Frequently Asked Questions

We apply clinical expertise to organizational development. As licensed therapists, we understand how trauma impacts individuals and systems. Therefore, our approach goes beyond policy changes. We assist organizations in understanding why harmful patterns endure and how to foster true safety, beyond mere compliance.

Trauma-informed means recognizing that organizational dysfunction often reflects trauma responses—hypervigilance, avoidance, reactive decision-making. We design interventions that target root causes instead of symptoms, fostering sustainable change rather than superficial fixes.

We collaborate with any values-driven organization dedicated to genuine transformation. This includes nonprofits, government agencies, and businesses across various sectors. The common thread is leadership willing to critically examine systems and commit to genuine change.

PAAPOY is a trauma-informed mental health practice based in NYC. We provide individual therapy services including trauma therapy, EMDR, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and life strategy services for high-responsibility adults across New York State.

We serve adults across New York State who are navigating trauma, anxiety, burnout, chronic stress, or major life transitions. This includes high-responsibility professionals, caregivers, and individuals dealing with identity-based stress or structural barriers.

We provide online therapy throughout New York State, with limited in-person availability in NYC. Sessions are HIPAA-compliant and secure.

We combine evidence-based clinical practice with a structural lens that takes your real-world context seriously. We understand that stress, trauma, and exhaustion are shaped by systems, workplaces, and identity-based pressures, not just personal history. We treat your nervous system's responses as rational reactions to real conditions.

Yes. PAAPOY is LGBTQ+ affirming and trans-inclusive. If anti-LGBTQIA bias, discrimination, or identity-based stress has shaped your mental health, we will not minimize it here. Our approach is grounded in research on how systemic oppression affects the nervous system, and we include those realities in treatment.

Yes. Many of our clients are navigating racialized stress, workplace discrimination, and the effects of systemic oppression. We do not treat these as background noise or separate from mental health. We include structural realities in our clinical work, with care that is evidence-based and contextually grounded.

No. This is clinical work. Decades of research show that discrimination, systemic barriers, and identity-based harm affect mental health and the nervous system. Acknowledging these realities is not political advocacy—it is evidence-based care. We do not push political views. We help you navigate the real conditions shaping your life.

Yes. We are in-network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth, and Meritain Health. We also work with private pay clients and can provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement. The simplest way to confirm your coverage and estimated cost is to use the insurance checker on this page.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps your brain process traumatic memories without requiring you to talk about them in detail. Using bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, or sounds), EMDR helps "unstick" traumatic memories so they can be processed naturally. It's recognized by the WHO, APA, and VA as highly effective for PTSD and trauma, often working faster than traditional talk therapy. Learn more on our Services page →

We provide ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for clients who have or are establishing a prescriber relationship. This includes preparation sessions, therapeutic presence during the ketamine experience, and integration sessions afterward. We do not prescribe or administer ketamine. Learn more on our Services page →

Therapy is clinical mental health treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health conditions. It's covered by insurance and follows clinical protocols. Life Strategy & Leadership Development is non-clinical consulting for high-responsibility individuals navigating complexity, power dynamics, and sustainable living. It's not covered by insurance and focuses on strategic planning, decision-making, and systems navigation rather than mental health treatment.

It varies based on your needs and goals. Single-incident trauma with EMDR often shows improvement in 3-6 sessions. Complex trauma or ongoing therapy for anxiety, depression, or life transitions may take several months to a year or more. We assess progress regularly and adjust treatment plans accordingly. You're never locked into a specific timeline—therapy continues as long as it's beneficial.

An organizational audit is a comprehensive assessment that identifies systemic patterns causing harm in your workplace—the policies, practices, and power dynamics creating burnout, inequity, and disengagement. We use trauma-informed methodology, conduct confidential interviews and focus groups, review policies, and provide actionable recommendations for structural change. Typical timeline: 6-12 weeks depending on organization size.

Investment varies based on organization size, scope, and complexity. Typical ranges: Organizational Audits ($15,000–$75,000), Leadership Development ($8,000–$40,000 for workshop series or coaching), Culture & Care Alignment ($30,000–$100,000+ for comprehensive 6-12 month engagements). We provide custom pricing during initial consultations and offer flexible payment plans.

Timeline depends on the service: Audits typically take 6-12 weeks. Leadership development ranges from half-day workshops to 6-month programs. Culture transformation requires 6-12 months for sustainable change. We don't do quick fixes—real systemic change takes time to assess, design, implement, and embed deeply enough to sustain after we leave.

We work with nonprofits, government agencies, and values-driven businesses experiencing turnover, burnout, values-culture gaps, or seeking to align operations with equity commitments. Good fit if leadership is ready to examine power, redistribute resources, and implement structural change. Not for organizations seeking quick fixes, performative diversity work, or unwilling to invest time and resources in real transformation.

We use trauma-informed methodology prioritizing psychological safety: (1) All interviews and focus groups are confidential—we never attribute specific comments to individuals, (2) Anonymous surveys allow sharing without identifying information, (3) As external consultants, we're not part of internal power dynamics, (4) We present patterns and themes, not individual complaints, (5) We explain confidentiality practices upfront so staff know exactly how input will be used. If staff don't feel safe speaking honestly, that's critical data about organizational culture—exactly what the audit needs to uncover.

Honest answer: Culture transformation requires leadership commitment. Without it, the work won't succeed. "Leadership buy-in" means: willingness to examine their own practices, readiness to redistribute power and resources, commitment to implementing recommendations, and investment of time/attention/resources over 6-12 months. If you're not there yet, consider starting with an audit or leadership development to build understanding and commitment. We assess readiness during consultations—if we don't think you're ready, we'll tell you what needs to shift first.

NYC's leadership transition creates both extraordinary opportunity and heightened urgency. New city leadership committed to equity offers mission-driven organizations a chance to align with municipal priorities, access new funding, attract values-aligned talent, and position as collaborative partners. Our trauma-informed, research-based approach helps NYC organizations capitalize on opportunities while building resilience to withstand political pressure, support staff through stress, and sustain mission when challenged.

Any NYC organization doing authentic equity work faces some political risk currently. The question is how to minimize and manage that risk strategically. Our work is clinically grounded, research-based, and outcomes-focused—we help transform actual systems through evidence-based practices. This produces documented results (30-50% turnover reduction, measurable engagement improvements, evidence-based leadership practices) that withstand scrutiny. We help you build resilience through authentic transformation, not performative statements.

No. We align with values, not politicians. Our commitment is to: equity, justice, and democratic values in NYC workplaces; trauma-informed practices; structural change addressing root causes of harm; and building sustainable cultures where all people can thrive. We work with mission-driven organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies throughout NYC. Our work serves organizations' missions, which exist before, during, and after any political administration.

Organizations that conduct equity audits and culture transformation now demonstrate authentic commitment. Those that wait appear reactive when pressure inevitably increases. Early movers shape standards and position as leaders in NYC's transformation. Late adopters face mandates and struggle to keep pace. The political landscape makes this work more complex—and more necessary. Strategic timing matters.

We embed changes into organizational structures, policies, and practices—not dependent on any administration's priorities. This includes: accountability mechanisms that outlast leadership transitions, staff engagement throughout transformation (building internal ownership), leadership development creating capacity for ongoing culture stewardship, documentation of evidence-based practices that demonstrate measurable impact, and sustainability planning ensuring changes persist after we leave. Real systemic change transcends political cycles.