Therapy sessions at New Light Psychology are typically 50 minutes, ranging from 45-55 minutes in duration. Your first appointment (intake evaluation) is scheduled for a full hour to allow additional time for us to review your completed assessment forms together.  If you have questions before your intake, call the office at 267-217-2207 or email drkaranewman@newlight-psychology.com.

Yes, we are "in-network" with Aetna and Capital Blue Cross at this time. Dr. Newman may also be able to help you determine whether your current health insurance provider has a policy on reimbursement for “out-of-network” mental health therapists. If you have access to HSA/FSA funds, therapy sessions may qualify. Don’t hesitate to ask at the outset of your visit if you have any unanswered questions about fees or billing. NOTE: We are actively pursuing agreements with Independence Blue Cross (IBX) and TRICARE. We may be able to offer in-network rates to these members soon. Stay tuned!

Yes. Openings for outpatient substance use treatment are also available on an ongoing basis. Due to our virtual-only format, enrolling in substance use treatment at New Light Psychology LLC may require medical clearance from a physician after your first session. This step helps to ensure your health and safety. Please note that Dr. Newman is not a prescriber of any medication.

Dr. Newman is a Department of Transportation-qualified substance use evaluator or “SAP.” If you are employed in a DOT safety-sensitive position or have been referred by your employer for a required alcohol or drug assessment, you may be able to complete your initial SAP evaluation and follow-up evaluation with Dr. Newman at New Light Psychology. 

New Light is available to adult clients, ages 18 and up. We do not provide couples’ therapy or family therapy. We do not offer therapy to children under 18 in any circumstances.

Yes, absolutely! If you are a resident of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware, you are eligible for care. Dr. Newman accepts many clients who are seeking treatment for grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, or addiction. You are not required to hold any profession in order to receive services. When we meet, we will evaluate whether we are a good fit to work together.

New Light is a virtual, outpatient level of care. Most clients will be seen once per week or once every 2 weeks via telehealth appointments. You will be asked to complete activities in between sessions to advance your progress and apply new skills in your daily life. If you are just starting out in mental health or addictions treatment, or feeling uncertain about your preferred form of care, you are encouraged to schedule a first visit to talk through your options.

If you believe you need more support, or if you are not noticing positive progress from weekly therapy, we will reconsider the optimal setting for you. Fortunately, there are many other forms of more intensive treatment (e.g., IOP, PHP, inpatient psychiatric services) outside of New Light Psychology LLC that may be appropriate.  

If Dr. Newman determines that you are best suited to a higher level of care to safely meet your needs, at least one option for referral will be provided to you prior to ending therapy treatment.

Dr. Newman founded New Light Psychology LLC in January 2025. She has been licensed in Pennsylvania as a clinical psychologist for over 10 years. She also holds a PSYPACT authorization allowing her to provide telehealth/virtual care in more than 40 U.S. states. During her early career, she worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs (2013-2021) at a large medical center. More recently, she has spent over 5 years at a company providing EAP services and leadership oversight of a national substance use program. Her professional training and background includes direct client care services in psychotherapy, clinical consultation & supervision, neuropsychological assessment, and administrative senior management positions. 

Prior to beginning independent practice, Dr. Newman completed a pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship in Philadelphia. She obtained her master’s degree and doctorate (Ph.D.) from Drexel University in clinical psychology. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at Trinity College with a double-major in Neuroscience and Psychology, graduating with honors after a rewarding 4-year career as an NCAA athlete. 

Dr. Newman is currently listed in several trusted directories including Psychology Today, Zencare, Headway, and Therapy Finder. She is a published researcher, author, and member of the American Psychological Association.

• Dr. Newman’s rates in 2026 are $220 for an initial intake visit (60 minutes) and $175 for a follow-up session (45-55 minutes).

• Late cancellation and no-show fees of $35 per session may also apply, as outlined in the cancellation policy.

A late cancellation/missed session fee of $35 will apply for cancellations within 24 hours of your scheduled visit and for “no-shows.” This policy applies to those enrolled in care via the Headway platform (i.e., most Aetna members, all Capital Blue Cross and IBX members), as well as self-pay clients. In rare cases, fees may waived on a one-time basis (e.g., certain emergency circumstances) resulting in no cost to you. Inconsistent attendance or frequent cancellations may warrant further discussion of barriers to regular therapy participation. If Dr. Newman is unable to attend your session as scheduled, efforts will be made to reschedule and there will be no cost to you. 

