Irina  Simidchieva
Vetted

Irina Simidchieva

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW Nationally Certified Psychoanalyst, NCPsyA Specialties Insurance & Fees Locations
New York, Florida Accepting Online
Greenwich Village Waitlist In-person

Even though my schedule is busy, please feel free to contact me and request a consultation, even outside of the timeslots shown. I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Updated March 19, 2024

Specialties & Expertise

  • Anxiety
  • Life transitions
  • Trauma
  • Psychotic disorders
  • Attachment issues
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

Professional statement

Irina Simidchieva is a New York Licensed Clinical Social Worker/psychotherapist and Certified Psychoanalyst who has European, as well as American training and is licensed to practice in NYS. Her experience and various training have given her the ability and expertise to utilize a variety of different methods, models, and modalities. In her clinical work, she utilizes a creative, eclectic contemporary approach depending on the individual patient and their needs; but she always approaches the clinical work from an integrative/psychodynamic perspective.

​She has experience with diverse populations and all age groups. The onset of her career was marked by caring for the most vulnerable, underserved, and marginalized populations of NYC, those at risk and mentally ill.

Her work in a busy NYC-based clinic, prior to her starting a private practice, has given her the chance to gain experience with patients with different levels of functioning and literally all mental health statuses, including trauma and PTSD, anxiety and depression, psychosis, and serious mental illness, addictions and eating disorders, etc.

​Her post-graduate training in psychoanalysis at the Manhattan Institute for Psychoanalysis has advanced her clinical expertise. She currently specializes in relational psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.

​She currently sees adults in individual, couple, family, and group psychotherapy.


Message to clients

* I work with therapists.

* I accept UMR for Mount Sinai employees/United Healthcare Choice Plus Network - UMR insurance.

The motto of my practice is "Healing through Metaphor." I come from the belief that the therapeutic process is a creative process. A metaphor is the symbolic representation of something else. Our inner worlds, our fantasies, are already a metaphor; in psychotherapy, we metaphorically transfer feelings, thoughts, and emotions. The relationship between patient and therapist is also a metaphor: the two of them are co-creating an imaginary relationship based on their existing relationships. The therapeutic space becomes a micro-real world where we bring and repeat our past behaviors. We create a parallel imaginary reality in which we participate with our real feelings, thoughts, and desires—and that makes it meaningful and real. This relationship is what heals in therapy.

I believe that the therapeutic process is a two-person process, not one-person and the main helping tool in this is the therapeutic relationships. As a therapist, I pay special attention to therapeutic relationships because this is what heals in therapy.

In a safe, non-judgmental environment, we will have the chance to understand unconscious motivations, resolve relationship issues and change patterns of behaviors, manage stressors, gain support through major life transitions, and alleviate and manage anxiety and depression.


Specialties

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

Life transitions - Coping with difficult or impactful life changes, such as moving to a new area, relationship transitions, child rearing, or career changes; learning self-care to better manage resulting stress

Trauma - Coping and healing after threatening or scary events, such as witnessing accidents or experiencing sexual, verbal, emotional, or physical abuse

Psychotic disorders - Supporting individuals and families to manage symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and agitations while maintaining healthy, supportive relationships

Attachment issues - Development of effective relational and communication skills; insight into family attachment patterns;fostering healthy family relationships.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) - Reducing unwanted intrusive thoughts and rituals by gradually building comfort and confidence facing difficult fears, thoughts, and emotions




Clientele

  • Adults (24+)
  • Children (<12)
  • Couples
  • Families
  • Parents

Insurance

  • Aetna
  • Aetna International
  • Aetna Student Health Insurance
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Columbia University Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna)
  • Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Oscar Health
  • Oxford Health Plans
  • UMR
  • United Healthcare

Out-of-pocket fees

  • Individual sessions: $300 (50min)
  • Sliding scale: $165 - $300
  • Initial session: $300 (50min)
  • Couples sessions: $300 (50min)
  • Group sessions: $70 (75min)
  • Family sessions: $300 (50min)

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
Payment options
  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card
  • Debit Card
  • Zelle
  • IvyPay
Session frequency

Frequency of sessions this provider offers to see clients once you are an established client.

  • Weekly
  • Multiple times a week
  • As needed
Therapist's note

The out-of-pocket fee per session is up to $300.

Sliding scale available.

I work with insurance companies on an out-of-network basis. I can help with submitting the claims for the patient.

I accept and am in-network with Top Tier UMR/UMR for Mount Sinai employee insurance.


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 Please inquire about hours
  • Tue 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wed 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thu 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Fri 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Greenwich Village practice
26 West 9th Street, New York, New York 10011
Accepting new clients with a 2 - 3 week wait in-person
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon Closed
  • Tue 9am-6pm
  • Wed 9am-6pm
  • Thu 9am-6pm
  • Fri 9am-6pm
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

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

Work and Education

Years of Experience: 9 years

Private Practice in NYC and NYS, Psychotherapist/Psychoanalyst, 2021 - Present
Bleuler Psychotherapy Center, Psychotherapist, 2017 - 2021
Brightpoin Helath, Social worker, 2015 - 2017

Manhattan Institute for Psychoanalysis, Certificate in Psychoanalysis, 2023
New Bulgarian University, Clinical Social Work, 2015


Licensure

New York: 089993

Florida: SW22781


Languages

Bulgarian

English


Publications