Dr. Pensak's Private Practice
Individual Psychotherapy
Dr. Nicole Amoyal Pensak is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist that specializes in treating adults and adolescents with anxiety, depression, OCD, cancer and is also certified in postpartum mental health.
Dr. Pensak is a therapist that conducts a standard, 50-minute therapy
hour. During the therapy sessions, Dr. Pensak will work collaboratively
with you to help you relieve symptoms and to reach your therapy goals.
It is difficult to estimate how long the therapy process will take, as each patient is different. However,it is Dr. Pensak's strong conviction that
lasting, deep change, takes time and hard work. Dr. Pensak will provide evidence-based strategies that are uniquely tailored to you. Dr. Pensak often draws from the latest research to influence her therapeutic
process, so you can be confident that you are getting the latest, most effective treatment available.
Dr. Pensak predominantly practices from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and an Interpersonal orientation, while also infusing Psychodynamic processes, when relevant. Dr. Pensak provides practical, in-depth, transparent therapy while honoring the complexities of the human experience. Her goal is simply to help you live to your fullest potential.
If you are interested in working with Dr. Pensak, please contact her to discuss treatment.
Prospective Patients
Phone Consultation
Contact Dr. Nicole Amoyal Pensak to set up a brief phone consultation to discuss what you're looking for and if she may be a good fit to work with you. Before beginning therapy, Dr. Pensak will meet with you for an intake session. The intake allows Dr. Pensak to learn more about your symptoms, history, and treatment goals. At the end of the intake, Dr. Pensak will discuss treatment planning. After agreeing on a set of treatment goals,
weekly therapy will begin.
Fees
Dr. Pensak is an out-of-network provider in most states. Rates are adjusted periodically, so please call to discuss her current rate. Reduced fee services for those experiencing financial hardship are available on a limited basis. Payment is required at the time of each session and may be made by wireless bank transfer or credit card. Credit cards ARE accepted at this time.Certain health insurance policies provide coverage for out-of-network mental health services. However, you (not your insurance company) are responsible for full payment of fees. On request, Dr. Pensak will provide you with a monthly statement to submit to your health insurance provider or a health savings account. If you plan to use your insurance, you should contact your insurance carrier prior to your first session and ask about your benefits for psychotherapy. Depending on your plan, insurance companies may reimburse 20-80% of the session fee. Check with your health insurance plan for options.
Cancellation Policy
Patients will be responsible for the full fee in the event of a missed or canceled appointment with less than 24 hours notice. Please be aware that insurance companies do not reimburse for canceled or missed sessions and it is your responsibility to pay the fee in full.
Meet Dr. Nicole Pensak
Dr. Nicole Pensak is a Harvard- and Yale-trained Clinical Psychologist, TEDx speaker, author, and nationally recognized behavior change expert who helps people navigate life's biggest transitions with evidence-based psychology.
Known for translating cutting-edge psychology and neuroscience into practical, actionable strategies, Dr. Pensak helps individuals understand why they think, feel, and behave the way they do—and empowers them to create meaningful, lasting change. Her expertise spans anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, perfectionism, caregiver stress, maternal mental health, and the emotional challenges that accompany major life transitions.
Dr. Pensak completed advanced clinical and research training at Yale School of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus as an NIH T32 Research Fellow. She previously served as Director of Psycho-Oncology at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where she led psychosocial oncology services, supervised psychiatry residents in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and conducted NIH-funded research focused on stress management, resilience, and caregiver well-being. She has also held academic and research appointments at Georgetown University Medical Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, and the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Today, Dr. Pensak is one of the nation's leading voices on maternal mental health and matrescence—the profound psychological, biological, and identity transformation that accompanies becoming a mother. She is the author of the award-winning book RATTLED: How to Calm New Mom Anxiety with the Power of the Postpartum Brain, serves on the Parents Magazine Expert Review Board, and is a Board Member of Welcome Baby USA.
Through her private practice, national speaking engagements, media appearances, and the RATTLED platform, Dr. Pensak is helping transform the way we think about mental health—not simply by treating illness, but by using behavioral science to help people thrive before they reach crisis.
Her philosophy is simple:
We don't just change thoughts. We change lives by changing behavior.