Find Your Balance
to discover & thrive
Do you seem put together on the outside but you don’t feel that way inside?
Do you ever find yourself feeling like you are…
stressed or anxious?
thinking negatively about yourself?
trying to please other people even at the expense of your own needs?
finding it difficult to balance work and life, or family and fun?
successful and hardworking, but you want more from your life?
having difficulty with changes in your life?
stuck on perfectionism?
often helping others and would like someone to help you?
Congratulations on taking the first step




Who tends to work with me?
Young Adults (20s to 40s)
Often motivated high achievers
Wanting to get better control of anxiety
At times burdened by people-pleasing
Some adjusting to changes in life and in the world
Some just wanting to explore various aspects
Ranges from some starting or exploring careers, to others being a part of the C-suite and running companies
Varies from fields such as tech and finance, to the creative fields

Specialties
I work with motivated and ambitious people on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
We can work together to understand your story and assist you in obtaining greater self-knowledge, growth, and potential.
Confidence
Do you want to decrease anxiety, let go of unrealistic perfectionism, and increase confidence?
Relationships
Do you want to discover past patterns and learn from them in order to have healthier relationships with others?
Work & Life
Do you want to face challenges and get through transitions?
Identity
Do you want to work through cultural differences and celebrate your own unique identity?
About me
My name is Dr. Suzanna Mila Chen.
I am a Board-Certified M.D. psychiatrist and I run a private boutique practice in NYC.
My specialties are psychodynamic and CBT psychotherapy. Through a holistic approach I also incorporate lifestyle changes. I can also provide medication management to supplement psychotherapy only IF and WHEN it is appropriate or medically necessary.
I take a warm and collaborative approach to help you live a happier and more fulfilling life.
Press Features
Feel free to click on the titles to see the full articles.
If you are a reporter and need expert mental health information feel free to contact me at my email dr@suzannachenmd.com
Practice philosophy
You deserve someone who listens,
who doesn’t push you to take medications if they aren’t medically necessary,
who recognizes when therapy by itself is appropriate over medications,
who looks to increase wellness and not just diagnose and reduce sickness,
who takes on a whole person approach and looks at multiple factors such as diet and exercise in addition to others,
who prefers to avoid or reduce the long-term use of medications that can be addictive and possibly harmful to your health.
Collaboration & Customization
to your individual needs
Openness & Acceptance
to your individual story
Creativity & Uniqueness
in your therapy
Wellness & Lifestyle
in your treatment
Contact Form
Teletherapy
For those located in New York State
Available For your convenience and Safety
See FAQ and Contact for Further information
Office Locations
Please note: Due to the pandemic at this time I am currently doing Telehealth only. Through this modality I can see you wherever you may be located in New York City
Telepsychiatry / Teletherapy
Available by video (on computer or phone)
for those located in New York State.
Bringing treatment conveniently to you wherever you may be.
Manhattan Office
515 Madison Ave, 21st floor New York, NY 10022
Brooklyn Office
397 Bridge St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
*All office images owned and made by Alma https://helloalma.com/
As part of my belief in providing comfortable, stigma-free services I choose to hold my sessions at the stylish Alma offices.
Waiting area includes complimentary tea and meditation pods.
The check-in is on an iPad in the waiting area for your convenience.









FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
You deserve the best psychiatrist or the best therapist for you and your needs. I believe a good fit is extremely important when it comes to choosing the right mental health wellness advisor for YOU.
To help with that choice I provide an online pre-screen form and a complimentary 15 minute phone pre-screen consultation prior to booking an appointment, for the both of us to see if this is a good fit for your individual needs.
If it seems like a good fit, after the phone call we can decide to set up a full consultation appointment at which time we can again see if this is truly a good fit. You can get a sense of fit during the full consultation appointment/s and decide at the end whether you want to continue or not.
Besides the consultation phone call, the consultation visits are also used to determine whether this is a good fit or not from both of our perspectives. Although I would love to work with you, given that your wellbeing is of the utmost importance to me I will recommend the best treatment fit for you (whether it is with me or even with a different psychiatrist or therapist).
Services are personalized to your individual needs.
Phone calls, texts and emails go directly to me, thus improving response time. This also makes it more convenient for you to be able to change appointments and discuss other administrative matters.
I keep the total amount of clients that I see limited in order to make sure that each one of my clients receives the support and attention they require.
Choosing not to use insurance in-network allows for a concierge experience not dictated or restricted by insurance companies.
Yes!
*** Please note that at this time during this COVID pandemic, I am temporarily doing telehealth visits only ***
Because of this I am not prescribing any controlled medications, although I can still prescribe other medications if needed and appropriate.
(although I would really hope that given the pandemic they would reimburse everyone, given that during regular times not all insurances reimburse for telehealth I would recommend checking with your specific insurance if you are planning on submitting for out of network reimbursements). Also, please check what modifier codes (-95 or -GT) and what place of service indications (11 or 02) the insurance requires.
Also, during non-COVID times I still offer it as an option.
It is billed at the same rate as regular sessions.
The initial consultation session ranges between 45 to 60 minutes depending on the complexities of the issues and your availability. Though in some cases additional consultation sessions may be necessary.
The initial full consultation session will include exploration of your concerns, your history, your questions and any goals that you may have. You don’t have to have any specific goals in order to start since that can be part of our exploration together. During this we can also both get a sense of fit. At the end of the consultation you can decide whether you would like to continue or not.
Follow-up sessions are usually 45-60 minutes, depending on your availability and preference.
I tend to provide therapy that is an individually tailored mix of psychodynamic and CBT together since I want to address current obstacles while also trying to change unhelpful long term patterns. I can also focus on one or the other. I want to make sure that what I am doing is helpful, thus I tailor it both to the goals or obstacles presented and to personal preferences of my clients. Ultimately, your wellbeing is the top priority.
Before the first consultation appointment can be confirmed you will be required to fill out the consultation paperwork, sign the practice policies, and return all of these to me at least 72 hours before the appointment.
Like with most private practice’s, I am an out-of-network provider. I do not accept insurance or work with insurance companies directly, but I can provide you with an itemized receipt/superbill that may allow you to get reimbursement from your insurance company if you submit it to the insurance (completely optional for you). Please note that insurance requires a diagnosis for the superbill.
Payment is due in full at the time of visit. I can’t guarantee any reimbursement by your insurance company. You are still responsible for paying the appointment fee, whether you get reimbursed or not.
For your convenience you can consider using an app such as Better Claims or Reimbursify or submitting directly through the insurance company. I have no relationship with these apps and thus do not guarantee their quality.
Self-pay may seem to have more upfront cost. However, please note that there may not be much difference between self-pay vs insurance-pay due to the need to meet the deductible in some insurance plans. Many clients with out of network benefits may receive between 60% – 80% insurance reimbursement of the cost of their sessions, after the deductible is met. Prior to your appointment, you can inquire with your insurance company to find out about your out-of-network coverage, co-pay obligations, deductibles, allowable rates, or any pre-authorizations that may be needed. You can find out your out-of-network benefits by calling the number on the back of your insurance card.
You can also consider using the Nirvana Out-of-Network Reimbursement Calculator or Advekit’s free benefit lookup tool for your convenience. I cannot guarantee their accuracy and it may be prudent for you to double check directly with your insurance company.
There are benefits of seeing an out-of-network provider, including customization of treatment without the influence of insurance companies. You can read about more benefits in the article on 6 reasons to see an out-of-network therapist.
Please note that insurances usually do not reimburse for fees outside of appointment times; including no show fees, late or cancellation fees, paperwork fees, refill fees and possibly other fees.
Check your coverage carefully and ask your insurance:
- What are my mental health benefits?
Do I have out-of-network benefits for mental health services? If not, how can I obtain out- of-network benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session? Per medication management session?
What is the percentage that is reimbursed for the zip code of the office?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
Does my plan have a maximum out-of-network annual limit?
How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
Is approval or prior-authorization required from my primary care physician?
What’s the best way to send the invoice/superbill? If by mail, what’s the best address to send the invoice? If by internet, whats the website/URL?
You can use this Reimbursement Worksheet for convenience.
Payments can be made by cash, check, HSA/FSA card, or credit card on a session basis. A credit card authorization on file is required.
The full fee is due at the time of service.
Contact me to inquire and discuss fees and I would be more than happy to discuss. Email dr@suzannachenmd.com
Initial 45-60 minute consultation evaluation
Subsequent 45-60 minute appointments
If your insurance has out-of-network benefits your out of pocket costs could be much lower.
As mentioned above, many clients with out of network benefits may receive reimbursement from insurance between 60% – 80% of the cost of their sessions (Ask your insurance for the percent reimbursed).
Optional extra services between appointments that are longer than 15 minutes are also billed at the prorated regular rate. This includes paperwork requests.
Payment is due in full before, or at the time of service.
I value and respect your time and hope for the same in return. I keep a 48 hour cancellation policy and reserve the right to charge a full session’s fee for missed appointments or late cancellations without adequate notice.
Out of respect for clients that may come for sessions after yours, if you are late we can still have the session but it will have to be shortened and we still have to end on time. Since that time is reserved for you, I reserve the right to charge a full session’s fee for shortened sessions due to late arrivals.
I am an MD who was trained in both psychotherapy and medication management. During residency I was trained in individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, and couples therapy. Thus I can do therapy treatment only, or I can do combined therapy and medication treatment. I can also do family therapy sessions in addition to individual therapy if that will be beneficial for your individual case. I can administer all of these services as one clinician. Some clients may find that this makes it more convenient and reduces the need for referrals and multiple appointments with different providers. It can also be beneficial to have a doctor who knows you as a whole person and can tailor your treatment to YOU.
In certain circumstances I may collaborate with existing psychotherapists if I have your permission and I know that therapist, thus ensuring the highest quality of collaborative care for you. We can discuss this during your free consultation phone call.
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
- You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total
expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees. - Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
- If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
- Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.