What patients are saying
Overall rating
4.68
Average wait time
4.97
Bedside manner
4.81
“i only had one session but was extremely happy with it. will definately continue therapy .he was insightful and patient and easy to talk to”
Christina R.July 30, 2024Video visit
“Very helpful great listener and Zocdoc needs to change the contact information so if you don’t reach him right away be on the lookout for a call from his cellphone”
John F.February 8, 2022Video visit
About Dr. Francis X Clifton
Clientele seen
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Adults (25-64)
Seniors (65+)
Identity
Gender
MaleLanguages spoken
English
Getting to know Dr. Francis X Clifton
Dr. Clifton has over 30 years of experience in the practice of psychotherapy, imagery, and dream work. In addition to relieving symptoms of anxiety and depression, Dr. Clifton views these states as opportunities for individual growth. Dr. Clifton holds a PhD in Psychology from the National Institute for the Psychotherapies.
I am an out-of-network provider, which means I accept the insurances listed; however, you will need to cover your deductible before insurance payments begin. If your deductible has not been met for the year, you will be responsible for payments until it is covered. Please check your deductible prior to making an appointment. We are not part of any network; we are strictly out-of-network after your yearly deductible has been met with the insurance companies listed. Also, please fill out the registration form provided when making your appointment. Thank you.
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In-network insurances
Aetna
BlueCross BlueShield
Cigna
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare Oxford
Don’t see your insurance?
It’s common for mental health providers to be out-of-network. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network coverage, so you may get partially reimbursed. Learn more
Out-of-pocket fees and assistance
- Sliding scale: Offers lower out-of-pocket fees on an individual basis, typically based on your ability to pay
More information on payments and coverage
Does not Accept Medicare.
Does not accept medicare even if is listed with another medical
insurance
out of pocket payment is accepted (sliding scale )
Office location
Dr. Francis X Clifton, PhD, LCSW also offers online video visits for patients
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- National Institute for the Psychotherapies, PhD in Psychology
- National Institute for the Psychotherapies, PhD in Psychology
Awards and publications
- Guilt Imagination and Freedom
NPI number
1881801652
Patient reviews
All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
4.68
Wait time
4.97
Bedside manner
4.81
Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. We also don't publish reviews that contain any private patient health information. Learn more here
149 reviews
Most relevant
Very informative and appreciated the perspective. Would recommend and return
January 6, 2026Levis M.Verified patientVideo visit
Knowledge, kind, a good listener who has the information and experience to respond with supportive and useful ideas
October 12, 2021Jay H.Verified patientVideo visit
Highly professional humanitarian covered so much in the right amount of time. Finally I found someone respectable.
July 23, 2012Rebecca J.Verified patient
Very respectful person. Takes time to think about your issues and doesn't rush through. Highly recommendable.
February 27, 2013Initials hidden
Dr Clifton is the best. Never forgets anyone's anything. He's smarter than you, so you can't play games.
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
Enjoyed my session VERY much. Wish he was in my insurance network so I could continue to see him
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
I had a great experience and would definitely recommend him.
January 8, 2025Initials hiddenVideo visit
I'm always pleased with the help and service provided by Dr. Clifton. Thank you again!
March 26, 2018Robert D.Verified patient
He is very kind. But He talks a lot about himself, not in a way I think helps to bond.
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
Dr. Clifton gave me great advice on how to improve my personal life and health.
February 1, 2011DA
So glad I found him! Made me feel very comfortable right away.
April 23, 2012Devina C.Verified patient
Good listener but gives way too much importance to dreams.
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
Great listener and valuable feedback, highly recommended.
October 17, 2018Initials hidden
It was a good visit, looking forward to my second session
January 11, 2012Alma K.Verified patient
:) Really helpful and caring. I will be coming back.
January 7, 2011Initials hidden
Very kind and understanding
March 2, 2026Initials hiddenVideo visit
i only had one session but was extremely happy with it. will definately continue therapy .he was insightful and patient and easy to talk to
July 30, 2024Christina R.Verified patientVideo visit
Very helpful great listener and Zocdoc needs to change the contact information so if you don’t reach him right away be on the lookout for a call from his cellphone
February 8, 2022John F.Verified patientVideo visit
id like to come back for a second appointment
September 7, 2021Caroline H.Verified patientVideo visit
Great communicator and was really caring!
