What patients are saying
Overall rating
5.00
Average wait time
5.00
Bedside manner
5.00
“Dr. Fem Erkaya is an excellent psychiatrist who goes above and beyond for their patients. They helped me navigate some challenging times with ease and understanding. Their approach is personalized and compassionate. I highly recommend. Thank you so much, thank you! ”
OGMore than 1 year ago
“Fem's approach to therapy has been the most helpful for me. Being a second generation immigrant has been a challenge and Fem was able to provide the space and the comfort for me to understand my own cultural biases and patterns way more clearly.”
MOMore than 1 year ago
About Ruya Erkaya
Focus areas
Adult Psychotherapy
Life Transition
Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit
Couples Therapy
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Counseling
Cultural Diversity Issues
Psychological Trauma
Clientele seen
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Adults (25-64)
Couples
Seniors (65+)
Families
Treatment approaches
Culturally Sensitive
Person-Centered
Emotionally Focused
Psychoanalytic
Integrative
Psychodynamic
Identity
Gender
FemaleLanguages spoken
English, Turkish
Getting to know Ruya Erkaya
Fem Erkaya, LMHC, LPC is a dual-licensed psychotherapist in New York and New Jersey, and the founder of Knots Mental Health Counseling, a boutique private practice located in Downtown Brooklyn. She works with adult individuals and couples navigating the kinds of challenges that don't always have simple answers — relationship patterns, life transitions, identity, emotional depth, and the quieter struggles that are often hardest to name.
Fem holds a Master's in Mental Health Counseling and her advanced clinical psychoanalytic training informs a thoughtful, insight-oriented approach to therapy — one that prioritizes genuine understanding over quick fixes.
She is bilingual in English and Turkish, and brings a nuanced awareness of multicultural experience, immigration, and identity to her work. Before establishing her practice in New York, Fem worked with diverse populations including trauma survivors and immigrants back in her home country, deepening her sensitivity to the ways culture, history, and context shape a person's inner life.
At Knots, the work is less about imminent symptom management and more about making sense of what feels tangled — understanding the patterns, relationships, and experiences that quietly run the show. Sessions are available in-person in Downtown Brooklyn, and virtually across New York State and New Jersey.
What should a new client know about working with you?
Working with Fem means entering a space that is warm, unhurried, and genuinely curious about who you are — not just what brought you in.
Her style is conversational and collaborative. Sessions don't follow a rigid structure or script. Instead, the work unfolds organically, following what feels most alive and most relevant in the room. Fem brings both clinical depth and real human warmth to each session — clients often describe feeling understood in ways they hadn't expected.
This approach works particularly well for people who are self-aware, intellectually curious, and ready to explore not just what they're experiencing, but why. If you've ever found yourself repeating the same patterns in relationships, feeling stuck despite knowing better, or carrying something you can't quite put into words — this is a space built for exactly that kind of work.
Fem sees clients who are navigating anxiety, relationship difficulties, life transitions, grief, identity questions, and the emotional weight of multicultural or immigrant experience. She works with adult individuals and couples, and conducts sessions in both English and Turkish.
New clients can expect their first session to be a genuine conversation — not an intake checklist. The goal from the very beginning is to start building something real.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
At Knots, therapy is treated as a collaborative process rather than a prescribed treatment.
Each session begins where the client is — whatever is on their mind, whatever has surfaced since the last time, whatever feels most pressing or most confusing in the moment.
From there, the work moves between present experience and deeper exploration. Fem pays close attention not just to what clients say, but to how they say it — the patterns, the hesitations, the moments of unexpected feeling. Over time, this kind of attention tends to reveal things that are difficult to access alone: the beliefs quietly shaping decisions, the relational dynamics that keep repeating, the parts of the self that haven't yet had room to be understood.
Sessions are characterized by open dialogue, genuine reflection, and a pace that respects the complexity of the work. There is no rush toward resolution. The goal is not to move through a checklist of issues, but to build a real understanding of the person — one that creates lasting change rather than temporary relief.
Clients typically find that as the work deepens, the insights from sessions begin to live outside of them too — showing up in relationships, in how they handle difficulty, and in a growing sense of knowing themselves more clearly.
Is this doctor in your insurance network?
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In-network insurances
Aetna
BlueCross BlueShield
UnitedHealthcare
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
Initial session: $175 for 45 minutes
Ongoing session: $175-200 for 45 minutes
- 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
Knots Mental Health Counseling has a few reserved spots for insurance clients. Please contact about insurance verification before booking initial appointments. For out-of-network clients Fem Erkaya, LMHC, LPC provides monthly superbills that clients can submit to their insurance provider for potential reimbursement.