No, and here’s why: a brief phone call is not sufficient for Dr. Newman to make a clinical determination about your needs. Prior to scheduling an appointment, Dr. Newman is highly responsive to email and willing to exchange any administrative information you need to make an informed decision about signing up, such as answering insurance questions or providing general clarifications. From there, to ensure that you receive the most thorough and accurate clinical assessment from New Light Psychology, a 60-minute intake visit is the first available entry point into therapy services. Free calls are a wonderful option that some providers offer, but we have found it preferable to schedule directly, have an in-depth conversation during our hour together, and go forward from there.

No, she is not a part of either community and thus does not have a true peer perspective. Her commitment to these populations grew from experiences in her family (raised by an Army Veteran) and her prior work in a hospital setting, where she observed the dedication of healthcare providers working to support patients with high acuity needs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having treated medics, law enforcement officers, and combat Veterans over the years, she has heard stories of incredible resilience alongside experiences of trauma. These stories motivate her to continue this work.

There can be a stigma attached to getting help, and it comes at a cost to those who have to choose between suffering in silence or risking their livelihood to speak up. I often hear from clients that they debated with themselves for a long time before finally making an appointment. Only you can decide to take this step for yourself!

You might also find more encouragement than judgment, should you choose to share your therapy journey with others. Many of the same skeptical clients who waited years to get professional support say they would have wholeheartedly encouraged a friend or colleague to seek treatment, if they knew that person was in the same situation they were.

Fortunately, the culture of mental health is slowly changing, in part because our communities have seen the outcome when the need for help is ignored, or comes too late. From younger generations, to high-profile celebrities, to decorated athletes, a growing chorus of voices are speaking positively and openly about the benefits of therapy.

You might guess that New Light Psychology was chosen based on Dr. Newman’s name and practice location in Newtown, Pennsylvania, but the truth is that the practice is named for nature. It was inspired by the simple peace and fresh perspective that the morning light can bring. New Light reflects the hope and belief that – no matter what you have suffered – life gets brighter.

No information is shared with your family, unless you sign a Release of Information form or list someone as your emergency contact. Therapy is otherwise confidential with only a handful of exceptions under the law. The limits of confidentiality and our privacy practices are outlined in our Informed Consent for Psychotherapy document (shared prior to first appointment) and our Notice of Privacy Practices (listed below). New Light Psychology LLC is not an EAP or an employer-monitored service. We are an independently-owned, fully confidential practice under HIPAA. NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

KARA R. NEWMAN, Ph.D. NEW LIGHT PSYCHOLOGY LLC PO BOX 148, NEWTOWN, PA 18940 (267) 217-2207 drkaranewman@newlight-psychology.com

EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS NOTICE This notice went into effect on May 27, 2026.

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

I. MY PLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH INFORMATION: I understand that health information about you and your health care is personal. I am committed to protecting health information about you. I create a record of the care and services you receive from me. I need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the records of your care generated by this mental health care practice. This notice will tell you about the ways in which I may use and disclose health information about you. I also describe your rights to the health information I keep about you, and describe certain obligations I have regarding the use and disclosure of your health information. I am required by law to:

• Make sure that protected health information (“PHI”) that identifies you is kept private.

• Give you this notice of my legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information.

• Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.

• I am also required by law to provide you with adequate notice of your rights and my legal duties if I create or maintain records protected by 42 C.F.R. Part 2.

• I can change the terms of this Notice, and such changes will apply to all information I have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request, in my office, and on my website.
  

II. HOW I MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU: The following categories describe different ways that I use and disclose health information. For each category of uses or disclosures I will explain what I mean and try to give some examples. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways I am permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.

For Treatment Payment, or Health Care Operations: Federal privacy rules (regulations) allow health care providers who have direct treatment relationship with the patient/client to use or disclose the patient/client’s personal health information without the patient’s written authorization, to carry out the health care provider’s own treatment, payment or health care operations. I may also disclose your protected health information for the treatment activities of any health care provider. This too can be done without your written authorization. For example, if a clinician were to consult with another licensed health care provider about your condition, we would be permitted to use and disclose your personal health information, which is otherwise confidential, in order to assist the clinician in diagnosis and treatment of your mental health condition. If your records are protected under 42 C.F.R. Part 2, certain uses and disclosures permitted by HIPAA for treatment, payment, and health care operations are materially limited by the stricter standards of those regulations. Furthermore, information disclosed pursuant to these rules may be subject to redisclosure by the recipient and may no longer be protected by federal privacy standards. 

Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited to the minimum necessary standard. Because therapists and other health care providers need access to the full record and/or full and complete information in order to provide quality care. The word “treatment” includes, among other things, the coordination and management of health care providers with a third party, consultations between health care providers and referrals of a patient for health care from one health care provider to another.

Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit, I may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order. I may also disclose health information about your child in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested. However, for records protected by 42 C.F.R. Part 2, such records or testimony relaying their content shall not be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against you unless you provide specific written consent or a court order is issued in accordance with 42 C.F.R. Part 2.

III. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION:

1. Psychotherapy Notes. I may keep “psychotherapy notes” as that term is defined in 45 CFR § 164.501, and any use or disclosure of such notes requires your Authorization unless the use or disclosure is: a. For my use in treating you. b. For my use in training or supervising mental health practitioners to help them improve their skills in group, joint, family, or individual counseling or therapy. c. For my use in defending myself in legal proceedings instituted by you. d. For use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate my compliance with HIPAA. e. Required by law and the use or disclosure is limited to the requirements of such law. f. Required by law for certain health oversight activities pertaining to the originator of the psychotherapy notes. g. Required by a coroner who is performing duties authorized by law. h. Required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of others.

2. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counseling Notes. I may also maintain “SUD counseling notes,” which are notes recorded by a substance use disorder provider documenting the contents of a counseling session. Any use or disclosure of these notes requires your separate written authorization, which cannot be combined with a consent for other types of records. You can revoke your consent at any time except to the extent that I have already acted upon it to disclose these notes in accordance with your initial authorization.

3. Marketing Purposes. As a psychotherapist, I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes.

4. Sale of PHI. As a psychotherapist, I will not sell your PHI in the regular course of my business.
   

IV. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION. Subject to certain limitations in the law, I can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:

1. When disclosure is required by state or federal law, and the use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of such law.

2. For public health activities, including reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety.

3. For health oversight activities, including audits and investigations.

4. For judicial and administrative proceedings, including responding to a court or administrative order, although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you before doing so.

5. For law enforcement purposes, including reporting crimes occurring on my premises.

6. To coroners or medical examiners, when such individuals are performing duties authorized by law.

7. For research purposes, including studying and comparing the mental health of patients who received one form of therapy versus those who received another form of therapy for the same condition.

8. Specialized government functions, including, ensuring the proper execution of military missions; protecting the President of the United States; conducting intelligence or counter-intelligence operations; or, helping to ensure the safety of those working within or housed in correctional institutions.

9. For workers’ compensation purposes. Although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you, I may provide your PHI in order to comply with workers’ compensation laws. 10 Appointment reminders and health related benefits or services. I may use and disclose your PHI to contact you to remind you that you have an appointment with me. I may also use and disclose your PHI to tell you about treatment alternatives, or other health care services or benefits that I offer.
   

V. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT.

1. Disclosures to family, friends, or others. I may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or other person that you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your health care, unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to consent may be obtained retroactively in emergency situations.

2. Fundraising. If I intend to use or disclose your records protected by 42 C.F.R. Part 2 for fundraising for my benefit, I will provide you with a clear and conspicuous opportunity to opt-out before any such use or disclosure occurs.   
   

VI. YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR PHI:

1. The Right to Request Limits on Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI. You have the right to ask me not to use or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations purposes. I am not required to agree to your request, and I may say “no” if I believe it would affect your health care.

2. The Right to Request Restrictions for Out-of-Pocket Expenses Paid for In Full. You have the right to request restrictions on disclosures of your PHI to health plans for payment or health care operations purposes if the PHI pertains solely to a health care item or a health care service that you have paid for out-of-pocket in full.

3. The Right to Choose How I Send PHI to You. You have the right to ask me to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address, and I will agree to all reasonable requests.

4. The Right to See and Get Copies of Your PHI. Other than “psychotherapy notes,” you have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other information that I have about you. I will provide you with a copy of your record, or a summary of it, if you agree to receive a summary, within 30 days of receiving your written request, and I may charge a reasonable, cost based fee for doing so.

5. The Right to Get a List of the Disclosures I Have Made. Other than "Psychotherapy Notes" or "SUD Counseling Notes," you have the right to request a list of instances in which I have disclosed your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations, or for which you provided me with an Authorization. I will respond to your request for an accounting of disclosures within 60 days of receiving your request. The list I will give you will include disclosures made in the last six years unless you request a shorter time. I will provide the list to you at no charge, but if you make more than one request in the same year, I will charge you a reasonable cost based fee for each additional request. You also have the right to request an accounting of disclosures specifically for your substance use disorder records protected under 42 C.F.R. Part 2. 

6. The Right to Correct or Update Your PHI. If you believe that there is a mistake in your PHI, or that a piece of important information is missing from your PHI, you have the right to request that I correct the existing information or add the missing information. I may say “no” to your request, but I will tell you why in writing within 60 days of receiving your request.

7. The Right to Get a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Notice. You have the right get a paper copy of this Notice, and you have the right to get a copy of this notice by e-mail. And, even if you have agreed to receive this Notice via e-mail, you also have the right to request a paper copy of it.