Lucy Bichsel
She/Her/Hers
Psychologist, PhDShe/Her/Hers
Psychologist, PhDLucy Bichsel, PhD, is a clinical psychologist working with individuals and couples in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York. Dr. Bichsel is passionate about working with people with painful family histories who find themselves in distressed adult relationships. The majority of her clients are women who feel that, no matter how hard they fight for their relationships, they end up depleted, hopeless and alone. Dr. Bichsel also enjoys working with the partners of these women, who often avoid conflict by shutting down or “problem solving,” which only further antagonizes and isolates their significant other. In her experience many people who struggle in these ways with intimacy and connection have some degree of trauma or important unmet needs in their backgrounds.
Although Dr. Bichsel helps clients identify where their behaviors and beliefs originated, she works very much in the “here and now,” diving into clients’ current needs and concerns. She describes her style as warm, direct, emotion-focused and experiential and uses a range of modalities, including Emotion-Focused Therapy for Couples (EFTc), Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Processing (AEDP), and Internal Family Systems (IFS).
Before opening a private practice, Dr. Bichsel trained in a variety of New York City area hospitals, including Beth Israel Medical Center, Mt. Sinai-Elmhurst Hospital, and Bellevue Hospital Center. Throughout her career, she has treated and evaluated adults diagnosed with depression, anxiety, personality disorder, psychotic disorder and bipolar illness. She also supervises psychology doctoral students and psychiatric residents and fellows. Dr. Bichsel has held clinical faculty appointments at New York University School of Medicine and Columbia University.
Dr. Bichsel received her PhD from Long Island University and has been treating clients for almost 15 years. She has a busy practice and is always gaining expertise through intensive training and supervision.
Couples therapy - De-escalating from crises; enhancing feelings of security, connection and desire; easing life transitions; building parenting skills; and strengthening communication
Trauma - Coping and healing after threatening or scary events, such as witnessing accidents or experiencing sexual, verbal, emotional, or physical abuse
Relationship competence - Understanding one’s wants and needs in relationships; exploring patterns of relating; and increasing healthy assertiveness and satisfaction in relationships and dating
Depression - Providing support and promoting healing from hopelessness, low motivation and energy, sadness, irritability, sleep disturbance, and loss of interest and pleasure in life
Personality disorders - Support reducing emotional suffering and addressing relationship challenges
Divorce and separation - Questioning or feeling unsatisfied in your relationship; contemplation and navigation of separation; addressing issues of power, voice, and communication challenges
Family of origin issues - Understanding and healing from painful relationships with parents in childhood and adolescence; moving beyond sadness and anger to compassion and repair; mourning the loss of the idealized parent and accepting what is real; stopping the repetition of painful cycles from the past in the present
Premarital counseling - Providing a safe and neutral environment for couples to explore expectations and prepare for the rewards and challenges of marriage
Complex trauma - Healing after harmful treatment by others, including sexual, verbal, emotional, or physical abuse
Lucy Bichsel is not in-network with any insurances.
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Frequency of sessions this provider offers to see clients once you are an established client.
Private practice, 2015 - Present
Bellevue Hospital Center, 2015 - 2018
Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center, 2013 - 2015
Long Island University, Ph.D., 2012
New York: 020862
New Jersey: 6382
English
"Dr. Bichsel is empathic, generous, and brilliant. She is a great combination of deep compassion and excellent skill level."
- Gaiane Kazariants, PhD • December 2019"Dr. Bichsel is warm, accepting and highly skilled in helping clients manage emotions, navigate difficult interpersonal relationships, and set boundaries in order to live happier and more meaningful lives."
- Lauren O'Flaherty, PsyD • December 2019"Dr. Bichsel is so warm and accepting and really helps people to believe that they can truly heal their relationship, even when they’ve struggled for years."
- Amanda Crowell, PhD • December 2019