Mike  Cotayo
Vetted

Mike Cotayo

He/Him/His

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW Specialties Insurance & Fees Locations
New York, New Jersey, Arizona, Connecticut Accepting Online
Updated November 28, 2023

Specialties & Expertise

  • Borderline personality disorder
  • Artists’ mental health
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Couples counseling
  • Anxiety
  • Sexual abuse and assault

Professional statement

Mike Cotayo is a psychotherapist in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York. He sees clients navigating addiction, trauma, and borderline personality disorder. He is also trained as a Gestalt therapist, grounded in the belief that healing happens when individuals look inwards.

Mike works from a strengths-based perspective, consistently reminding clients how much they have survived and normalizing their experiences and beliefs to help facilitate growth and cultivate hope. He also believes deeply in a client’s self-determination, respecting their choices throughout treatment and allowing them to take the lead on issues that arise, including whether or not to consider medication as an option.

Mike has worked extensively with individuals navigating addiction and recovery, drawing from motivational interviewing and harm reduction modalities to keep clients engaged and safe. Mike himself has been sober for over a decade and considers his personal history with addiction to be helpful in his work. Mike also enjoys working with clients with borderline personality disorder, helping individuals understand the impact their behaviors can have on their interpersonal relationships, educational attainment, and work-life. The goal is to help them explore how pervasive these issues are and how best to work through them.

Mike’s style blends sharp clinical skills with a keen sense of humor. He received his MSW from New York University and completed advanced training in Gestalt therapy. Mike identifies strongly with his social work training and has held positions in community settings working with individuals navigating substance use challenges, HIV, sexual violence, and borderline personality disorder. Mike is excited to welcome new clients to his practice, accessible by the 1, C, and E trains.


Message to clients

Why am I the right therapist for you?
I am asked that question a lot. I think most people have this fear about what therapy is like, and many of these ideas are misconceptions or ideas they have gained from the media. What I have heard from most people who receive services from me are that I am very easy to talk to, and that it doesn’t seem like therapy, it seems like they are talking to someone who can really just listen to them, and help them with their problems.
Therapy should never feel like a chore, and it doesn’t have to be painful. When someone says to me, I’ve tried therapy before, and it didn’t work, I would say maybe they did not have the right therapist. Not everyone gels with everyone. Hopefully when we speak, you will find that it’s a good fit. I look forward to hearing from you!
Part of what makes me unique as a therapist is that I try to make therapy bearable for those who seem to have an aversion to it. When appropriate, I may crack a joke or two. Research has even shown that laughter in therapy can help to make the process more manageable, and to move the therapeutic process along quicker.
Please feel free to book a free ten-minute phone consultation below, or you can email me for an individual, couples or family therapy consultation today.


Specialties

Borderline personality disorder - Support reducing emotional suffering and addressing relationship challenges

Artists’ mental health - Understanding of highly creative minds; goal setting related to the artistic and creative process; support finding meaningful balance in one’s life

HIV/AIDS - Addressing feelings of shame and remorse that can come along with this diagnosis

Couples counseling - Addressing relationship challenges and life transitions; strengthening communication and feelings of security, desire, connection, and love

Anxiety - Coping with excessive worry, nervousness, or stress; intense discomfort in social settings (social anxiety); sudden and intense feelings of panic (panic disorder)

Sexual abuse and assault - Caring support along the pathway to safety, wellbeing, and healing for survivors of sexual abuse and assault




Clientele

  • Adults (24+)
  • Couples
  • Parents
  • Seniors (65+)
  • Teenagers (13-18)
  • Young adults (18-24)

Insurance

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Cigna
  • Medicare
  • Medicare (through Blue Cross Blue Shield)
  • NYU Student Health Insurance (Wellfleet / Cigna PPO)

Out-of-pocket fees

  • Individual sessions: $250 (45min)
  • Sliding scale: $100 - $250
  • Initial session: $250 (60min)

Additional session information

Out-of-network billing options

This provider can support you in getting reimbursement from your insurance company if you are seeking out-of-network reimbursement. Here are the out-of-network billing options they provide:

  • Super billing

Location(s)

Online Sessions (New York)
Accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 10:00am-2 pm; 4 pm-8 pm
  • Tue 10:00am-9:00pm
  • Wed 10:00am-4:00pm
  • Thu 10:00am-9:00pm
  • Fri 10:00am-4:00pm
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Online Sessions (New Jersey)
Accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 2 pm-5 pm
  • Tue 2 pm-5 pm
  • Wed 2 pm-5 pm
  • Thu 2 pm-5 pm
  • Fri Closed
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Online Sessions (Arizona)
Accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 2 pm-5 pm
  • Tue 2 pm-5 pm
  • Wed 2 pm-5 pm
  • Thu 2 pm-5 pm
  • Fri Closed
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Online Sessions (Connecticut)
Accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 2 pm-5 pm
  • Tue 2 pm-5 pm
  • Wed 2 pm-5 pm
  • Thu 2 pm-5 pm
  • Fri Closed
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Work and Education

Private Practice, 2007 - Present

NYU, MSW, 2000


Licensure

New York: 075634

Arizona: LCSW-20769

New Jersey: 44SC06260500

Connecticut: 013241


Languages

English