Anxiety Therapist in NYC - CBT & Evidence-Based Treatment That Works
Whether you’re struggling with panic attacks, constant worry, or feeling stuck in cycles of overthinking, our anxiety specialists in NYC provide evidence-based therapy, counseling, and treatment to help you feel calmer, more in control, and able to move forward with confidence.
We offer in-person anxiety therapy in Manhattan and the Hudson Valley, as well as virtual sessions across New York and New Jersey.
Why Choose Aspire for Anxiety Therapy in NYC
Living with anxiety can feel exhausting. You might feel stuck in racing thoughts, constant “what ifs,” or a body that won’t seem to settle. Your heart is pounding, your chest tight, your mind always on edge. Over time, anxiety doesn’t just feel stressful. Anxiety can start to shrink your world, leading you to avoid situations, overthink decisions, or feel like you’re never fully at ease.
At Aspire Psychotherapy, many of our clients come to us after trying therapy that didn’t go deep enough or didn’t actually change how they felt day to day. That’s why we’ve built something different: a boutique, LGBTQIA+ owned practice where clients feel understood, supported, and matched with therapists who are carefully selected for their expertise in evidence-based care.
Our team specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and other proven approaches for anxiety. We take an active, skill-based approach—helping you understand what’s happening in your mind and body, and giving you practical tools you can use in real life. Whether you’re dealing with panic attacks, social anxiety, or perfectionism, we tailor treatment so you can feel more grounded, confident, and in control.
Many of our clients have been in therapy before and are looking for something that actually works. As part of our intake process, we take time to understand what has and hasn’t helped in the past, so we can match you with an approach that fits where you are now—whether that’s CBT, biofeedback, a more insight-oriented approach, or a combination of methods.
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Types of Anxiety We Treat
Anxiety isn’t one-size-fits-all—and it rarely looks the way people expect. For some, it’s constant overthinking. For others, it’s physical symptoms that seem to come out of nowhere, including heart palpitations and muscle tension. Many people don’t even realize what they’re experiencing is anxiety.
At Aspire, we help you understand your version of anxiety and treat it in a way that actually works.
Generalized Anxiety (Constant Worry)
This often feels like your mind is always scanning for what could go wrong next, even when things are objectively okay. You might replay conversations, second-guess decisions, or feel like you can never fully relax. Over time, the mental load becomes exhausting.
Learn more about generalized anxiety
Panic Attacks & Panic Disorder
Panic can feel sudden and overwhelming, with symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, or a sense that something is seriously wrong in your body. Many people start to fear the panic itself, leading to avoidance of places or situations where it might happen.
Learn more about panic attacks
High-Functioning Anxiety
From the outside, things may look successful and put together—but internally, there’s constant pressure, overthinking, and fear of falling short. You might be driven and high-achieving, but it never quite feels like enough.
Learn more about high-functioning anxiety
Social Anxiety & Fear of Judgment
You may find yourself overanalyzing how you come across, worrying about saying the wrong thing, or avoiding social situations altogether. Even small interactions can feel high-stakes, leaving you drained or self-critical afterward.
Learn more about social anxiety and perfectionism
Work & Career Anxiety
You might feel constant pressure to perform, fear of making mistakes, or anxiety about how you’re perceived at work. This can show up as overworking, difficulty disconnecting, imposter feelings, or second-guessing even small decisions. Over time, work stops feeling manageable and starts to feel overwhelming.
Learn more about work and career anxiety
School & Test Anxiety
This can show up as intense pressure around grades, performance, or expectations often leading to procrastination, difficulty concentrating, or feeling frozen when it matters most. It’s not a lack of ability. It’s anxiety getting in the way.
Learn more about school anxiety
Sleep Anxiety
You feel exhausted, but your mind won’t shut off. Nights become filled with racing thoughts, physical restlessness, or dread about not being able to fall asleep. Over time, even going to bed can start to feel stressful.
Learn more about sleep anxiety
Stress vs. Anxiety vs. Worry
Many people aren’t sure what they’re experiencing—just that something feels off. Understanding the difference between stress, anxiety, and worry can be the first step in figuring out what kind of support will actually help.
What Anxiety Treatment Looks Like: From First Session to Real Change
Your care begins with a comprehensive intake and matching process, where we take the time to understand your symptoms, your goals, and what has or hasn’t worked for you in the past. From there, we match you with an anxiety therapist who truly understands your experience and can tailor treatment to your needs.
Our therapy is structured, goal-oriented, and active. We go beyond “just talking” by helping you understand how anxiety works in your mind and body, while giving you practical tools you can use in real-life situations. Many clients appreciate this approach because it leads to meaningful progress, not just insight, but actual change.
We specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and other evidence-based approaches for anxiety. For some clients, CBT provides a clear and effective framework for reducing symptoms like overthinking, avoidance, and panic. For others, especially those who have tried CBT before or want to explore deeper patterns, we may integrate approaches like psychodynamic therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), or biofeedback to help regulate the body’s stress response.
Anxiety can impact many areas of life, from relationships and work to sleep and decision-making. That’s why we treat the full range of anxiety experiences from overthinking and social anxiety to performance pressure, perfectionism, and relationship stress. Whether you prefer in-person sessions at our Upper East Side office or virtual therapy, we make it easy to access care that fits your life.
Our goal is sustainable change so you can stop organizing your life around anxiety and start feeling more like yourself again.
What to Expect in Treatment
Starting therapy can feel intimidating—we get that. That’s why we keep the process clear, collaborative, and focused on your goals from the very first session.
The First Few Sessions
We’ll take time to understand your experience with anxiety, including how it shows up day-to-day, what you’ve already tried, and what matters most to you. These sessions are thoughtful and thorough, but also focused on building a strong, trusting relationship with your therapist.
