence-Chapin offers a reduced rate for therapy sessions with our graduate-level Social Work Interns, which can be a great way to offset clinical expenses!
The first step to pursuing therapy services at Spence-Chapin is to schedule a brief 20-minute phone intake session with our team. This intake will gather more information about your history and interest in therapy. From there, intakes are passed onto our Senior Director who oversees therapist assignments. New clients may be assigned a therapist shortly after intake completion or may be placed on our waiting list. If you’re ready to schedule an intake or would like to speak further about therapy with Spence-Chapin, please reach out to our Family & Community Support team at (646) 539-2167 and [email protected]. We look forward to connecting with you!
Yes, therapist preferences will be discussed during the initial intake session. As mentioned above, your intake will gather details about your history and why you’re seeking therapy but will also discuss the type of therapist you hope to work with and your availability for sessions. This information will aid our clinical team in therapist matching.
Your requests are important to Spence-Chapin and preferences will be reviewed and taken into consideration, along with availability and specialties of our therapists. Any questions or concerns about therapist assignments will be discussed during your intake process. Please note that we may or may not be able to meet specific preferences, depending on our staff and mutual availability.
Once you’ve completed an intake, the information will be sent to Spence-Chapin’s Senior Director of Family & Community Support who oversees all therapist assignments.
Spence-Chapin is accepting new therapy clients! Clients who are open to therapy with a graduate level Social Work Intern will be assigned a therapist shortly after completing the intake. Clients who prefer to see a licensed therapist may be assigned shortly after the intake or may be placed on our therapy waitlist, depending on their worker preferences and availability for sessions. If waitlisted, the wait times for therapist assignments can be challenging to predict but could be a minimum range of a few months. Please note, wait times can be unknown if you have specific preferences or limited availability for sessions.
Absolutely! As mentioned above, Spence-Chapin also offers goal-oriented consultations in-person at our Manhattan office or via video conferencing for people across the world. The first step to pursuing consultations is to complete the intake process outlined above.
Alongside therapy or consultation, Spence-Chapin offers a lifetime of adoption-focused community programming for children, youth, adults, and families who are connected to adoption. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about our playgroups, Lifebook, Mentorship Programs, Voices of Adoption, and parent groups: spence-chapin.org/adoption-community-programs. Spence-Chapin’s programming is available to ALL adopted people! Whether your family was built through foster care, private domestic or international adoption, and regardless of the agency or attorney you or your family worked with, Spence-Chapin’s Community Programming is designed to support you!
Get to know our team of professionals. Each of our caring therapists brings years of experience and expertise, and can provide you or your family with the support you need.
Gladys Ramos | LMSW
Gladys has worked with adolescents, adults and families. Her areas of expertise include complex trauma, ADHD, depression and anxiety related disorders. As a change agent, Gladys understands the complexities of family dynamics and provides a warm, empathetic space for clients to explore new narratives for their lives that lead to positive outcomes.
Rebecca Fiore | LMSW
Amy Silverman | LMSW
Amy has been a social worker for 30 years, including 13 years at Spence-Chapin, working with birth parents and boarding families. She brings a strengths-based perspective to her work with clients addressing a variety of concerns including trauma, grief and loss, and parenting.
Christine Tangel | LCSW
Christine has more than 10 years of experience as a therapist, coach and trainer. She specializes in providing emotional and educational support to all members of the adoption community. She incorporates attachment and trauma-informed approaches with her clients.
McKenna Duff | MSW Intern
McKenna (she/her) is an MSW Intern that has experience working with children and teens, as well as their families, in school and hospital settings. She is passionate about helping people be the best version of themselves, and draws on a variety of modalities to best meet her client’s needs.
Anna Gray | MSW Intern
Anna (she/her) is an MSW Intern with experience supporting children, adolescents, and adults as they navigate life’s challenges. She hopes to help families build community and create meaningful connections. She creates tailored strategies that empower clients to overcome obstacles and build on their strengths.
Lindsey Spohler | MSW Intern
Lindsey (she/her) is an MSW Intern and hopes to guide families through their unique journeys with compassion and therapeutic support. As a trained actor, she brings a sense of creativity and human understanding to her work. She helps her clients navigate challenges with confidence and care.
Our very own Christine Tangel, Director, Pre & Post Adoption Services, has been featured in a recent Huffington Post Article “Adopted And Donor-Conceived Kids Deserve The Truth. They Don’t Always Get It.” Christine discusses the importance of openness on the topic of adoption.
We have received the Human Rights Campaign’s All Children – All Families Innovator Seal of Recognition for our competency working with LGBTQ+ adults and children.
We are here to help you and offer affordable professional services. We are on the following insurance panels: Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, and Cigna and assist with out-of-network reimbursements.* We offer limited financial aid.
*Our ability to schedule you with a therapist on a certain panel is based on their individual availability; insurance billing is available for therapy services and is not available for consultations which are not considered a clinical service.
Licensed and authorized in New York, New Jersey & Arizona
©2025 SPENCE-CHAPIN SERVICES TO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN A REGISTERED 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH EIN 13-1834590
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