Frequently asked questions

A conversation, not an intake. We’ll get a sense of each other — what’s bringing you here, what you’re hoping for, and whether there’s a fit. You’re welcome to ask anything about my approach or how I work.

If it feels right for both of us, we’ll talk about next steps. If it doesn’t, I’ll do my best to point you somewhere that might be a better match.

I’ll send intake paperwork — consent forms, a brief history questionnaire, and some practical information about how I work. Once that’s complete, we’ll schedule your first full 45-minute session.

There’s no commitment beyond that first session — though if it feels right, we’ll find a regular weekly time that’s reserved for you.

Yes. Uncertainty is one of the most common things people bring to a consultation. You don’t need the right words or a clear diagnosis — if something keeps pulling your attention here, even quietly, that’s enough to follow.

The consultation is the right place to figure out whether this makes sense. You’re not committing to anything by asking.

Individual sessions are 45 minutes, held weekly. I ask for weekly consistency — especially at the start — because it’s what builds the trust and momentum that make the work effective.

Occasionally, existing clients and I will work in extended 90-minute sessions when the work calls for more room. These are available by request at $500.

It varies. Some people work with me for six months; others for several years. Deep somatic trauma work tends to unfold slowly — not because nothing is happening, but because the nervous system integrates at its own pace.

I’ll always be honest with you about how the work is progressing. Ending therapy is something we navigate together, with intention, when the time is right.

Primarily virtually, via a secure video platform. This allows me to work with clients anywhere in New York State, and many people find that being in their own space actually supports the somatic work.

I offer limited in-person sessions in Brooklyn. Please mention your interest during our consultation.

I ask for 48 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations with less than 48 hours’ notice — including no-shows — are charged the full session fee.

Intensives have a separate cancellation policy, which we’ll review together before scheduling. Your session time is held for you each week, and consistent attendance is what makes the work possible.

Individual therapy — The Foundation
$250 per 45-minute session, held weekly. Extended 90-minute sessions are available to existing clients by request at $500.

The Deepening (Somatic Intensive)
$2,400 — includes a prep session, 3-hour intensive, and integration session. Extended work is available at $400/hour. Learn more on The Deepening page.

Sessions may be paid with pre-tax dollars from a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA).

I am an out-of-network provider — I don’t bill insurance directly. Payment is due at the time of each session.

If your plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits, you may be eligible for reimbursement. I can provide a superbill after each session for you to submit to your insurer.

I also work with Thrizer, which manages the reimbursement process on your behalf — verifying your benefits and allowing you to pay only your estimated copay at the time of session, rather than paying the full fee upfront and waiting to be reimbursed.

The quickest way is to use Thrizer’s benefits checker — it verifies your out-of-network coverage in a few minutes without a phone call.

Or, call the Member Services number on the back of your insurance card and ask:

• Do I have out-of-network outpatient mental health coverage?
• What is my out-of-network deductible, and how much have I met this year?
• What is my co-insurance rate for outpatient psychotherapy after the deductible?
• What are the allowable amounts for CPT code 90834 (45-min session) or 90837 (60-min session)?
• How many outpatient sessions are covered per calendar year?
• Do I need prior authorization for out-of-network therapy?

If they ask for my billing information:

Under the No Surprises Act, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate — a written estimate of the expected cost of your care — before beginning services. I provide this to all clients before we start working together.

You can learn more at ivychim.com/good-faith-estimate.

I reserve a limited number of reduced-fee spots for individuals from marginalized communities facing financial hardship due to systemic oppression. These spots are limited and not always available.

If cost is a barrier, please mention it during our consultation. I’d rather have that conversation than have you not reach out.

There are community funds and low-fee clinics I’m glad to point you toward.

Most talk therapy focuses on understanding — making sense of experiences, identifying patterns, gaining insight. Somatic therapy does that too, but also works directly with the body, because much of what we carry from painful experiences isn’t stored in words — it’s stored in sensation, tension, and the nervous system itself.

In sessions, you might be invited to notice what’s happening in your body as we talk — a tightening in the chest, a held breath, an urge to move. We work with those responses rather than past them. Over time, this allows the nervous system to complete what it couldn’t at the time of the original experience.

This doesn’t require anything physical or uncomfortable. The pace is always one your system can integrate.

No — and this is one of the things that distinguishes somatic work from other trauma approaches. Detailed retelling isn’t required, and can sometimes be counterproductive if it reactivates the nervous system without enough support to settle afterward.

You can share as much or as little of the story as feels right. What matters most is what’s happening in your body, right now.

Sessions usually begin with a brief pause — noticing where you are, what’s present, what you’re carrying. From there, we explore whatever is most alive: an emotion, a pattern, a sensation, a memory, a relational dynamic.

Some sessions are quiet and grounding. Others involve more expression, movement, or unexpected lightness. Some are hard in the best way. What stays consistent is the pace — always at a speed your nervous system can actually integrate.

That matters, and it’s worth talking about. Previous experiences of therapy that didn’t land — or felt harmful — shape what you bring into the room and what you need in order to feel safe enough to do this work.

If you’ve spent years understanding your patterns without feeling real change in your body or your life, that’s often a sign the work hasn’t reached the level where change actually happens. That’s not a reflection of your effort or readiness — it’s often about the modality. Tell me what didn’t work. That information helps us work more carefully together.

I work primarily with women and people with shared experiences of womanhood, navigating complex trauma, sexual trauma, estrangement and grief, and relational and intimacy challenges. I have deep experience with Asian American women, first-generation immigrants, and BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals — though my practice is open to anyone whose experience resonates with this work.

I also offer The Deepening intensive for individuals ready for a deeper container than weekly sessions provide. I’m licensed in New York State and see clients in New York, virtually or in person.

You don’t need to be in crisis or diagnosable to benefit from this work. Many people I work with are high-functioning — managing their lives well on the outside while carrying something that costs them a great deal on the inside.

A persistent sense of flatness, disconnection, or a vague awareness that something is off — even if you can’t name it — is enough. You don’t need to justify needing support.

I am not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a psychiatric emergency, please call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line), or go to your nearest emergency room.

If you’re going through something hard but not in immediate danger, please reach out. We can talk about whether this is the right time to begin, what support would help most, and how to move forward carefully.

I’m licensed in New York State. For virtual therapy, you need to be located in New York at the time of each session. If you’re able to travel to New York City, The Deepening intensive is an option — it’s designed for people who want focused, high-impact work in a single visit.

For somatic and embodied healing work that doesn’t require a therapy license, visit Osmanthus Moon — open to participants wherever you are.

Therapy requires physical presence in New York — either virtually while you’re in New York State, or in person in New York City. If you’re traveling to NYC, The Deepening intensive may be worth exploring.

For somatic and embodied healing work open internationally, visit Osmanthus Moon.