Collaborative Planning
Together, you and your therapist will set goals and create a treatment plan that feels realistic and tailored to your needs—whether that’s reducing panic attacks, managing social anxiety, or feeling more at ease in daily life.
Intervention & Skills-Building
Once the foundation is in place, sessions become more active and skill-based. You’ll learn practical strategies to manage anxiety in real time, shift unhelpful thought patterns, and gradually face situations you may have been avoiding.
Timeline
Everyone’s timeline is different, but many clients begin to notice meaningful improvement within 12–20 sessions when using structured, evidence-based approaches. We’ll check in regularly and adjust your treatment as needed so therapy continues to feel effective and aligned with your goals.
How to Get Started with an Anxiety Therapist at Aspire Psychotherapy
We’ve designed a simple, supportive process to help you start psychotherapy or psychological testing in NYC, the Hudson Valley, or virtually across New York and New Jersey.
Step 1: Book Your Intake
Schedule a 30-minute virtual intake ($175) with one of our Clinical Directors. Whether you’re seeking goal-oriented therapy for anxiety or simply a safe space to vent, we’ll begin by clarifying your goals.
Step 2: Get Matched
From there, you’ll get personally matched with a therapist or psychologist based on the treatment plan, therapy style, and your preferences like day/time, virtual or in-person, and personality type.
Step 3: Begin with Confidence
Start care knowing you’ve found the right therapist or testing provider. Our team provides inclusive, evidence-based therapy and evaluations so you can move forward with clarity and support.
What Our Clients Say
“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
At Aspire, your care is guided from the very beginning by our Clinical Directors. Every client begins with a comprehensive intake led by Dr. Anya Scolaro, where we assess your symptoms, history, and what has or hasn’t worked in the past.
From there, we determine the most effective treatment approach and match you with a therapist whose expertise aligns with your needs. Throughout your care, our Clinical Directors remain involved behind the scenes—ensuring your treatment stays focused, evidence-based, and tailored to you.
This model allows us to combine the personalization of private practice with the structure and clinical rigor of a specialized team.
Dr. Anya Scolaro, Psy.D., LCSW, BCN (she/her)
Dr. Scolaro is a licensed psychologist with advanced training across evidence-based treatments for anxiety, including exposure therapy and the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive and related disorders. She specializes in diagnostic assessment and treatment planning, helping clients clarify what they’re experiencing and identifying the most effective path forward based on both clinical expertise and current research.
Her work focuses on differentiating between overlapping symptoms—such as anxiety, OCD, trauma-related patterns, or neurodivergent presentations—to ensure that treatment is accurate, targeted, and effective. She also has expertise in psychological and neuropsychological assessment, which can help determine whether therapy, testing, or a combination of both is the most appropriate next step.
By focusing on precise diagnosis and individualized treatment selection, Dr. Scolaro helps ensure that clients are not just starting therapy—but starting the right therapy.
Brie Scolaro, LCSW, SIFI (they)
Brie brings over 30 years of experience in high-level sports performance, coaching, and clinical practice to their role as Co-Director of Aspire Psychotherapy. They specialize in the treatment of anxiety in high-pressure environments, including career, school, and athletics, with a focus on perfectionism, fear of failure, and performance-related stress.
Their work helps shape Aspire’s approach to performance-focused anxiety treatment, integrating evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with biofeedback to support both mental and physiological regulation.
By focusing on how anxiety shows up in real-world performance, Brie helps ensure that treatment is not only effective, but applicable—supporting clients in building confidence, improving decision-making, and functioning at a high level without being driven by pressure or fear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CBT therapy really help with anxiety in NYC?
Yes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective, evidence-based treatments for anxiety. Our NYC therapists use CBT to reduce symptoms like worry, panic, and physical tension, while helping you build lasting coping strategies.
Do you offer online anxiety therapy in New York?
Yes. We provide HIPAA-compliant virtual anxiety therapy sessions across New York State, New Jersey, and Delaware making it easy to access support from home or work.
How long does anxiety therapy usually take to feel better?
The length of therapy varies, but many clients start noticing improvements in 8–12 sessions when using evidence-based approaches like CBT and Exposure Therapy.
What if therapy didn’t work for my anxiety in the past?
Many people come to Aspire after trying therapy that wasn’t the right fit. Our structured, research-backed methods (CBT, ACT, and Exposure Therapy) provide practical tools that help where talk-only therapy may not have been effective.
Can therapy help with panic attacks and racing thoughts?
Absolutely. Anxiety therapy can reduce the intensity and frequency of panic attacks, calm racing thoughts, and teach you how to manage symptoms like a pounding heart, shortness of breath, or constant worry.
Can anxiety therapy help with social anxiety or perfectionism?
Yes. We regularly help clients with social anxiety, performance anxiety, and perfectionism. Our therapists support you in building confidence, reducing self-criticism, and feeling more at ease in relationships and work.
Ready for Relief? Start Therapy for Anxiety Today
You don’t have to keep carrying anxiety alone. At Aspire Psychotherapy, our anxiety therapists specialize in evidence-based care like CBT and Exposure Therapy to help you break the cycle of worry, panic, and self-doubt. Real change starts with having a safe, supportive space where you can face difficult emotions and trust that someone truly knows how to help you move through them.
Taking this step isn’t just “starting therapy”—it’s choosing relief, confidence, and a future where anxiety no longer runs your life.
Fill out our quick form today, and after your New Client Intake with Dr. Anya Scolaro, Psy.D., our Clinical Director, we’ll personally match you with the best therapist for your needs. You deserve to feel calmer, more grounded, and supported—we’re here to help you get there.
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