Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in NYC
Work with an ACT therapist to get unstuck from overthinking and start taking action toward what matters. Start with a 30 minute intake and get matched with a therapist who fits.
Begin In-Person in the Upper East Side or Virtually.
You feel stuck, even though you understand your patterns.
You overthink decisions.
You replay conversations.
You second guess yourself.
You wait until things feel “just right” before you act.
And even when you try to push through, the same patterns come back.
You may already understand your anxiety or habits, but your life still feels smaller than you want it to be.
ACT is designed for exactly this.
What ACT helps you do
ACT helps you stop waiting to feel better before you start living your life. While CBT focuses on changing thoughts, ACT focuses on helping you move forward with them. For many people, this is the shift that finally makes things click. You will learn how to:
Step out of overthinking loops
Handle difficult thoughts without getting stuck in them
Take action even when you feel anxious or unsure
When ACT may be a better fit for you
ACT is especially helpful when the goal is not just symptom relief, but building a life that feels aligned and meaningful. ACT tends to resonate if you notice any of the following:
You have tried therapy before but still feel stuck
You understand your patterns but cannot change them in the moment
You feel caught in perfectionism or indecision
You avoid things that matter because they feel uncomfortable
You want your life to feel fuller, not just less anxious
How To start ACT therapy without guessing
If you are looking for an ACT therapist in NYC, the hardest part is often figuring out who is actually the right fit. Many people spend hours reading profiles and still feel unsure.
Instead of guessing, you can start with a structured intake with our Clinical Director.
This is focused on understanding your symptoms, your patterns, and what has or has not worked for you before. From there, you are matched with a therapist trained in ACT who fits how you think and what you need.
You can try working together for a month or two and see how it feels. If it is not the right fit, you can switch therapists within the practice and continue your work without starting over. The goal is simple. You get started with a plan instead of starting from scratch.
What ACT can look like over time
“After suffering my whole life and then having what I’d constitute as a mental breakdown, I’m living generally an anxiety free life without using medication.”
“I was having anxiety, panic attacks and insomnia last year and started seeking help. I am now a much more balanced, mindful and calm person who feels empowered with an armada of useful strategies and techniques to manage and regulate stressful situations in my life.”
“Dr. Scolaro is an incredibly gifted therapist who has helped me learn and practice vital CBT skills that have changed my life”
Meet Our Clinical Directors
Dr. Anya Scolaro, Psy.D. (she/her), Clinical Director
Dr. Scolaro specializes in diagnostic assessment and treatment planning, helping clients differentiate between anxiety, panic, OCD, and related conditions to ensure they receive the most effective care. She also provides psychological testing to support accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment.
Brie Scolaro, LCSW, (they), Co-Director
Brie brings over 30 years of experience in high-level sports performance and specializes in helping athletes, working professionals, and students manage anxiety, sleep and well-being in high-pressure environments. Their work shapes Aspire’s performance-focused approach, integrating CBT, ACT, and biofeedback to improve both mental and physiological regulation so clients can function more effectively under the demands of New York City.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Start by clicking Start Here – Match with a Therapist and completing a brief form. From there, you will schedule a 30 minute intake with our Clinical Director.
This first meeting focuses on understanding what you are struggling with, what has or has not worked in the past, and what you want to change. Based on that, you are matched with a therapist who fits your needs and how you work best.
The goal is to help you start with clarity and direction, rather than guessing which therapist is right.
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You can try working with your therapist for a few weeks to get a sense of fit. If it does not feel right, you can switch therapists within the practice and continue your work without starting over. The goal is to make sure you have a space that feels helpful and aligned with what you need.
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We are an out-of-network practice and do not directly accept insurance.
Many of our clients use out-of-network benefits for partial reimbursement. If your plan includes these benefits, you may be able to get a portion of your session fee reimbursed. We provide a superbill after each session that you can submit to your insurance company.
If you are unsure about your benefits, we can help guide you on what to ask your insurance provider so you can better understand your coverage.
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We offer in-person and virtual therapy. In-Person and Hybrid is available at our Upper East Side office in NYC and our Stone Ridge location.
Virtual therapy is available for residents of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Start by clicking Start Here – Match with a Therapist.
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CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns. You learn how to question thoughts and replace them with more balanced ones.
ACT takes a different approach. Instead of trying to change every thought, you learn how to step back from them so they have less control over your actions. The focus is on helping you move toward what matters to you, even when difficult thoughts or emotions are present.
If CBT helps you challenge your thoughts, ACT helps you stop getting stuck in them. Many people find ACT especially helpful when they already understand their thinking patterns but still feel blocked in their day to day life.
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Yes. ACT is both structured and skills based.
You learn specific tools that you can use in real time, such as noticing when you are caught in overthinking, creating space from difficult thoughts, and choosing actions that align with your values.
Sessions are focused on applying these skills to situations in your actual life. You are not just talking about your experiences, you are practicing how to respond differently to them.
Over time, these skills become habits, which helps you feel more flexible, grounded, and able to handle challenges as they come up.
Start ACT therapy in NYC
If you are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward, ACT can help you start taking steps toward a life that feels more like your own.
Book your intake today and get matched with a therapist who can help you move forward.
Office Locations in NYC and the Hudson Valley
We offer telehealth and hybrid therapy sessions at two locations in New York State. Reach out today to schedule your intake appointment and start seeing your therapist remotely or in-person.
Upper East Side Office - Manhattan
312 E 85th St Suite 1A, New York, NY 10028
Hudson Valley Office - Stone Ridge
Healing Arts Center, 3457 Main St Floor 2, Stone Ridge, NY 12484
