Psychoanalysis and psychotherapy

Psychoanalyst in New York City's Financial District

Q: Does psychoanalysis mean lying on a couch several times a week?

Not necessarily. Many patients sit face to face and meet 1-3 times a week. Frequency, format and the length of the work are decided together and revisited as you go.

Depth-oriented psychotherapy for thoughtful adults who want to understand themselves, not just manage symptoms. In person at 130 Fulton Street or by secure video.

Currently accepting new patients

Book an Introduction

A 20-minute conversation by video. No cost. No obligation.

Watch a short introduction

From Dr. Samstag

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In private practice in New York City

Over two decades helping individuals and couples, in person in the Financial District and virtually.

20+

Years in
private practice

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, New York State

Analytic training at the William Alanson White Institute, with advanced certification in Emotionally Focused Therapy.

Ph.D.

Clinical
psychology

Individuals and couples

Depth-oriented work for adults and for couples, in person at 130 Fulton Street in the Financial District or by secure video.

Minute
sessions

Meet Dr. Samstag

Dr. Nicholas Samstag is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst with over 20 years of experience helping individuals and couples in New York City and virtually.

His work is conversational, rigorous and unhurried. The aim is to understand why the same patterns keep returning, so that they can actually change.

Is this the right fit?

People usually come to this practice when one or more of the following are true.

This is not crisis care, medication management or short-term coaching. If you need one of those, Dr. Samstag is glad to point you toward the right resource.

Recurring patterns

The same difficulties keep recurring in relationships or work, despite real effort.

Successful, but stuck

Life looks successful from the outside and feels flat, anxious or stuck on the inside.

Ready to go deeper

You have tried shorter-term or skills-based therapy and want to go deeper.

Curious about your own mind

You are curious about your own mind and willing to give the work time.

What happens when you book

Three steps, no commitment. Here is how the introduction works.

Book an Introduction

20 minutes by video. No cost. No obligation.

Pick a time

Choose a slot below for a 20-minute video conversation.

Talk it through

You describe what brings you in. Dr. Samstag explains how he works and answers your questions.

Decide together

If it seems like a fit, you schedule a first session. If not, he will suggest other options. There is no pressure either way.

M.S.

New York City

“Dr. Nicholas Samstag is an extraordinarily gifted psychoanalyst. I’ve worked with him for many years and my life is inexorably improved for it. He is effortlessly empathetic, incisive, and passionate about his work. 5 stars doesn’t seem adequate, somehow"

Chicago

"His therapeutic approach is both intellectually stimulating and deeply rewarding. I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Samstag to anyone seeking a professional to foster personal growth."

C.R. Langston, Senior Partner

New York City

"Working with Dr. Samstag has changed my life. He is smart, funny, compassionate, and insightful. I am much better able to understand and communicate how I feel after working with him. Together, I learned how to pay attention to my feelings, draw boundaries, advocate for myself, and value my own subjectivity in a way that has vastly improved my life."

Fees and insurance

Dr. Samstag's practice is private pay. Sessions are $475 for 45/50 minutes. He does not participate in insurance networks. If your plan has out-of-network benefits, he provides a monthly statement you can submit for reimbursement.

Most patients meet 1 to 3 times weekly.

In person

130 Fulton Street, Suite 9A
Financial District, New York, NY

Virtual

Secure video sessions for anyone.

Common questions

What is psychoanalytic psychotherapy?

A form of talk therapy that looks beneath symptoms to the patterns, history and feelings underneath them. It is less about techniques and more about the therapeutic relationship.

How is this different from therapy I have already tried?

Many therapies teach skills for managing symptoms. This work asks why the symptoms are there.

People often come after prior therapies have helped but have not gone far enough.

What is the first session like?

A longer conversation about what brings you in, your history and what you hope will change. There are no worksheets or techniques to practice. By the end, you should both have a sense of whether you're a good fit.

Does psychoanalysis mean lying on a couch several times a week?

Not necessarily. Many patients sit face to face and meet 1 to 3 times a week. Frequency, format and the length of the work are decided together and revisited as you go.

How do I know if the timing is right?

There is rarely a perfect moment. People often wait for life to calm down, or for things to get bad enough to justify it. If the same questions keep coming back, or you've been thinking about this for a while, that is usually reason enough to have the conversation. The introduction doesn't commit you to anything.

How do I know if it's a good fit working together?

Pay attention to your experience during the introductory call. Do you feel heard? Does the way Dr. Samstag thinks about your situation make sense to you, or make you curious? You don't need to decide on the spot. Fit usually becomes clear over the first few sessions, and it's something you can raise with him openly at any point.

Is this confidential?

Yes. What you say is protected by law and professional ethics, with narrow exceptions involving safety, which Dr. Samstag explains at the start.