Welcome
Choosing to seek insight into your relationships, navigate life’s emotional complexities, and cultivate deeper self-understanding is a profound and courageous step. Finding a psychotherapist who can guide you through this process, however, is an equally important decision.
I invite you to explore the information below, where you will discover my professional training, the range of services I provide, and the psychodynamic approach that informs my work—creating a space for reflection, growth, and meaningful change.
Education & Training
I am a New York State–licensed clinical psychologist in private practice, holding a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Long Island University–Brooklyn and a pre-doctoral internship at Columbia University Medical Center. I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico.
My clinical training encompasses a broad spectrum of leading institutions, including The Bellevue Hospital Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, The Harvard Negotiation & Mediation Clinical Program, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai – Mood & Personality Research Program, The William Alanson White Institute, the NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, and the VA St. Albans Hospital. I also served as the psychologist in the Bariatric Surgery Clinic at Jacobi Medical Center, where I integrated a multidisciplinary, psychoeducational approach to the assessment and care of bariatric and plastic surgery patients.
Beyond my clinical practice, I am trained by Physicians for Human Rights in the forensic documentation of trauma and provide expert witness services. I have extensive experience working with survivors of domestic violence, war, terrorism, and other forms of political conflict, both nationally and internationally. My professional and research interests include applying psychoanalytic perspectives to understand immigration and acculturation, as well as the development and validation of culturally and linguistically sensitive assessments for Spanish-speaking individuals.
Deeply committed to mentorship, I serve as a Special Adjunct Clinical Professor at Long Island University–Brooklyn and as a clinical supervisor at Yeshiva University–Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, guiding the next generation of clinicians and researchers with care and rigor.
Psychotherapy
My approach to psychotherapy is psychodynamically oriented. This tradition of treatment is grounded in the understanding that our present ways of experiencing ourselves and others are often shaped by patterns established in earlier relationships. While these patterns may once have been adaptive, they can also become sources of distress or limitation over time.
Psychotherapy offers a unique space in which these patterns can be observed and understood as they emerge within the therapeutic relationship itself. Attending carefully to these experiences allows us to deepen insight into longstanding ways of thinking, feeling, and relating. Through this process, new possibilities for self-understanding and connection can gradually develop.
To learn more about psychodynamic psychotherapy, please click here. If you are interested in the research supporting this approach, please click here.
I believe that meaningful psychological change requires both depth and continuity. For this reason, I typically recommend meeting once per week. Sessions are 45 minutes in length and are held at the same agreed-upon time each week.
I work primarily with young adults, adults, and couples. Psychotherapy is offered in both English and Spanish.
Expert Witness Services
Immigration, Criminal and Civil Law
I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for legal proceedings and provide expert witness testimony in immigration, criminal, and civil matters. I conduct comprehensive forensic assessments in both English and Spanish and have extensive experience working with attorneys, courts, and humanitarian organizations.
My work includes forensic documentation of trauma, competency evaluations, and psychological assessments prepared specifically for litigation. I regularly collaborate with legal teams to provide clear, well-supported opinions that assist the court in understanding complex psychological issues. When case timelines require it, I offer expedited evaluations and reporting.
As a psychologist trained by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) in the forensic evaluation and documentation of trauma and human rights abuses, I am committed to conducting rigorous, evidence-based assessments. My approach emphasizes careful attention to the unique circumstances of each case and the preparation of objective, well-documented reports that meet the standards expected in legal proceedings.
Location
I am a NYS licensed psychologist and my services are provided via a HIPPA-compliant teleconference platform. Expert witness services are usually provided at the attorney's office when appropriate to the case.
FAQ
How do I set up an appointment?
Appointments can only be set over the phone. I usually provide a 10-15 min. phone consult where we will discuss your reasons for seeking out psychotherapy and whether I may be able to help you. At that point, we would set up a meeting time.
What are your fees?
My standard psychotherapy fee is $400 per session for individual psychotherapy and $450 for a family or couple's session.
Expert witness services are quoted on a per case basis after the initial consultation.
Do you accept insurance?
I am an out-of-network provider and I able to issue a "Superbill" at the end of the month, which you can then submit to your insurance for reimbursement. Depending on your benefits, you may get 60-80 % back.
How do I find out how much my insurance covers?
Do you provide scale down fees?
I have a limited amount of spots available based on financial need.
- ContactFor appointments: 917-933-0049
Dr. Lucía Lezama Tannenbaum ©