Question 1

What's the difference between a psychiatrist and psychiatric nurse practitioner?

Accepted Answer

Both psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners like myself are licensed to diagnose mental health conditions, provide therapy, and prescribe medications. I bring a nursing perspective that emphasizes whole-person care and the mind-body connection. My training combines medical expertise with a focus on your overall wellness, lifestyle, and personal goals. In our small practice, this means you get comprehensive care that considers all aspects of your health.

Question 2

What should I expect during my first appointment?

Accepted Answer

Our initial evaluation is 50-60 minutes and gives us time to understand your concerns thoroughly. We'll discuss what brings you in, your history, and your goals for treatment. I'll ask about your symptoms, lifestyle, relationships, and past experiences with mental health care. By the end, we'll collaborate on a preliminary treatment plan. You'll leave with a clear sense of our path forward.

Question 3

How long are typical appointments?

Accepted Answer

After your initial evaluation, we offer flexible appointment lengths based on your needs: 15-30 minutes for medication management, 45-50 minutes for psychotherapy, or 50-60 minutes for combined medication and therapy sessions. Because we maintain a smaller practice, we can offer longer appointments when needed without the time pressures of larger clinics.

Question 4

Do you accept insurance or offer private pay options?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we accept several major insurance plans including UnitedHealthcare, Oxford, Oscar, Aetna, Carelon, Anthem, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Meritain. For those who prefer private pay or have out-of-network coverage, we offer transparent self-pay rates: $250 for an initial psychiatric evaluation, $125-$175 for medication management, $175 for individual psychotherapy, and $225 for combined medication and therapy sessions. We also provide detailed superbills for out-of-network reimbursement.

Question 5

Do you offer superbills for out-of-network reimbursement?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I provide detailed superbills that you can submit to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement. These include all the necessary codes and documentation your insurance requires. Many clients find they can recover 50-80% of their session fees this way, depending on their plan's out-of-network benefits. I'm happy to help you understand how to submit these for maximum reimbursement.

Question 6

When is payment due?

Accepted Answer

Payment is due at the time of service. We accept credit cards, debit cards, and HSA/FSA cards. For clients using insurance, we'll verify your benefits before your first session so you'll know your expected copay or coinsurance amount. This transparency helps you plan for the financial aspect of your care without surprises.

Question 7

How do you determine if I need medication?

Accepted Answer

Medication is just one tool in our treatment toolkit, and the decision is always collaborative. During our initial sessions, I'll explore your symptoms, their impact on your daily life, and what you've tried before. Some clients benefit from therapy alone, while others find medication helpful for managing symptoms while working on underlying issues. I'll provide my clinical recommendation, but you're always in control of your treatment decisions.

Question 8

How often will I need to come in?

Accepted Answer

Frequency depends on your needs and treatment goals. For therapy, weekly sessions often provide the best momentum for change, though some clients prefer biweekly. Medication management might start with more frequent check-ins (every 1-2 weeks) then space out to monthly or quarterly once stable.

Question 9

What types of therapy do you offer?

Accepted Answer

I integrate evidence-based approaches including psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy, existential psychotherapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Rather than rigid adherence to one method, I tailor our work to what resonates with you. We might explore thought patterns, past experiences, relationships, or practical coping strategies. My goal is to help you understand yourself better and develop tools that actually work in your daily life.

Question 10

What conditions do you treat?

Accepted Answer

I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, interpersonal difficulties, and low self-esteem. As both a licensed therapist and psychiatric nurse practitioner, I can provide integrated care that addresses these conditions through psychotherapy, medication management, or a combination of both — all from one provider, so you don't need to coordinate between multiple clinicians.

Question 11

Do you specialize in adult ADHD?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I specialize in adult ADHD evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. As someone who has ADHD myself, I bring both clinical expertise and personal understanding to this work. My approach combines medication management with psychotherapy to address not just focus and executive function, but also the emotional regulation, identity, and self-esteem challenges that often come with ADHD. I take a neurodivergent-affirming approach — treating ADHD as a difference to understand and work with, not simply a deficit to fix.

Question 12

Can you help with medication tapering or discontinuation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I provide safe, gradual psychiatric medication tapering with careful monitoring. Because I'm both a therapist and prescriber, I can support you through the full process — managing the medical side of dose reduction while also providing therapeutic support for the anxiety, identity shifts, and emotional changes that often come up during tapering. Whether you want to reduce a medication, switch approaches, or explore alternatives, we'll work through it together at your pace.

Question 13

What makes Light Space different from other psychiatric practices?

Accepted Answer

I'm dual-licensed as both a therapist (LMHC) and psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC), which means you get both therapy and medication management from one provider who knows your full picture. My approach integrates psychoanalytic, existential, and evidence-based modalities — so we go deeper than symptom checklists. I work best with clients who are curious, introspective, and want to understand the why behind what they're experiencing, not just manage it. As a neurodivergent provider with ADHD myself, I also bring a personal understanding to that experience.

Question 14

Are appointments in-person or virtual?

