Now Accepting New Clients

Therapy that moves
at your pace

Virtual psychotherapy with evening and weekend availability — because your schedule shouldn't be the reason you don't start.

Book a Free Consultation Learn More

100% Virtual

Secure Sessions

6 Days/Week

Including Sundays

8+ Plans

Insurance Accepted

Michaela S. Smith — Licensed Psychotherapist

Meet Michaela

Grounded in research.
Built on connection.

I'm Michaela S. Smith — I studied cognitive science at the University of Virginia, earned my master's in counseling psychology at NYU, and spent years as a Senior Researcher at Columbia University's Department of Psychiatry before opening my own practice.

That academic foundation means I'm intentional about what I bring into the therapy room. I draw from CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, and integrative approaches — tailoring the method to you, not the other way around. But credentials only get you so far. What makes therapy work is the relationship — and I bring warmth, directness, and a genuine investment in the people I work with.

Education

BA, Cognitive Science — UVA
MA, Counseling Psych — NYU

Research

Senior Researcher
Columbia University Psychiatry

Modalities

CBT · DBT
Psychodynamic · Integrative

Availability

Evenings & weekends
6 days/week, all virtual

Services

Individual, couples, and adolescent therapy — each shaped around you.

Every client receives a treatment plan tailored to their goals, their pace, and the way they move through the world.

Individual Therapy

For professionals balancing high-performance careers with the personal challenges that don't resolve on their own. Together, we develop a clear framework for addressing anxiety, depression, burnout, and the deeper patterns that keep surfacing.

AnxietyDepressionBurnoutSelf-WorthLife Transitions

Couples Therapy

Relationships thrive on communication — and break down without it. I help couples move past recurring conflicts, rebuild trust, and develop the tools to navigate difficult conversations with clarity and care, wherever you are in your partnership.

CommunicationConflictIntimacyPre-MaritalTrust

Adolescent Therapy

Young people need their own space to develop emotional skills and self-awareness. I provide a structured, supportive environment for kids and teens to build resilience, process difficult experiences, and grow into who they're becoming.

Emotional RegulationSelf-EsteemSocial SkillsSchool Stress

How It Works

A clear path from first call to real progress.

No ambiguity. Here's what the process looks like from start to finish.

Free 15-Minute Call

A brief conversation to discuss what you're looking for and determine whether we're a strong fit for each other.

First Session

We explore what brought you here, identify the patterns at play, and begin shaping a clear direction for our work together.

Tailored Approach

CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, integrative — I draw from the modalities that will be most effective for how your mind works.

Meaningful Progress

You begin noticing real shifts — in how you think, communicate, and respond to the challenges that used to feel unmanageable.

Is This You?

You might be in the right place if...

You've been meaning to find a therapist for months and haven't found the right fit
You need a schedule that works around your career, not the other way around
You want a therapist who engages with you as a partner, not a passive listener
You've been managing stress through work, distraction, or avoidance — and it's catching up
You know something needs to change but aren't sure where to start
You value credentials, warmth, and a therapist you actually look forward to speaking with

Ready to begin?

Choose your introductory session. No pressure, no obligation — just a conversation to see if we're the right fit.

15-Minute Intake

Free

Compatibility assessment

30-Minute Intake

$30

Extended consultation

Schedule Online

Book directly via ZocDoc · Real-time availability

or email michaela@bleeckertherapy.com · call (347) 932-3802

FAQ

Common questions, clear answers

Individual sessions are $150 per hour without insurance. I accept Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, United Healthcare, Oscar (Optum), Oxford (Optum), Medicare Advantage, and Horizon BCBS. Sliding scale is available for qualifying individuals — feel free to ask.

Yes. All sessions are conducted via secure, HIPAA-compliant video. You can attend from wherever you have privacy — your home, your office, wherever works best. I'm licensed in New York State and currently pursuing licensure in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

I offer evening and weekend appointments six days a week, including Sundays. I ask for 24 hours' advance notice for cancellations; a $100 fee applies for cancellations within that window.

I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), psychodynamic therapy, and integrative methods. The approach — or combination of approaches — is determined by what will be most effective for you. There's no one-size-fits-all framework here.

Therapy is valuable for anyone looking to better understand themselves, improve how they communicate, or work through a difficult chapter — not just for moments of crisis. The complimentary 15-minute consultation is designed to help you determine whether this is the right step.

I require at least 24 hours' notice for cancellations. Sessions canceled within that window are subject to a $100 fee. This ensures that each client's time — including yours — is respected and protected.

Get Started

The first step is a conversation.

A complimentary 15-minute call to discuss your needs, answer your questions, and see if we're the right fit.

Schedule Your Consultation

Or open ZocDoc in a new tab

michaela@bleeckertherapy.com · (347) 932-3802

Therapy that movesat your pace

Insurance & Investment

Grounded in research.Built on connection.