Gemma Barriteau Psychotherapy, PhD

Dr. Gemma Barriteau is a cognitive behavioral therapist who uses a person-centered approach to therapy. She specializes in issues of codependency and works well with adults between the ages of 28-55 who are committed to their mental health. She believes that, through empathy, understanding, education, and practice, her clients will learn to heal and grow emotionally.

Specialties

General Mental Health
Anxiety and Panic Disorders
Depression
Personal Growth and Self-Esteem
LGBTQIA+

Pay with insurance

UnitedHealthcare
Oxford Health Plans
Cigna
Aetna
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
including BlueCard Network access

Have coverage through another Blue Cross Blue Shield plan? You may be eligible to see this provider if you have BlueCard Network access. Check if this applies to your plan
UMR
Oscar
UHC Student Resources

Pay out-of-pocket

$ $ $ $ $

$80-140
Sliding scale

A sliding scale is a range of out of pocket fees that providers accept based on financial need.

Locations

Offers virtual sessions

Licensed in

New York

“The last 10 of my 26 years of academia helped me become the caring, empathetic, humorous, and, sometimes, challenging therapist I am today.”

What was your path to becoming a Licensed Psychologist?

I was born in Brooklyn, New York as the youngest of four to religious West Indian parents. Being the only gay child, I grew up feeling different, from the complexion of my skin to the color of my eyes to my sexual orientation. In addition, my family struggled with issues of alcoholism and drug addiction. My childhood experience is how I learned codependency. The last 10 of my 26 years of academia helped me become the caring, empathetic, humorous, and, sometimes, challenging therapist I am today. While I once believed that being Black, female, and gay were strikes against me, today I know that they are my superpowers. It is my honor to help others find theirs.

What should someone know about working with you?

Clients should know that I will not work harder than they do. With that said, I ask lots of probing questions and use a gene-o-gram, a therapeutic tool that resembles a family tree to understand the client’s history and familial relationships and patterns. I may assign readings, worksheets, movies, and music to foster the process of furthering one’s emotional growth. I do not work with anyone who is active in their addiction to drugs or alcohol; some therapists do and that’s fine. My belief is that the things we talk about can become triggering and may lead to the need to use a substance, which can be detrimental for the client.

How do your core values shape your approach to therapy?

As stated earlier, I am an African American lesbian who grew up in a very religious household. I have had to deal with racism, sexism, and homosexism (homophobia) both inside and outside of my home. As a result, I’ve learned who I am at my core, which is a very liberally-minded person who values treating ALL people with kindness and respect; this is at the core of my practice because my practice is ME.

What are my expectations of my clients and myself?

I expect my clients to not only be active participants in their therapy, but also to respect boundaries, especially, time boundaries. Clients should know that A 24-hour Notification of All Canceled sessions is MANDATORY and that A NO SHOW FEE of $75.00 will be charged to the client for last minute cancelations that could have been avoided, or for failing to attend a scheduled session.

“I’ve learned who I am at my core, which is a very liberally-minded person who values treating ALL people with kindness and respect; this is at the core of my practice because my practice is ME.”

Next available 12/12