Suzanne Hagopian, LCSW-R / LISW-CP(S), Integrative Practitioner + 2
About Suzanne's practice
Weekdays Before 9am
Weekdays 9am - 5pm
Weekdays After 5pm
Weekends 9am - 5pm
Weekends After 5pm
$$$
Sliding scale
Directive
Reflective
Body-based
In-person available: No
Virtual available: Yes
Trauma
Depression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Grief and Bereavement
Life Transitions
Anxiety
Eating Patterns or Eating Disorders
Addiction and Substance Use
OON only
NY + 3 more
Why state matters
Get to Know Suzanne
"I had the privilege of working directly with Suzanne at Bleuler Psychotherapy Center, the leading psychodynamic center for psychotherapy in all of New York. Suzanne shows terrific clinical acumen and sensitivity in the work she does with patients. Suzanne understands and empathizes with patients' material while maintaining great therapist-to-patient boundaries and making therapeutic uses of self, to better appreciate and apprehend different layers of intricately nuanced meaning in the material presented to her by patients she works with within a psychodynamic-frame. I would give the highest endorsement to Suzanne's work and believe that the contribution she makes is significant."
Rob M. Fierstein, LCSW, PLLC, Colleague
How should I prepare for my first session with you?
Once we agree to start work together, I will send you a link for client portal, where you will review practice policies and complete intake paperwork and billing information. For our first session, you only need to show up for the scheduled time. Sessions areTelehealth / Video Conference and In-Person sessions are available as coordinated.
Are there any philosophies or values that inform your work that I should know about?
I draw from multiple modalities of Evidence Based Practice. My work is informed with cumulative years of study and practice with yoga and meditation and psychotherapy. My psychotherapy practice draws from Evidence Based Practices: Somatic as well as Cognitive Behavioral approaches to wellness and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. My primary modality for yoga practice has been Forrest Yoga, a healing modality of yoga, incorporating emotional and physical aspects of yoga.
Have you received any particular training beyond your post-Bachelor's training?
Currently in consultation for Certification as Attachment Focused EMDR (AF-EMDR) provider. Certified provider of CPT for PTSD - Cognitive Processing Therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT). Yoga teacher training was first completed in 2014 with Ana Forrest, and ongoing yoga study has been conducted with Erica Mather, The Yoga Clinic. Additionally, I receive continuing education in Meditation and Psychotherapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Motivational Interviewing.
From your perspective, what is therapy?
One image I refer to is that we come to therapy with a ball of colorful yarn inside. The process of therapy allows for a safe space with an impartial and professional witness for one to unravel the yarn and see how the colors work together. Most of us come to therapy to 'feel better'. I see therapy as a supportive resource for finding satisfaction in life and sustainable wellbeing.
What led you to become a mental healthcare practitioner?
My own work with my own therapist first started following my experience as a corporate Wall Street employee on 9/11. My years in treatment with my therapist greatly informed my desire to seek work in this field. Following my work as a crisis intervention advocate with Mt. Sinai Hospital SAVI program, I realized I sought extended private therapy work with others.
What is unique about the work you do, or how have you found your work to be different than your colleagues'?
I have a diverse professional background in corporate finance and as a performing artist. Also, my experience as a Crisis Intervention Counselor as well as years of study and practice with yoga and psychotherapy have greatly informed my approach to practice. My experience in multiple outpatient mental health centers and exposure to multiple diagnoses has provided me with ongoing evidence of long term benefits of integrative psychotherapy for people struggling with life transitions and mental health challenges.
What is the best part of the work for you?
The work for me is purposeful. I find the work is regenerative. Helping my clients realize self advocacy and emotional wellness is an exponential gift. At the end of an extended day, I feel satisfied.
If I have never been to therapy before, what should I expect? How do I know if I should go, and how do I start?
I like to think of therapy as a generous gift one can give themselves, but many are uncomfortable with self-care, more comfortable with taking care of others. You’ve come this far to look into the work, and I offer you that we will approach this exploration together–you won’t need to figure it out on your own.
How will our relationship be different than relationships I have with friends/loved ones?
The benefit of a therapeutic alliance comes from having an ‘impartial witness’ working with professional perspectives on helping clients access their own self-discoveries. The work we will do in session is about you, the client.
How participatory are you during sessions?
My purpose in session is to hold a safe space for clients to experience feelings. Based on our interactions, I may provide feedback and/or session structure as clinically indicated. I will provide affirmation and guidance as needed and sometimes homework. My work is more interactive than a psychoanalytic approach.
How long should I commit to being in therapy, at least in the beginning?
I recommend to new clients that they commit to weekly sessions for a period of 3 consecutive months, and we typically re-evaluate at that point.
How do you approach diversity in the room or working with clients who may come from a different background than you?
I am a white cisgender female and I have had rich working experiences with clients of multiple races and ethnicities, different gender and or sexual identified clients, and my approach to work starts with recognizing our differences and working together to find how I can best help.