Many clients are surprised to find that their out-of-network benefits cover a meaningful portion of session fees. To find out what your plan covers, contact your insurance provider and ask the following:
1. Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
2. What is my out-of-network deductible, and has it been met?
3. Once the deductible is met, what percentage of the session fee is reimbursed?
Office location
Ruya Erkaya, LMHC, LPC also offers online video visits for patients
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- City University of New York, Brooklyn College, Master's in Mental Health Counseling
- Training Institute for Mental Health (Psychoanalysis)
Professional memberships
- New York Mental Health Counselors Association
- American Psychological Association
NPI number
1780355198
Patient reviews
All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
5.00
Wait time
5.00
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
17 reviews
Most relevant
Dr. Fem Erkaya is an excellent psychiatrist who goes above and beyond for their patients. They helped me navigate some challenging times with ease and understanding. Their approach is personalized and compassionate. I highly recommend. Thank you so much, thank you!
More than 1 year agoOG
Fem's approach to therapy has been the most helpful for me. Being a second generation immigrant has been a challenge and Fem was able to provide the space and the comfort for me to understand my own cultural biases and patterns way more clearly.
More than 1 year agoMO
If you are looking to trust a therapist immediately and feel comfortable with just being yourself in therapy, Fem is who you are looking for!
More than 1 year agoBM
Fem was the most gifted therapist I had ever worked with! We have been working for a few months now and she has always been there for me. I will continue seeing her as long as I possibly can.
More than 1 year agoBN
I had a free phone consultation before scheduling an appointment with Fem and she was very understanding of me not being able to commit to consistent scheduling due to work reasons. She offered to begin as hybrid with me and our first virtual session over Zoom went wonderfully. I highly recommend Fem to anyone looking for a therapist but also needs a flexible schedule on weekly basis!
More than 1 year agoBB
Talking to Fem really helped me to gain a new perspective on issues I have been struggling with since childhood. She is so friendly and easy to talk to. I’ve felt generally more confident and less anxious since we started working together. I always look forward to our sessions.
More than 1 year agoEA
Even tough she is a young therapist she gives you enough confidence so you feel comfortable enough to share with her. She wasn’t just listening but guiding by pointing out the right questions in the right moments.
More than 1 year agoBG
She was so patient even when I was continuously talking with all the anxieties I had and listened me carefully until she enlightened me about my mental process. Also I was suspicious about the online sessions but after the two sessions I had with Ms. Erkaya I understood it certainly makes no difference as long as the other party is a good listener like her.
More than 1 year agoECA
It was quite good. She was very helpful to my social anxiety. We are currently keep doing sessions with her and she is very good at communicating with me. She understands when I need to talk about what. And this is very important for me since I am not a very easy communicating person. This is valuable.
More than 1 year agoBN
My initial visit with Fem was really warm and welcoming. She is an active listener with care and asks comforting questions. I will definitely continue seeing her.
More than 1 year agoEB
I have been working with Fem for about a month now and I already feel much better. She has always made me feel I am being heard and is very good at calming me down. She is a pleasure to work with, I highly recommend her!
More than 1 year agoBI
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March 15, 2023Adele P.Verified patient
March 14, 2022Ranin K.Verified patientVideo visit
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How soon can I make an appointment with Ruya Erkaya?
Generally, Ruya Erkaya has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Ruya Erkaya's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Ruya Erkaya accepting new patients?
Ruya Erkaya generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Ruya Erkaya's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Ruya Erkaya accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Ruya Erkaya is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Ruya Erkaya online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Ruya Erkaya using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Ruya Erkaya work with?
Ruya Erkaya works with Fem Erkaya, LMHC.
Where is Ruya Erkaya's office located?
Ruya Erkaya has 3 office locations, including in Brooklyn and Jersey City, view full addresses on Ruya Erkaya's profile.
What are common reasons for patients to see Ruya Erkaya?
Ruya Erkaya frequently sees patients for Anxiety, Depression, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Therapy. You can see other visit reasons for Ruya Erkaya on their profile.
What languages does Ruya Erkaya speak?
Ruya Erkaya speaks English and Turkish.
How do patients rate Ruya Erkaya in reviews?
17 patients have reviewed Ruya Erkaya. The overall rating for this doctor is 5/5. They have a 5/5 rating for bedside manner and a 5/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.