What patients are saying
Overall rating
4.95
Average wait time
4.84
Bedside manner
5.00
“Dr. Brustein has been instrumental in helping me deal with anxiety and panic attacks. His emphasis on mindfulness and instruction on various exercises was effective in dealing with symptoms. More importantly, he also worked with me to identify the underlying causes of my anxiety and ultimately helped me transform my approach to living in ways that have resulted in lasting and durable healing. His approach is refreshingly engaging - he will both listen and speak as necessary, not merely sit back and listen.”
RDMore than 1 year ago
“I have been a patient of Dr. Brustein's for over five years. He has helped me tremendously. He is very good at simplifying very complicated issues and synthesizing bigger problems so I can understand them. He is a great listener and very knowledgeable.
In terms of scheduling and professionalism, he is very easy to communicate with and I've never had to wait more than five minutes for my appointment and rarely have to wait at all. I would recommend him without reservation.”
DMMore than 1 year ago
About Dr. Michael Brustein
Focus areas
Anxiety
Life Coaching
Stress
Cognitive Therapy
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Worry
Depression
Psychotherapy
Clientele seen
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Adults (25-64)
Seniors (65+)
Treatment approaches
Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
Dialectical (DBT)
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Psychodynamic
Compassion Focused
Identity
Gender
MaleSexuality
StraightFaith
JewishEthnicity
White
Languages spoken
English
Getting to know Dr. Michael Brustein
Anxiety, Perfectionism, and the Patterns That Keep You Stuck
Most people don’t come to therapy because they lack insight. They come because understanding the problem hasn’t been enough to change it.
I’ve been a clinical psychologist for more than 20 years, working with adults who struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, overthinking, OCD, anger, and the pressures that can come with demanding careers and relationships.
My approach is active, thoughtful, and practical. We look at what is happening now, but also at the patterns underneath it. Often, the very qualities that help people succeed, such as drive, high standards, persistence, and the need to stay in control, can also become sources of anxiety or dissatisfaction.
I draw from CBT, ACT, mindfulness, and psychodynamic approaches, adapting the work to the individual rather than applying one method to everyone. The goal is not simply to manage symptoms, but to understand what keeps them going and create changes that last.
I earned my PsyD from Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology and completed my clinical internship at Harvard Medical School. I am a former Assistant Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the author of Perfectionism: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals.
I see patients in New York and New Jersey and via telehealth in participating PSYPACT states. My practice is private pay/out-of-network, and I can provide superbills for patients seeking reimbursement from their insurance plan.
What should a new client know about working with you?
Choosing Dr. Brustein means partnering with a dedicated professional committed to your mental well-being. He helps his clients foster insight and practical skills to ensure a comprehensive and effective approach to mental health.
Dr. Michael Brustein 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: $275 for 60 minutes
Ongoing session: $250 for 45 minutes
- Sliding scale: Offers lower out-of-pocket fees on an individual basis, typically based on your ability to pay
- Files your insurance claim: You pay the session fee upfront and the provider files the claim for you, so you can get reimbursed directly without worrying about the paperwork
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, PsyD in Psychology
- New York University, Master’s in Psychology
- Harvard University (Internship)
Awards and publications
- Perfectionism: A guide for Mental Health Professionals
NPI number
1265510242
Patient reviews
All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
4.95
Wait time
4.84
Bedside manner
5.00
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
21 reviews
Most relevant
He made me feel comfortable to open up and helped reframe my mindset.
June 24, 2018Kate S.Verified patient
Dr. Brustein is easy to talk to and always makes me feel comfortable no matter how complicated the subject matter is. He can understand what's underneath the things you are talking about and help you get to the issues that directly affect your life. He is an experienced and knowledgeable professional that listens really well and provides great insights. Highly recommend therapy with him.
More than 1 year agoMO
This was really the first time that I worked with a psychologist. As Michael got to know me during our sessions he helped me over time pin point and tackle the main "problems" right away even though some of them I didn't even know existed before we started the exploration process. He also recommended me to an awesome psychiatrist and they have worked hand in hand to further my progress. I honestly thought that I was going to go see him , get some insight, and he was going to help me and "fix" things and then I could check that off the list and stop going. But it feels like my personal situation was more like an onion. Once I peel back one layer we started working on the next. This evolution over time is something I really didn't expect, but am so grateful that it happened. Overall my family and friends have seen a huge improvement in my life, my relationships are so much more than they were and overall and I can honestly say I am living life at a level that I couldn't even imagine a year ago. I am soooooo excited about the future! I would recommend Michael to anyone!
