Stronger relationships.
Stronger families.
Stronger you.
Ackerman helps couples and families work through conflict, transitions, communication challenges, and emotional strain together — with care, warmth, and respect.
Why Ackerman?
Relational care:
We work with the couple or family system — not one person in isolation.
Affirming practice:
Culturally responsive, LGBTQIA+-affirming, and grounded in dignity and belonging.
Flexible options:
Virtual and in-person appointments, with weekday and Saturday availability.
Payment support:
Most commercial insurance plans and Medicaid accepted; out-of-pocket and sliding-scale options available.
Response time:
We follow up within 24 hours of your inquiry, and you'll see a therapist within 3–5 business days.
We Are Available for Sessions:
Mon–Fri, 9 AM–9 PM in person or virtual; Saturday virtual, 9 AM–5 PM.
We Can Help With:
- Couples issues and relationship strain
- Family conflict and communication challenges
- Child and adolescent behavioral concerns
- School and academic difficulties
- Divorce, co-parenting, grief, and life transitions
- Trauma and relational stress
- LGBTQIA+-affirming family and couple care
- Latino immigrant family services in English and Spanish
Insurance Accepted
Insurance & Fees
In-Network Insurances
Beacon Health · BCBS (except plans whose member IDs start with JLJ, JLH, or BCBS Medicaid) · Emblem Health · GHI · Healthfirst · MetroPlus · MHAP · NY State Health Insurance Plan (NYSHIP) · Optum · Oxford · United Behavioral Health · United Behavioral Health Community Plan · UMR · United Healthcare · Value Options
Please consult with your insurance company to confirm coverage for mental health services.
We accept straight Medicaid and Medicaid plans attached to a plan we are in network with (aside from BCBS as indicated above). We are not in-network with Medicare and are unable to accept a secondary plan if your primary plan is Medicare.
Out-of-Pocket
We also offer out of pocket options and sliding scale based upon need.
How We Assign Your Care Team
Relational care: We work with the couple or family system — not one person in isolation.
Given that we are a clinical training institute, it is not unusual for clients to be matched with clinicians who are in training or who have recently become licensed. As a clinical training institute, supporting and supervising developing therapists is a core part of our mission.
Specialized Programs
Gender & Family Project
The Gender & Family Project (GFP) empowers youth, families and communities by providing gender affirmative services, training and research.
The Latinx Youth and Family Immigration Project
This project provides a specialized framework of family therapy to first and second generation Latino youth and their families.
Ackerman Relational Approach
The Ackerman Relational Approach is a way of understanding and helping people by focusing on the relationships, patterns, and interactions that shape their lives.
Getting Started
Please review the information on this page, then complete our online intake inquiry form. Through this form, we will assess treatment eligibility by asking about insurance and payment options, general therapy needs, and conducting a brief risk screening.
If you are eligible, a member of our Intake team will follow up within 24 hours to provide formal paperwork and schedule your billable intake appointment, and you’ll see a therapist within 3–5 business days once the required intake information has been submitted.
If you are unable to complete the form due to technical difficulties or accessibility needs, please call our Intake Department at (212) 879-4900, ext. 2. Leave a voicemail with your name and phone number, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Eligibility: We provide online therapy to residents of New York State, and in-person therapy to anyone who can visit our office in New York City. Our clinic does not offer individual therapy.
If you are eligible, a member of our Intake team will follow up within 24 hours to provide formal paperwork and schedule your billable intake appointment, and you’ll see a therapist within 3–5 business days once the required intake information has been submitted.
Eligibility: We provide online therapy to residents of New York State, and in-person therapy to anyone who can visit our office in New York City. Our clinic does not offer individual therapy.
Ackerman Is an Article 31 Clinic
An Article 31 clinic is a facility licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) under Article 31 of the NYS Mental Hygiene Law. Therefore, we are a designated outpatient facility providing mental health treatment, counseling, and psychiatric care to families.
For the person looking for care, that means:
Quality
Access to trained therapists, psychiatrists, and licensed clinical social workers.
Safety
Strict oversight by the New York State Office of Mental Health to guarantee high standards of care.
