Frequently Asked Questions

Are you accepting new clients?

I am not currently accepting new clients. Please inquire about whether I am keeping a waitlist. I am also happy to offer referrals to trusted therapists and clinics in the Twin Cities area.

Are you meeting with people in person or via telehealth?

I am seeing clients via telehealth (Zoom) and in person.

What COVID-19 precautions are you taking?

I continue to offer telehealth sessions for both safety and convenience. I mask during sessions or move to telehealth if I am feeling unwell and request the same of my clients. I am always happy to wear a KN-95 mask at a client’s request. I have air purifiers in both my waiting room and therapy room. I am fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza and receive yearly boosters (more often, if I can!).

How do I get to your building?

The Medical Arts Building is conveniently located in downtown Minneapolis. There are entrances at 825 Nicollet Mall and 74 South 9th Street.

If you are driving, the Metro Parking Ramp provides skyway access to the Medical Arts Building and can be entered from 9th Street. Metered street parking is also available. For those taking the bus or light rail, downtown Minneapolis is highly accessible by public transit.

How do I get to your office?

The Medical Arts Building has two sets of elevators. Both will take you to my office, although the Nicollet Mall elevators are closed after 6p on weeknights and all day on the weekends.

From the Nicollet Mall elevators: take those to the 10th floor, walk forward, and my office will be on your right. My suite is #1005.

From the 9th Street elevators: take those to the 10th floor, turn toward the dental office and follow the hallway back toward my office. My suite is #1005.

If the exterior doors to the Medical Arts Building are locked, please go to the 9th Street entrance (to the left of Hell's Kitchen) and ring the doorbell to the left of the glass revolving doors. Let the security guard know you are coming to see Danielle Kasprzak in Suite 1005.

Is your office ADA accessible?

Yes, the Medical Arts Building is ADA accessible, as is my office. There are automatic doors at the 9th Street and Nicollet Mall entrances and an elevator to my floor. The door to my suite does not have an automatic opener. There are no stairs into my office or the restrooms.

Where are the restrooms located?

The closest women's restroom is across the hall from my office through the door to the staircase. The closest men's restroom is on the 9th floor by taking the staircase across from my office. Keys to these restrooms can be found in my waiting room. Unfortunately, there are no gender neutral or single-stall restrooms in the Medical Arts Building, although I am advocating for construction. The closest gender neutral restroom is at Target, which is across the street from the Medical Arts Building on the corner of Nicollet Mall and 9th Street.

How does the insurance thing work?

If you’re considering using insurance, I encourage you to reach out to your insurance company and ask the following questions:

1. Does my plan cover in-network / out-of-network outpatient mental health office visits?

2. What is my deductible for in-network / out-of-network outpatient mental health office visits?

3. What is my copay or coinsurance amount once I reach the deductible for in-network / out-of-network visits?

4. Will my plan cover 53+ minute sessions (CPT code 90837)?

Some clients prefer paying for services without using insurance. This may be a good option for you if you have a health insurance plan with a high deductible, even for in-network services. Some prefer the privacy that comes with not having their personal information submitted to an insurance company. Still others find that private payments are worth having a therapist who is conveniently located, offers appointments at a time that works for their schedule, and/or who specializes in particular areas.

Is psychoanalytic psychotherapy effective?

Yes! Otherwise I wouldn't be practicing it. There are continuing studies on the effectiveness of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy. The most well-known is an article by Jonathan Shedler published in 2010, and an updated article by Peter Fonagy was published in 2015.

Isn't psychoanalytic therapy homophobic, transphobic, racist, and misogynistic?

Psychoanalysis has a long and complicated history, including espousing serious homophobic, transphobic, racist, and misogynistic viewpoints. But, feminists have been crucial members of the psychoanalytic community since its inception in the early 1900s. Karen Horney, one of the earliest practitioners of psychoanalysis, often disagreed with Freud and is credited as founding feminist psychotherapy. D.W. Winnicott and Margaret Mahler deeply privileged the relationship between caregiver and baby and deemphasized the importance of the Oedipal Complex. Numerous practitioners have used the healing aspects of psychoanalytic theory while integrating them with feminist theory, queer theory, and trans studies. Some scholars and practitioners who have explicitly embraced these frameworks include Jessica Benjamin, Nancy Chodorow, Muriel Dimen, and Patricia Gherovici. Other contemporary scholars are critically exploring psychoanalysis and race, including Cleonie White, Anton Hart, Lisa Moore, and Francisco J. González.

More work, both clinical and academic, needs to be done to adequately and sensitively explore the intersections between race, class, gender, sexuality, etc. and psychoanalysis. As a practitioner/scholar, I am committed to pushing the field of psychoanalysis to take these issues seriously.