Psychotherapy for
Adults and Couples
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
in New York, Connecticut and Maryland
In-person and remote sessions available
What Brings People In
Sometimes people come to me for therapy because a recent event has led to difficult emotions or instability at work or at home. Other times, a longstanding pattern of problematic behavior, self esteem difficulties, anxious day-to-day feelings, or relationship tension feels beyond a tipping point; a new approach becomes necessary.
Therapy provides time and a clinician's focused attention to zoom in on these personal challenges, to attend to issues in our lives that can be understood and resolved, to set new goals, and to grow into healthier, more intuitive, and capable versions of ourselves.
Who I Help
I work with adults at every stage of life, including:
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Young people starting college or work
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Graduate students, especially in mental health, medicine, nursing, and law
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Mid-career professionals
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Parents of school aged and adolescent children
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Individuals navigating mid-life transitions
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Couples navigating conflicts and intimacy difficulties
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Seniors who are aging in place, along with their adult children
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Individuals facing end of life choices
How I Work
Therapy begins with us identifying and detailing the pressing issues that have led you to pursue therapy. Early on, we may also begin to uncover problematic patterns in your relationships and emotional life that have deep roots. As sessions continue, therapy hones in on these old patterns, as well as creating awareness of personal goals and fueling hopes for change and development.
My style is warm, authentic, and direct. I listen actively and provide feedback and interpretations throughout appointments. I tend to take risks, offering at times challenging feedback in order to help you find new opportunities for self reflection. My role is to listen with attention and openness, to help you to focus in on your aims for growth and change, and to support your process of psychological development and growth.
My work with couples prioritizes developing empathy, building the capacity to communicate through conflict, and healing complex wounds that have arisen between people. My goal with couples is to enhance emotional intimacy and build stronger awareness of each partner's subjective experience of both present-day and past experiences.
Grounded in my psychoanalytic training, my approach also incorporates a range of therapeutic approaches, including Gottman Couples treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
When appropriate, I collaborate with other mental health and medical providers, as well as other individuals with whom you are connected, to support your therapeutic needs.
Abby Morss, LCSW, PhD
I received my Masters in Social Work from New York University in 2005. My early career experiences included medical social work in pediatric liver transplant at Mt Sinai Hospital, family-based treatment in day care centers during 9/11, and working with unhoused people in recovery. I developed a long-standing interest in understanding people's inner lives will also seeing them as fundamentally situated within complex family systems and an array of social and political environments.
After social work school, I took a break from the practice of social work to obtain a PhD from Duke University in History and Public Policy, studying, teaching and researching public health outcomes, social medicine history, and maternal and infant healthcare delivery.
I returned to the field in 2010, and I have practiced as a psychotherapist since that time. I have offered individual, couples, family and group psychotherapy services to adolescents and adults in clinic and private practice. My postgraduate study has included trainings in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, divorce related family issues, couples therapy, intimate partner conflict and violence, and cognitive therapy for individuals leaving high-control environments, and. I am also a trained clinical field instructor (SIFI) for social work interns. I maintain clinical social work licenses in New York, Connecticut and Maryland.
I live in Westchester, New York and spend time regularly in the DC/Metro area where I was raised.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are your rates?
Please contact me for my current fee schedule, as well as possible insurance options and sliding scale availability. I am committed to making psychotherapy accessible to all, and I adjust my fee when neccessary.
Do you take insurance?
I take Medicare. I am also able to accept some clients with Aetna and other insurance programs, depending on my availability for these slots and where you reside.
How often will we meet?
The amount of time you are in therapy depends on your individual needs. We will probably meet once or twice per week for a period of time, and then adjust when appropriate.
Do you offer both in-person and virtual sessions?
Yes, I offer in-person sessions in my offices in Harrison, NY, Manhattan, and Chevy Chase, Maryland. I also offer remote appointments for individuals in New York, Connecticut, and Maryland.