If you or a family member is covered through NYSHIP — the New York State Health Insurance Program — Peace Love Wellness can help you understand your mental health benefits and take a clearer next step toward therapy.
NYSHIP, the New York State Health Insurance Program, covers New York State employees, retirees, and their dependents, along with many participating local government employers. It includes The Empire Plan and several NYSHIP-approved HMOs. Empire Plan mental health benefits are administered through Carelon, which means the path to accessing therapy can look a little different than with other plans. We help clients sort through this before beginning.
If you are on The Empire Plan, mental health benefits are administered through Carelon as a behavioral health carve-out, so your therapy coverage may follow Carelon's network and authorization processes. If you are enrolled in a NYSHIP HMO instead, your mental health coverage follows that HMO's own network, so tell us which plan you have and we will check before you begin.
Coverage varies by plan, clinician, and benefits. Peace Love Wellness can help you understand your options before beginning, but final coverage is determined by your insurance plan.
We offer individual therapy for adults and couples or relationship therapy when clinically appropriate. If you have NYSHIP coverage — whether through state employment, public school employment, or a related program — we will help clarify which options may be available to you.
We also pay attention to therapist fit, availability, identity-affirming care, relational style, and whether our care is clinically appropriate for what you are carrying.
Start with the benefits tied to your specific plan.
If one applies, it may affect what you pay first.
Your plan may then set a copay or coinsurance amount.
Covered spending may count toward the plan-year limit.
You can start with the intake form or read more about therapy and matching support at Peace Love Wellness.
You do not need to choose a therapist from a long list and hope the insurance details work out. Share your plan, what you are looking for, and your availability, and we will help guide you toward a clinician who may be a strong fit.
English & Spanish-Speaking Therapist. In-network with NYSHIP / The Empire Plan.
Currently accepting new clients
Affirming Online Therapy. In-network with NYSHIP / The Empire Plan.
Currently accepting new clients
Culturally Responsive Therapist. In-network with NYSHIP / The Empire Plan.
Currently accepting new clients
Founder & Psychotherapist. In-network with NYSHIP / The Empire Plan.
Currently full — accepting waitlist requests
Therapist for Overwhelm, Grief & Emotional Steadiness. In-network with NYSHIP / The Empire Plan.
Currently full — accepting waitlist requests
Sessions are online for clients located in New York. We review clinical fit, insurance, and current openings before you begin. Insurance & Fees · Get Started
Answers to the most common NYSHIP and Empire Plan therapy questions we hear from prospective clients.
Yes. All of our clinicians are in-network with NYSHIP / The Empire Plan. Empire Plan mental health benefits are administered through Carelon. Coverage varies by plan and benefits, and final coverage is determined by your insurance plan.
It depends on which NYSHIP option you are enrolled in. Under The Empire Plan, mental health benefits are managed through Carelon as a behavioral health carve-out, so therapy claims go through Carelon rather than the Empire Plan medical network. NYSHIP HMOs manage mental health benefits through their own networks. Having your member card handy will help us confirm your options.
Many NYSHIP plans include mental health telehealth benefits, but the specific coverage depends on your plan and enrollment tier. We can help you understand what may apply to your situation before you begin.
Many New York State public employees, including those employed by SUNY, CUNY, and some school districts, have access to NYSHIP. Eligibility and enrollment options vary, so confirm with your HR department what plan you are enrolled in and what your mental health benefits include.