July 14, 2021Sanae L.Verified patientVideo visit
Dr. Clifton was truly so awesome! I forgot to check with my insurance to see if they cover his service, which they do not, but he was so kind and patient with me nonetheless. Even after learning I likely would not be able to continue seeing him, he kept our appointment and made me feel great! He was kind, attentive, informative and optimistic. I’ve gone to psychiatrists before and have felt rushed or like they didn’t care about me, just looking to prescribe me meds. This experience was encouraging and a pleasant start to my day. I also like that he talked about dreams and exploring interpretations. I now plan to start taking note of mine! I can only hope that I will find an in-network psychiatrist who will be as caring, professional, attentive and kind as him! He also left me with great tips on what to look for when I do eventually work with someone else. Just the best! 10/10 recommend!!
May 4, 2021Khadija A.Verified patientVideo visit
Great first session!
April 12, 2021Nia Keii J.Verified patientVideo visit
My time with Dr. Clifton was excellent, he showed compassion, detailed care, and made helpful suggestions without being dogmatic. I will be returning for future appointments.
September 21, 2020Initials hiddenVideo visit
Great guy!
July 27, 2020Daniel R.Verified patientVideo visit
very kind and honest
March 29, 2018Jeannie B.Verified patient
My experience with Dr. Clifton was very positive. In this first session, he helped me clarify for myself the issues that have contributed to my anxious and depressed state of the last few months. Instead of one looming black cloud invading my personal world I feel hopeful that I can give constructive attention to the different parts of my life that obviously do not work. The prospect of creating change feels less daunting. I could relate to Dr. Clifton's pragmatic, kind, and philosophical approach to therapy. Very pleased and looking forward to continuing.
March 20, 2018Catherine S.Verified patient
Dr. Clifton is great, easy to talk to and very understanding. He sometimes references poetry or works of art to exemplify the human condition, which helps to keep things in perspective.
January 19, 2017Melissa Z.Verified patient
He seemed nice enough. Told me a lot more about himself and talked much more than any other therapist I have seen. In fact, he told me so much that I was uncomfortable being completely forthright with him. Knowing things about him made me question whether or not his assessment of me would be biased.
Also requested that I make follow-up visits by calling the office -- not through ZocDoc.
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
Dr. Clifton was lovely. I'm completely unfamiliar with the therapeutic process, and yet felt very comfortable with his path of treatment. He was very engaged - a very good listener, as he should be - and was incredibly quick to see me. I've never seen a New York doctor of any sort that had less than a 2-hour wait. His promptness, his gentle approach, and his informed insight were very reassuring.
More than 1 year agoAlexandra K.Verified patient
I had a really good first time visit. Dr. Clifton made me feel at ease and led the conversation in a very calming way. He had some great insights for me, that already are giving me some comfort. I am looking forward to meeting with him again!
September 23, 2014Initials hidden
Dr. Clifton has been a gift! I've considered myself lucid, successful, and happily disposed despite certain personal and professional travails. As such, while I had always respected the field of psychotherapy, I had not sought any for myself. I booked my initial appointment with Dr. Clifton specifically to understand how best to support a dear friend going through a devastating mental health condition that left him isolated and on the precipice of much worse. What I immediately became present to was Dr. Clifton's tremendous compassion and sagacity that spanned restrictive cultural paradigms and informed his great capacity for listening. Before my second meeting, I suffered a terrible accident which made me question everything in my life. Dr. Clifton helped me navigate both of these challenges with his peaceful steering of my anxiety and created an environment of trust, respect, and safe exploration. Through imagery, visualization, and challenges to shift my language and thereby my experience, Dr. Clifton helped me get comfortable enough to finally start addressing some of my own trauma that made me want to save my friend and save myself from the prolonged aftermath of my accident. Thanks to Dr. Clifton, I've found the strength to face complications that arose with respect to these challenges and many others. The safe space that Dr. Clifton has gifted me and his expert skill in dipping into various resources -- poetry, music, travel, texts of various traditions, to name just a few -- have served as invaluable tools that have enriched me beyond my imagination. I deeply respect Dr. Clifton as a person and regard the work that he does with utmost respect. Thank you so much, Dr. Clifton!
August 13, 2014Initials hidden
Felt very comfortable with Dr. Clifton, and he made a genuine (and successful) attempt to meet me where I was at, emotionally and mentally.
February 27, 2014Initials hidden
Easy to talk to, very insightful, compassionate
May 15, 2014Fiona O.Verified patient
I've only had one session with Dr. Clifton, but I think he's great. The thing you'll notice the most (besides his adorable dog) is that he's an incredibly smart guy who incorporates poetry, literature, and philosophy into his therapy.
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
I've only seen him once so far and this usually takes a few sessions to get going but over all, I felt I could make progress here.
