About Dr. Shira Kafker
Focus areas
Anxiety
Parenting Counseling
Depression
Stress
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Clientele seen
Children (<13)
Adults (25-64)
Teenagers (13-17)
Individuals
Young adults (18-24)
Families
Treatment approaches
Clinical Supervision and Licensed Supervisors
Integrative
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Motivational Interviewing
Culturally Sensitive
Parent-Child Interaction (PCIT)
Identity
Gender
FemaleLanguages spoken
English
Getting to know Dr. Shira Kafker
I specialize in helping individuals across the lifespan strengthen relationships and manage behavioral difficulties, depression, anxiety, and the effects of trauma.
When working with children (ages 1-10) who struggle to regulate their emotions, maintain attention, practice safe behaviors, or follow directions, I utilize Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), including toddler and older child adaptations, to help caregivers develop the skills needed to support their child in any situation. As a certified PCIT therapist and trainer, I teach caregivers how to manage their child's behavior through positive attention and consistent, predictable discipline strategies. I also incorporate cognitive behavioral strategies to help children build skills and assist parents in reinforcing growth.
For adolescents and adults who have experienced difficult events or relationships or who are feeling especially down or anxious, I use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and elements of other evidence-based treatments to help them focus on goals, understand the root of their difficulties, and take specific steps toward change.
I earned my PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed both my internship and fellowship at ANDRUS, which have equipped me with a strong foundation in clinical practice.
**PLEASE NOTE: A) all sessions are virtual (held via Zoom) and B) I am an out-of-network provider with a fee of $275 per session. I provide superbills for clients to submit to their insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement.**
What should a new client know about working with you?
Through therapy that is tailored to you and your family, using evidenced-based interventions like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), you will gain the tools to meet your goals. It is my strong belief that the therapeutic relationship is key to success, and I create a warm, collaborative, nurturing space in which you will feel heard, empowered, understood, and will be better able to work toward change.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
FOR PCIT FAMILIES: the 60 minute initial session will be divided between 30 minutes of discussion about current symptoms/stressors as well as family history, and 30 minutes of a play observation in three different situations.
After the initial session, there is an adults-only teaching session during which parents learn all skills for the first phase of treatment. After that, all sessions are 60 minute coaching sessions. The parent and child play together while I coach the parent through headphones in order to maximize their effective skills use. When the family is ready to move to the second phase of treatment, there is another adults-only teaching session followed by more coaching sessions.
The key to success in this treatment is committing to five-minute daily play therapy sessions with your child at home in between therapy sessions.
**PLEASE NOTE: Telehealth has been shown to be particularly effective for PCIT for several reasons: 1) the therapist is not in the room with the family during in-person sessions so there is less of an impact by switching to telehealth; 2) from the child's perspective, parents are administering the in-person treatment to the child; 3) telehealth allows coaching to incorporate more natural situations that families have to learn to cope with throughout the week (whereas an office setting does not allow for that in the same way).
The average length of treatment in PCIT is 16-20 sessions.
FOR ALL OTHER TREATMENT: Initial sessions are 60 minutes so that we can get to know each other and I can learn more about what brings you to therapy and how I can support you in your growth. Ongoing therapy afterward will be 45 minutes for individual sessions and 60 minutes for family sessions, with targeted practice in between sessions so as to maximize your growth and expedite your progress.
Dr. Shira Kafker is not in-network with any insurances
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
Initial session: $350 for 60 minutes
Ongoing session: $350 for 45 minutes
- Sliding scale: Offers lower out-of-pocket fees on an individual basis, typically based on your ability to pay
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, PsyD in Clinical Psychology
- ANDRUS (Fellowship)
- ANDRUS (Internship)
Professional memberships
- American Psychological Association
- Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration
- New York State Psychological Association
NPI number
1063940799
How soon can I make an appointment with Dr. Shira Kafker?
Generally, Dr. Shira Kafker has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dr. Kafker's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Dr. Shira Kafker accepting new patients?
Dr. Shira Kafker generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dr. Kafker's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Dr. Shira Kafker accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Dr. Kafker is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Dr. Shira Kafker online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dr. Kafker using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Dr. Shira Kafker work with?
Dr. Shira Kafker works with Sheer Psychology, PLLC.
What are common reasons for patients to see Dr. Shira Kafker?
Dr. Shira Kafker frequently sees patients for Depression, New Patient Visit, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Therapy. You can see other visit reasons for Dr. Shira Kafker on their profile.
What languages does Dr. Shira Kafker speak?
Dr. Shira Kafker speaks English.