My Practice and Treatment Philosophy

I have been in private practice in New York City (NYC) for over 20 years. Having lived most of my personal and all of my professional life in Manhattan, I have a keen understanding of the professional, financial and social challenges of living here.

I believe that effective therapy brings about growth and change and it occurs in the atmosphere of safety, trust, connection and collaboration. Your safety is my first priority, our sessions are completely confidential and you will be able to really trust me with your deepest self.

I am trained in Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioral therapies. In October 2008, I completed training in EMDR therapy which I have been using in my work and which is effective in treating and erasing traumatic experiences and negative core beliefs, healing anxiety, depression, enhancing performance in many areas and treating many other symptoms.

Counseling and Therapy Sessions

Typically, counseling and therapy sessions are 45 minutes long in my Midtown NYC office, however I can accommodate longer sessions when needed or appropriate. I work with clients all over the world and while mostly work in person in my office, I provide therapy on the phone when necessary.

At this time, I do not accept insurance, however as courtesy to my clients I can submit claims to your insurance company so you can get reimbursed in a more timely fashion.

Contact Information

I can be contacted by either phone or email. My office is located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan NYC, one block from Grand Central Station. I schedule counseling and therapy appointments throughout the day. I make all efforts to accommodate my clients busy schedules.

To schedule a Therapy or Counseling Appointment in NYC:

Call: 212-953-1388
e-mail: irinafirstein@aol.com


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  • Patient Testimonial
  • "It took a long time for me to decide to begin counseling. When I did, I did not really know how to go about finding a good therapist, as I did not feel comfortable asking anyone for a recommendation since I was a little embarrassed. I started to look on line and found about 4 therapists whose profiles, information and location were convenient and compatible with what I was looking for. I called all of them and Irina Firstein was the first one to call me back and did so within an hour of my call. I found her easy to talk to on the phone, she had an appointment for me within a day or so and the whole process was very simple and painless. It has worked out very well for me." Richard, 41