More than 1 year agoDD
Dr. Brustein has been instrumental in helping me deal with anxiety and panic attacks. His emphasis on mindfulness and instruction on various exercises was effective in dealing with symptoms. More importantly, he also worked with me to identify the underlying causes of my anxiety and ultimately helped me transform my approach to living in ways that have resulted in lasting and durable healing. His approach is refreshingly engaging - he will both listen and speak as necessary, not merely sit back and listen.
More than 1 year agoRD
I have been a patient of Dr. Brustein's for over five years. He has helped me tremendously. He is very good at simplifying very complicated issues and synthesizing bigger problems so I can understand them. He is a great listener and very knowledgeable.
In terms of scheduling and professionalism, he is very easy to communicate with and I've never had to wait more than five minutes for my appointment and rarely have to wait at all. I would recommend him without reservation.
More than 1 year agoDM
Dr. Brustein is an extremely talented psychotherapist. At my first appointment I felt comfortable, as if I were seeing an old friend. Dr. Brustein is very laid-back, but his focus is sharp, and his focus is on you. And I trust him completely. He is incredibly smart and has helped me gain insight into the thoughts and actions that prevent me from being happy. He has a great sense of humor which comes in handy! He turned me on to Mindfulness which has helped me tremendously. Michael is very gentle and kind. I know that he cares about me, as he must for every one of his patients. I feel I've made great progress in the almost 3 years I have worked with him.
More than 1 year agoPE
Michael is a warm, insightful, and thoughtful person. He is patient and sincerely listens. He has great empathy and has offered me terrific guidance over time. But more importantly, I feel very safe with expressing my most intimate truths with him. I've learned to manage and balance my life much better as a result of meeting with him. I've learned to accept myself for who and where I am--and to stop limiting myself, since working with him. What I love most about Michael is, despite how I may be feeling on a given day, he can somehow always make me smile and at times laugh...out loud. He has truly enriched my life and I'm very grateful for him. I highly recommend him.
More than 1 year agoSV
I first worked with Dr. Brustein a couple of years ago for several months and recently over the past nine months. He is a brilliant psychologist who displays the following key elements that I find effective for me - being present & engaged during the session, consistent & interactive, observant & intuitive, professional & compassionate, curious & thoughtful. Dr. Brustein has an excellent memory and a keen aptitude for building knowledge and understanding of a patient (me in this case). I find this talent of his most helpful for me as I grow to understand myself better and thus become a more effective human being in life and towards society. Every session with him has given me insight and direction about my past, present state and future path, starting from the very first one.
More than 1 year agoDS
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March 21, 2025Aj B.Verified patientVideo visit
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February 7, 2018Gabriel R.Verified patient
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July 10, 2017S Michelle C.Verified patient
June 8, 2017Carmela C.Verified patient
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How soon can I make an appointment with Dr. Michael Brustein?
Generally, Dr. Michael Brustein has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dr. Brustein's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Dr. Michael Brustein accepting new patients?
Dr. Michael Brustein generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dr. Brustein's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Dr. Michael Brustein accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Dr. Brustein is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Dr. Michael Brustein online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dr. Brustein using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Dr. Michael Brustein work with?
Dr. Michael Brustein works with Dr. Michael Brustein.
What are common reasons for patients to see Dr. Michael Brustein?
Dr. Michael Brustein frequently sees patients for Depression, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, Sleep Problems, and Therapy. You can see other visit reasons for Dr. Michael Brustein on their profile.
What languages does Dr. Michael Brustein speak?
Dr. Michael Brustein speaks English.
How do patients rate Dr. Michael Brustein in reviews?
21 patients have reviewed Dr. Michael Brustein. The overall rating for this doctor is 4.95/5. They have a 5/5 rating for bedside manner and a 4.84/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.