October 3, 2013Bryant H.Verified patient
I couldn't ask for a better psychotherapist.
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
A great experience all around
November 5, 2013Kathleen-may H.Verified patient
Very patient, great listener. Actually takes the time to hear you out and tries to focus on ways in which you can come to terms and gather the strength to deal with your issues. He puts a lot of faith in the subconscious and the meaning of dreams, which might not work for some (I personally am a fan). He is not the type of person who will try to put you on meds, which is exactly what I was looking for. He also has an adorable dog, which for me personally is a huge plus as I find it very relaxing, but might be an issue for some.
December 10, 2013Initials hidden
I love him. He's amazing..
July 6, 2013Initials hidden
he,s very nice he make you feel good ,also make my stress level when down a lot because he's patient , understandable take my sadness away from me i will recommend people definetly
November 19, 2012Mona S.Verified patient
The good:
Mr.Francis is a good listener. If you are depressed the first thing you need in a psychologist is good listening skills. He does not rush patients unlike most other doctors.
The not-so-good:
Mr Francis gives lot of importance to dreams - trying to interpret them and understand what they mean. If you want to know about my life experiences you can directly ask me rather than trying to interpret dreams.
Another issue i have with him is that he is more into analyzing than suggesting a solution. Depression sucks and i want to get out of it as soon as possible - tell me how to fix it.
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
Dr. Clifton has an interesting approach to the field of psychology. He is founded in ancient philosophy which makes his message easy to understand. He is a compassionate and caring listener.
April 27, 2013William S.Verified patient
Dr. Clifton seems like a nice guy, but I don't think he's a great fit for me. He seemed distracted throughout our meeting... by his dog, his phone, people walking by outside, random artwork on his walls... He may have been trying to put me at ease, but there were just too many distractions for me to have a great session.
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
I have been to a few psychologists before Dr. Clifton but I will not go to another. So attentive..professional..and curious. An excellent man.
February 16, 2012Derik B.Verified patient
He's so easy to talk to. You don't feel like your talking to a professional, you feel as though your talking to an old friend or someone close to you. I was very impressed with his whole demeanor and I will definitely continue to see him.
March 14, 2012Initials hidden
He's definitely a good Dr!!He's very patient and smart.I like his office too,it's like being at home.He make you feel comfortable.Thanks again!!
January 6, 2012Initials hidden
I find Dr. Clifton possesses a mixture of qualitiies all of which makes working with him deeply beneficial. He is kind, gentle and patience and very intellegant he is earthly and erudite, I feel recongnized and listened to. I will continue to see him.
More than 1 year agoMary Ann C.Verified patient
Very intelligent, attentive and responsive to your issues. Would thoroughly recommend Dr. Clifton as somebody to speak with during a time of crisis or mental anguish.
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
The visit was excellent. I got there 5 minutes early but Dr. Clifton saw me immediately. I have seen Dr. Clifton before and was satisfied with his service and professionalism. The visit turned out better than previous visits. Thanks for the referral ZocDoc and thanks Dr. Clifton.
May 1, 2012Robert D.Verified patient
He was very understanding, he took te time to anilyze my concerns. I felt very comfortable and relaxed with opening up this was my first time taking therapy and I can't wait to go back.
October 25, 2012Jairo T.Verified patient
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How soon can I make an appointment with Dr. Francis X Clifton?
Generally, Dr. Francis X Clifton has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dr. Clifton's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Dr. Francis X Clifton accepting new patients?
Dr. Francis X Clifton generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dr. Clifton's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Dr. Francis X Clifton accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Dr. Clifton is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Dr. Francis X Clifton online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dr. Clifton using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Dr. Francis X Clifton work with?
Dr. Francis X Clifton works with Francis X. Clifton, PhD.
Where is Dr. Francis X Clifton's office located?
Dr. Francis X Clifton has 2 office locations in New York, view full addresses on Dr. Clifton's profile.
What are common reasons for patients to see Dr. Francis X Clifton?
Dr. Francis X Clifton frequently sees patients for Anxiety, Depression, Psychotherapy, Therapy, and Worry. You can see other visit reasons for Dr. Francis X Clifton on their profile.
What languages does Dr. Francis X Clifton speak?
Dr. Francis X Clifton speaks English.
How do patients rate Dr. Francis X Clifton in reviews?
149 patients have reviewed Dr. Francis X Clifton. The overall rating for this doctor is 4.68/5. They have a 4.81/5 rating for bedside manner and a 4.97/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.