Accepted Answer

I offer secure video sessions through a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform, allowing you to have therapy from the comfort and privacy of your own space anywhere in New York State. This provides flexibility for busy NYC schedules and eliminates commute time. Many clients find they feel more relaxed in their own environment, which can enhance the therapeutic process.

Question 15

What's your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

I understand that life happens. Please provide at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Late cancellations or missed sessions may be charged the full session fee, as that time has been reserved specifically for you. If you're feeling ambivalent about coming to a session, I encourage you to attend anyway - often those are the most productive sessions.

Question 16

How quickly can I get an appointment?

Accepted Answer

Because I maintain a smaller practice, I can often offer initial consultations within 1-2 weeks. For existing clients, I reserve time for urgent needs and can usually accommodate sooner if you're going through a particularly difficult time. Once we begin working together, we'll establish a regular schedule that works for both of us.

Question 17

Do you offer evening or weekend appointments?

Accepted Answer

I offer some early evening appointments to accommodate work schedules. While I don't routinely offer weekend sessions, I understand the demands of NYC life and work to find appointment times that fit your schedule. Many clients appreciate the flexibility of telehealth, which allows them to have sessions during lunch breaks or from private spaces.

Question 18

Do you serve clients outside of New York City?

Accepted Answer

Yes, through telehealth I can see clients anywhere in New York State — not just NYC. Whether you're in the city or elsewhere in New York State, you can access the same quality integrated psychiatric care and psychotherapy through secure video sessions.

Question 19

What if I need help between sessions?

Accepted Answer

While I don't provide 24/7 crisis support, I'm available via email for brief questions between sessions. For urgent mental health needs outside of our scheduled appointments, I'll provide you with appropriate crisis resources during our first session. If you're experiencing a psychiatric emergency, please call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), text 'HOME' to 741741 (Crisis Text Line), or go to your nearest emergency room.

Question 20

How does therapy help?

Accepted Answer

Therapy helps by managing mental illness symptoms, providing increased coping skills, offering problem-solving techniques, supporting personal growth, and developing specific skills like emotional management, stress-management techniques, relationship navigation, improving self-confidence, enhancing communication skills, and understanding personal strengths.

Question 21

Is therapy confidential?

Accepted Answer

Therapy is generally confidential, with exceptions for suspected child/dependent adult/elder abuse, threats of severe bodily harm to another person, and potential self-harm or suicide risks. The therapist must follow legal protection rules and cannot disclose session information without client consent, except in these specific safety-related circumstances.

Question 22

What makes Light Space different from other psychiatric practices?

Accepted Answer

Joey Bukai is dual-licensed as both a therapist (LMHC) and psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC), providing integrated psychotherapy and medication management from one provider. As a neurodivergent clinician with ADHD himself, Joey brings personal understanding to clients navigating similar experiences. The practice integrates psychoanalytic, existential, and evidence-based approaches for deeper therapeutic work.

Question 23

Do you specialize in adult ADHD treatment?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Joey specializes in adult ADHD evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. As a provider who has ADHD himself, he offers a neurodivergent-affirming approach that combines medication management with psychotherapy to address focus, executive function, emotional regulation, and the broader impact of ADHD on identity and daily life.

Question 24

Is the provider neurodivergent-affirming?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Joey Bukai has ADHD himself and provides neurodivergent-affirming care that treats neurodivergence as a difference to understand and work with, not a deficit to fix. Treatment focuses on building strategies, self-understanding, and leveraging strengths alongside managing challenges.

Question 25

Do you offer psychoanalytic or psychodynamic therapy?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Joey integrates psychoanalytic and psychodynamic approaches into his therapeutic work, exploring unconscious patterns, early experiences, and deeper psychological dynamics. This is combined with his prescribing capabilities — a rare combination that allows therapy and medication to be truly coordinated by one provider.

Question 26

Do you offer existential psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Joey incorporates existential psychotherapy into his practice, helping clients explore questions of meaning, purpose, identity, mortality, freedom, and responsibility. This approach works especially well for clients who are intellectual, introspective, and interested in deeper self-understanding.

Question 27

Are you culturally competent with Jewish clients?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Joey Bukai is Jewish and brings cultural understanding to therapy with Jewish clients. He is comfortable exploring topics related to Jewish identity, religious observance, family dynamics, intergenerational trauma, and the intersection of spirituality and mental health.

Question 28

Can you help with medication tapering or discontinuation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Joey provides safe, gradual psychiatric medication tapering with careful monitoring. As both a therapist and prescriber, he can provide therapeutic support throughout the tapering process — addressing the psychological aspects of reducing medication alongside the medical management.

Question 29

Do you address spirituality and religion in therapy?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Joey welcomes exploration of spirituality, religion, and meaning-making as part of the therapeutic process. Whether clients are deeply religious, spiritual but not religious, questioning their faith, or exploring existential questions, these themes can be integrated into treatment.

Question 30

Who is the best fit for your practice?

Accepted Answer

Joey works especially well with intellectually curious, introspective clients who want to understand the why behind their symptoms — not just manage them. Clients who value evidence-based care but also want depth, meaning, and self-understanding tend to thrive in this practice. If you're looking for a provider who will think with you rather than just prescribe, this may be a good fit.

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