Brie Scolaro, LCSW + 1
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Message from Brie
I am an action-focused therapist and often use goal-oriented learning during and in-between my sessions. My ideal client is someone that values self-reflection and taking action in their life, while also being curious to explore the roots of difficult emotions, thoughts and patterns. As a clinical therapist and practice director with over 10 years of experience and a lifelong athlete, I understand the pressure of getting to your goals, finding fulfillment in life, performing at your highest level, and identifying the right tools to get you there. My areas of expertise include: • Anxiety Disorders • Stress & Burnout • Perfectionism & Fear of Failure • Goal Setting, Planning & Prioritization, Strategic Planning • Sports / Performance Coaching • Emotional Overcontrol • LGBTQIA+ Identity • Coaching A majority of my clients are driven, passionate students and professionals in NYC that aim to be the best in what they do - whether it is the performing arts, law, engineering, sports, corporate work, and who also often have a value around social justice - wanting to make the world a better place in some capacity. I offer both short term (8-12 sessions) and long term (ongoing) therapy modalities - this is based on your goals and when you'd like to achieve them by. I encourage you to schedule a free 15 minute consultation and see what it feels like to speak together. I look forward to learning more about what you'd like to achieve in therapy!
About Brie's practice
Weekdays After 5pm
Weekdays 9am - 5pm
$$$
Sliding scale
Directive
Reflective
In-person available: Yes
Virtual available: Yes
Career-Related Stress
Self-Reflection
LGBTQIA-Related Stress
Burnout
Anxiety
Perfectionism
Gender Identity
ADD/ADHD
Out of network providers
NY
Why state matters
Get to Know Brie
"Brie's focus on opening up to difficult feelings WHILE taking committed action is what therapy needs, especially during the pandemic when so many feel stuck. Brie makes their clients feel safe, comfortable and like someone is truly in their corner rooting for them the entire way."
Michelle, Colleague
What is the best part of the work for you?
Watching you grow and succeed! And success does not always look like Western definitions of progress. It might look like being able to open up more to me, to your friends and your partner/partners. Growth might look like you identifying what makes you feel anxious and applying coping skills during difficult moments. Or watching you slowly shift from criticizing yourself after mistakes to self-compassion. This is why I do what I do - I truly care about the success of each client I serve.
What is unique about the work you do, or how have you found your work to be different than your colleagues'?
I am able to blend concrete, action focused therapy with a supportive place for processing in a way I feel my colleagues may not. And that approach might not be the right fit for everyone! As a lifelong athlete (I am an ice hockey goalie), I bring a coaching-like perspective to my work and find myself rooting for my clients as I watch them overcome obstacles and grow. If you play sports, you understand how important your mental game is - and that mental game is equally important in our relationships, careers, and overall life.
What are your policies and practices around insurance?
I am not in-network with insurance companies. For those that have out of network benefits, I can provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance directly for potential reimbursement. I can also help you check your potential out of network benefits online. Some of my clients get 70-80% back for our sessions. Let me know if you'd like more info on what to ask!
What led you to become a mental healthcare practitioner?
I wanted to become the therapist I never had. As a young LGBTQIA+ individual that struggled with mental health and grew up in a highly critical environment, I felt alone and misunderstood. It is this lived experience that drew me to wanting to support others achieving their goals and feeling their best in life. Therapy isn't meant to "fix" you, because you aren't "broken." You deserve to be listened to and loved without judgement, and that's the energy I bring to each and every session with my clients.
Do you assign homework, activities, or readings for me to do between sessions? Why or why not?
I often assign reflective assignments and activities to both my therapy and coaching clients. This is to augment the power of our work in session and help you generate insights while taking action in your daily life. After all, our 45 minutes together is only 0.5% of your entire week! However, some of my clients prefer to use our session together to practice skills and work through exercises - it's ultimately about finding what feels most helpful for you.
How should I prepare for my first session with you?
Our first appointment together is the intake assessment (60 minutes). More evaluative in nature, this first session is focused on a deeper look into your history (work, family, social, relationship, current symptoms) to further understand what brings you to therapy. This allows me to craft an individualized treatment plan that is tailored to your goals. After this session, I will prompt you to continue to explore your goals for therapy - what are you looking to get out of our work? How will we know the work is successful? And together, we will decide on what to focus on first. I ask each of my clients to imagine the scenario below: Imagine that you wake up and the chronic anxiety/suffering/depression that you've been battling with has disappeared. What would you do? If my ______ was gone, I would ___________________. For example, if my anxiety was gone, I would have more energy to do my work, make new friends and be a better partner.
How can you tell if I am feeling stuck, unseen, or unheard?
From the very first session, we begin our work on the agreement of honesty and trust. I know that trust has to be earned, and usually it takes 3-4 sessions to begin to establish a good working relationship. I will often give you the opportunity to give feedback on how therapy is going (i.e. are you looking for more or less structure in our session). Remember - I am here to support you in reaching your goals, and if you don't feel that support than I'd love to learn how we can adjust the focus of our work!
How long should I commit to being in therapy, at least in the beginning?
I recommended giving it at least 2-4 months to begin to observe the benefits of our work together. After meeting for our first session, the intake appointment, I will have a better idea of your recommended treatment length. For instance, some folx are looking for short term therapy for insomnia and time management, while others work to resolve more complex symptoms around trauma, relationship patterns and identity.
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?
We all have times when anxiety, stress and depression take over our life. Relationships, family or work just feel harder to deal with, if not impossible. That's where therapy can help. Whether you're looking for tangible tools to manage anxiety, or a safe space to vent about your dating life or work stress, therapy can help you restore a sense of control and happiness. I meet my clients where they are at and honor their stories and unique experiences. If you're not sure how to begin, the first step is starting the conversation and trusting that together, we will find the right path for you.