What patients are saying
Overall rating
5.00
Average wait time
5.00
Bedside manner
5.00
About Dr. Susan McConnaughy
Clientele seen
Teenagers (13-17)
Seniors (65+)
Families
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Adults (25-64)
Couples
Treatment approaches
Attachment-based
Culturally Sensitive
Clinical Supervision and Licensed Supervisors
Emotionally Focused
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Family / Marital
Identity
Gender
FemaleLanguages spoken
English
Getting to know Dr. Susan McConnaughy
Education & Training
I earned my Master’s of Social Work (M.S.W.) from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, and my Ph.D. in Social Welfare from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. I completed advanced training at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies (NIP), a progressive psychoanalytic training institute in New York.
Being a life-long student, I’ve continued training in trauma-informed treatments: Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Internal Family Systems.
Service in the Field
In addition to seeing private clients and supervisees online and in my Chelsea office, I supervise therapists in advanced training at NIP, where I also serve as faculty, training analyst and advisor. I was a co-founder of NIP’s one-year post-master’s program in child and adolescent treatment.
I have recently retired as a tenured Associate Professor of Child and Family Services at SUNY Empire State College, after 19 years of college teaching there and at Silberman School of Social Work. I have led trauma-informed clinical case seminars in the Post-Masters Clinical Social Work Program at Silberman. I have also presented widely at professional conferences here and abroad on supporting parents in their children’s healing from trauma.
In the community, I long served on the advisory board of Little Sisters of the Assumption, a home visiting program for new mothers in East Harlem. And I offered professional support to a NYC self-help group of parents affected by the child welfare system, the Child Welfare Organizing Project.
In recent years I have served as a Fulbright Scholar teaching students and consulting with university faculty in Vietnam on mental health and trauma. I then served for three years on the Fulbright Peer Review Committee to select future Fulbright Scholars.
What should a new client know about working with you?
My approach to therapy is grounded on core values that have served me for a lifetime.
Finding a language for our needs and our deep hurts was a revelation for me in my own life, and it has been for my clients, too. Learning how to have the difficult conversations with others - and within oneself! - is transformative. And a very big relief!!
The Relational psychotherapy I practice offers tools to help us understand the needs we bring to our relationships, and the issues that emerge as we engage with others on more than a surface level. It’s very optimistic, but not naive about just how painful relationships can be. And how hard these conversations are to have.
Another core value is staying honest and open to a deeper experiencing of the realities we encounter. My daily practice of mindfulness meditation has helped me stay more open, curious and brave. Because this practice brings the mind back home to the body, it prepared me to undertake advanced clinical training in trauma treatment and somatic therapies and to offer them to my clients: sensorimotor processing, mindfulness-based stress reduction and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.
Therapy will increase your understanding of yourself and others, and it will give you robust skills in working productively with your own difficult emotions, such as fear, anger, grief and longing. The therapy relationship will be an energized relationship that makes you feel more alive and empowered, and yet safer in the world and in your own skin.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
The Initial Consultation
I believe that a "good fit" between therapist and client is important. I invite you to come in for an initial consultation to give you a sense of how I work, and to see if you feel comfortable that I could help you in some important way. Consultations can also be conducted on zoom.
Several important things happen in the initial consultation. I will ask you to tell me about your current concerns and to give me some background. I will then give you feedback on your concerns, and provide you with a sense of how we might work together on them. If we agree to work together, we can schedule our first session. If you may need to take some time to weigh your alternatives, we will wait and see.
If I think you would be better served by another professional with a different approach, I will give you an appropriate referral to a good person, hopefully one whom I know well who can serve you well.
Length of Therapy
Sessions are 45 minutes long. Frequency of sessions can vary from one to multiple times per week as needed. Most people meet weekly until the major part of the work is done, and after that we may meet less frequently.
Depending on your goals in therapy, the length of treatment may be short-term or longer. Each client and I jointly define our project and its timeline, being aware that we are both devoting valuable time, energy and resources to our work together.
Most persons suffering powerful anxiety or depression will feel some genuine relief in a few months of weekly sessions, and for some this is enough. But addressing the underlying causes of the painful symptoms could take longer – as much as a year or two.
Dr. Susan McConnaughy 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: $240 for 45 minutes
Ongoing session: $240 for 45 minutes
- Sliding scale: Offers lower out-of-pocket fees on an individual basis, typically based on your ability to pay
Office location
Dr. Susan McConnaughy, LCSW, PhD also offers online video visits for patients
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy (PhD)
- Hunter College School of Social Work, Master's in Social Work
Professional memberships
- American Psychological Association
- National Association of Social Workers
- International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
Awards and publications
- Fulbright Scholar, 2019
- Publications on request
NPI number
1184775009
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
2 reviews
Most relevant
Dr. McConnaughy is very patient, easy to talk to and offers valuable insight. Highly recommended!
Less than 6 months agoJM
Less than 6 months agoInitials hidden
How soon can I make an appointment with Dr. Susan McConnaughy?
Generally, Dr. Susan McConnaughy has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dr. McConnaughy's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Dr. Susan McConnaughy accepting new patients?
Dr. Susan McConnaughy generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dr. McConnaughy's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Dr. Susan McConnaughy accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Dr. McConnaughy is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Dr. Susan McConnaughy online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dr. McConnaughy using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Dr. Susan McConnaughy work with?
Dr. Susan McConnaughy works with Susan McConnaughy, PhD, LCSW.
Where is Dr. Susan McConnaughy's office located?
Dr. Susan McConnaughy has 2 office locations, including in New York and Smyrna, view full addresses on Dr. McConnaughy's profile.
What are common reasons for patients to see Dr. Susan McConnaughy?
Dr. Susan McConnaughy frequently sees patients for Depression, New Patient Visit, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Sleep Problems. You can see other visit reasons for Dr. Susan McConnaughy on their profile.
What languages does Dr. Susan McConnaughy speak?
Dr. Susan McConnaughy speaks English.
How do patients rate Dr. Susan McConnaughy in reviews?
2 patients have reviewed Dr. Susan McConnaughy. 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.