Faster Scheduling
We pride ourselves on getting you scheduled quickly!
Frequently Asked Questions
Arthur Maslow, who was a member of the faculty at the Ackerman Institute for many years and former chair of the Board of Directors, once said: “Family therapy works because it’s reality. The greatest support a child can get is from the family.”
In family therapy, family members work together to reconnect, harness and strengthen existing resources, and find inventive solutions to tough problems. The connection that takes place may be between parents and children, between siblings, or between couples. The issue that brings a family to therapy may be a problem a child is having in school, the serious physical illness of a family member, depression in an adolescent, or dissatisfaction in a marriage.
Some of the families that come to the Ackerman Institute are traditional nuclear families. Others are single-parent families. Some are families headed by gay couples or families in which the parents are straight and the children are gay. Some are intergenerational families, stepfamilies, or families with mixed ethnic or religious backgrounds. At the Ackerman Institute, we are committed to recognizing diversity in all of its forms and working with all kinds of families in ways that are sensitive to their specific needs.
Family is a powerful concept. The word family can be highly charged because, while many of our problems can stem directly from our family relationships, just as often, the solution to our problems lies within our family relationships.
This is because the one thing all families have in common is the fact that each family is the single most powerful resource available to all of its members as they try to cope with all kinds of concerns and issues at all stages of life. Family therapy works because no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, and no matter where you want to go… it all starts with the family.
The Ackerman Clinic helps families navigate a broad spectrum of challenges, including couples issues, relationship strain, and family communication hurdles. We provide comprehensive support for child and adolescent behavioral concerns, school difficulties, and major life transitions like divorce, co-parenting, and grief. Additionally, our specialized offerings include trauma care, LGBTQIA+-affirming therapy, and dedicated services for Latino immigrant families, provided in both English and Spanish.
We provide therapy services to families living throughout New York State, including all five boroughs of New York City.
Please complete our online Intake registration and screening form here.
Should you require additional assistance, please call the Intake Department at (212) 879-4900, ext. 2 and leave us a voicemail. An Intake Coordinator will connect with you at their earliest convenience.
Appointments (subject to the therapist’s availability) are in-person or virtual from 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and virtual from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM on Saturdays.
In-Network Insurances: Beacon Health · BCBS (except plans whose member IDs start with JLJ, JLH, or BCBS Medicaid) · Emblem Health · GHI · Healthfirst · MetroPlus · MHAP · NY State Health Insurance Plan (NYSHIP) · Optum · Oxford · United Behavioral Health · United Behavioral Health Community Plan · UMR · United Healthcare · Value Options
Please consult with your insurance company to confirm coverage for mental health services.
We accept straight Medicaid and Medicaid plans attached to a plan we are in network with (aside from BCBS as indicated above). We are not in-network with Medicare and are unable to accept a secondary plan if your primary plan is Medicare.
We also offer out of pocket options and sliding scale based upon need.
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please reach out to your therapist as soon as possible. Please note that missed appointments without prior notice will be charged as a full session.
Therapy sessions are offered in-person and virtually, based on clinician availability.
The Ackerman Institute for the Family is located on the second floor of an office building at 936 Broadway, between 22nd and 21st Streets. The Institute is one block of the F, M, N, R, and 6 trains. NYC buses M1, M2, M3, M5 run on 5th and Park Avenues and the M23 runs cross town on 23rd Street.
To request a copy of your medical records, please submit your request in writing to medicalrecords@ackerman.org. Please include your full name, date of birth, contact information, and a brief description of the records you are requesting.
For your privacy and security, additional information or authorization may be required to verify your identity and process your request. Our team will provide any necessary forms or instructions and will respond to your request in accordance with applicable privacy laws and organizational policies.
Medical Records: medicalrecords@ackerman.org
If you have a concern regarding the ethical or professional conduct of a therapist, staff member, or any aspect of your care, we encourage you to report your concern. Visit the Ethics and Compliance Program page for more information.
For Therapists Seeking Training
Interested in training with Ackerman rather than referring a family for care? Visit our Training section to learn about practicum placements, fellowships, and continuing education programs.