FAQs


1. Where is your office?

Our office is located at 250 West 90th St. New York, NY 10024 at 90th and Central Park West near the B and C train.



2. What are your office hours?

We see clients Monday-Friday at various times. See each of the therapist’s bio page to see their specific availability.



3. What are the first steps to setting up an appointment?

You can email me or call my office 212-787-5010 leaving times and days you’re free to talk privately. Then my intake coordinator will get back to you for a 5-10 minute initial confidential conversation about the help you’re looking for, and the days and times you are free to set up an appointment.



4. What kinds of treatment do you provide?

We offer general individual psychotherapy, marital/couples therapy, sex therapy and coaching to individuals and couples.



5. Do you accept insurance?

We do not participate in any insurance networks. Clients pay using cash, personal checks made out to Sari Eckler Cooper and Paypal for coaching with Sari at each appointment time. For those using their out-of-network benefits for therapy, monthly statements are given or mailed to them to send off to their insurance companies for re-imbursement.



6. What is sex therapy?

Sex therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which we speak to individuals and couples specifically struggling with an aspect of their sexual lives. Sex therapy does not involve any touch at all.

  • difficulty becoming aroused
  • premature/uncontrolled ejaculation
  • painful sex
  • infrequent or lack of sexual connection
  • infidelity
  • pre-marriage counseling
  • differences in levels of desire between partners
  • negotiating sexual agreements (including non-monogamy)
  • broaching a couple’s interest in kink-type sexual activities
  • trans issues

Sometimes a person comes in alone because they’re dating or not currently in a relationship. Couples may come in initially as a couple but at times one partner would prefer to begin the process on their own.

When individuals or couples come for sex therapy, we focus on the sexual complaint and find out if there are medical issues to be addressed by a doctor. We then assess the behavioral patterns that have contributed to the problem as well as any emotional or communication patterns that have developed due to the complaint. While both forms of therapy may overlap, they are distinct and different tools for coping with distress. Both sex therapy and couple’s counseling might involve learning new communication skills and emotional patterns, but with sex therapy there may also be homework assignments specifically designed to help with the sexual problem.



7. What do you treat when a couple comes in for marital/couple’s therapy and counseling?

In couple’s counseling, typically the focus is upon common relationship goals, interpersonal communication, and the general dynamic of the couple along with possible parenting concerns.

Common issues that couples present include:

  • Constant arguing without resolution
  • Power struggles
  • Infertility stress
  • Balancing parenting and relationship priorities
  • Boundary setting with in-laws and extended family
  • Negotiating religious issues
  • Infidelity
  • Emotional affairs



8. What types of conditions/issues do you treat?

We have extensive experience treating:

  • desire discrepancy between couples
  • erectile dysfunction
  • premature or uncontrolled ejaculation
  • low sexual arousal and desire disorders
  • difficulty attaining orgasm (for men and women)
  • out-of-control sexual behavior
  • trauma related to past sexual assault and boundary crossings
  • difficulty integrating sex with love in one relationship

Psychiatric issues that we have many years of experience treating include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Panic Disorder
  • Social Anxiety
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Body Dysmorphia



9. What is the difference between therapy and coaching?

Coaching is generally done by phone or Skype to address current goals people have for their relationships, work or sex life but does not treat psychiatric problems. It is present-based and does not focus as much on history or past relationships as much as it does the current relationships in a person’s life. It is a great option for people who travel a lot but want to grow in specific areas of their life.



10. What can I expect in a first visit or coaching session?

If you are calling for couples counseling or therapy you would tell your therapist about the problem you’ve been having in more detail. I They will guide you with more specific questions to get a fuller picture of the problem and will ask you (and your partner in the case of couples therapy or coaching) what your goals for treatment are. I You will be asked about any prior therapy, counseling or coaching experience you’ve had before. I We will end wrap up the first session with some feedback on how we view the issue is and recommend what we think the next step in the process should be.



11. Are all the therapists at CLS licensed?

Yes, we all have a license to practice in one of the following professions in NY State:

  • Clinical Social Work
  • Marriage and Family Therapy
  • Clinical Psychology



12. Do you have training to practice Sex Therapy?

Yes. CLS’s Director Sari Cooper is an AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist and a clinical supervisor, a leader in the field of sex therapy. She continues to learn by attending (and presenting at) conferences, seminars and discussions to keep up with the latest research. Her CLS team have been trained in specific sex therapy programs and are either Certified or are working towards their AASECT certification with regular consultation with Sari Cooper.



13. Do you have any particular populations with whom you work?

Yes. We work with individuals and/or couples from specific ethnicities and/or religious affiliations such as: Jewish Modern Orthodox, Jewish Hassidic, and those from a Hispanic/ Latina, Indian, and/or Arab upbringing. We have experience working with clients from the LGBTQ community, the kink community, and those couples who want to explore other type of monogamy agreements.



14. How long is a typical course of sex therapy?

There is no easy answer for this question, since each case is different, as are each person’s/couple’s needs, and these may change over the course of treatment. Some client come in once a week, others a few times a month, and still others sporadically throughout the year. We have some clients who are long term clients because they benefit from the support and interventions, while others who need some education, guidance and brief therapy for a few months. The duration of treatment is a highly individual matter.



15. What is NOT sex therapy?

Many people mistake sex therapy with the controversial practice of sex surrogacy. Sex surrogacy (as seen in the film The Sessions) is a type of therapy where therapist and patient engage in physical touch. That is not what occurs in the CLS practice. Sex therapy and coaching is an opportunity to talk about challenges to one’s intimate life.



16. How does the CLS approach differ from those of other therapists/coaches?

CLS’s founder and director, Sari Cooper feels has integrated her background as a dancer, choreographer and artist and her many years as a system family therapist into a unique method of viewing problems as a creative dilemma. Her many years of education and experience has helped her to craft solutions and homeplay (versus homework) exercises for clients to practice between sessions. She has also worked on creating and developing Sex Esteem®, a skill set that helps clients gain the confidence and knowledge with which to boldly express their deepest longings. She provides direct supervision to the team in order for them to utilize the same methods.