Work Anxiety Therapy in NYC for Stress, Overthinking, and Burnout
Work anxiety isn’t just about stress—it’s the constant pressure to perform, overthink, and get everything “just right.” You might find yourself replaying conversations, overpreparing for meetings, or feeling like you’re always one step behind, even when you’re doing well.
At Aspire Psychotherapy, we help high-achieving professionals understand and break the patterns that keep work anxiety going. Whether it’s perfectionism, fear of judgment, or burnout, our approach is active, structured, and grounded in evidence-based care.
Your first step is a structured 30-minute intake with our Clinical Director, who will get to know you and match you with the right therapist for your needs.
Work Anxiety Therapy in NYC and the Hudson Valley at Aspire Psychotherapy
In New York City, work doesn’t just stay at the office—it follows you home, into your evenings, and often into your thoughts long after the day is over.
You might leave a meeting and immediately replay what you said, wondering how you came across. A simple email can take far longer than it should as you reread it again and again before sending. Even when things are going well, it can still feel like it’s not quite enough.
Over time, this pattern can become exhausting. Work starts to feel less like something you engage in and more like something you’re constantly trying to manage, control, or get through.
At Aspire Psychotherapy, we work with professionals who are capable, driven, and often doing well on paper, but internally feel stuck in cycles of overthinking, pressure, and self-doubt.
Why Work Anxiety Keeps Going
Work anxiety doesn’t just come from your job—it’s often maintained by patterns that develop over time.
You might find yourself overpreparing, replaying conversations, or trying to control every detail to avoid mistakes. While these strategies can feel helpful in the moment, they often increase pressure and keep anxiety going.
For many people, this is closely tied to perfectionism and a fear of being judged or getting something wrong.
Work anxiety is also one of many forms of anxiety that can show up in high-pressure environments, especially when your role involves visibility, evaluation, or performance.
Over time, these patterns train your brain to stay on high alert—making it harder to relax, switch off, or feel confident in your work.
What Work Anxiety Can Look Like
Work anxiety often shows up as patterns that look productive,
but feel draining:
Overthinking decisions, emails, or conversations
Replaying interactions after meetings or presentations
Overpreparing or spending excessive time on tasks
Avoiding speaking up or taking initiative
Feeling constantly “on” and unable to disconnect
Struggling with work-life balance or burnout
Many people also experience performance anxiety at work, especially in high-visibility or high-pressure situations.
Is It Work Anxiety, Burnout, or Something Else?
Work anxiety can overlap with other experiences, which can make it harder to fully understand what’s going on.
For example, some people experience social anxiety at work, especially in meetings, presentations, or group settings where they feel evaluated. Others may notice physical symptoms like a racing heart or shortness of breath that feel similar to panic attacks, particularly in high-pressure moments. Work anxiety can also exist alongside burnout, ADHD, or other patterns that affect focus, energy, and stress tolerance.
In some cases, psychological testing can help clarify what’s contributing to your experience, leading to more targeted and effective treatment. Understanding the full picture is an important first step toward meaningful change.
Our Approach: CBT, Exposure and Treating the Full Picture
At Aspire, we don’t just treat work anxiety in isolation. We look at the full set of patterns that may be contributing to it. Work anxiety often overlaps with social anxiety, panic symptoms, perfectionism, and burnout.
That’s why our approach is both targeted and comprehensive.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
We help you identify patterns like overthinking, self-criticism, and fear of judgment—and shift how you respond to them in real time.
Exposure-Based Therapy
Instead of avoiding or overpreparing, we help you gradually face situations like speaking up in meetings, presenting, or sending work without over-editing so your confidence builds through experience.
Performance & Stress Regulation Skills
We incorporate tools to regulate your physiological stress response, helping your body feel steadier in high-pressure moments.
By addressing both the anxiety itself and the patterns surrounding it, treatment becomes more effective and more lasting.
Meet Our Clinical Directors
At Aspire, your care is guided from the very beginning. Every client starts 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 to ensure your treatment stays focused, evidence-based, and effective.
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 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 stress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is work anxiety?
Work anxiety refers to ongoing stress, worry, or fear related to your job or performance. It can include overthinking, fear of making mistakes, difficulty relaxing outside of work, and feeling constantly “on.” For many people, it’s not just about workload—it’s about how their mind and body respond to pressure, expectations, and evaluation.
How is work anxiety different from normal stress?
Some stress at work is normal, especially in demanding environments. Work anxiety tends to feel more persistent and harder to shut off. It often includes patterns like overthinking, avoidance, or constant self-criticism, even when things are going well. Instead of coming and going, it can feel like a constant background pressure.
What causes work anxiety?
Work anxiety is usually driven by a combination of thought patterns, behaviors, and physiological stress responses. Fear of judgment, perfectionism, and past experiences can all play a role. Over time, habits like overpreparing or avoiding situations can reinforce the anxiety, making it feel stronger and more automatic.
Can therapy help with work anxiety?
Yes. Therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat work anxiety. Approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and exposure-based therapy help you understand what’s driving your anxiety and change the patterns that keep it going. Many people experience significant relief as they build confidence in real-world situations.
Is work anxiety the same as burnout?
Work anxiety and burnout often overlap, but they are not the same. Work anxiety is usually driven by fear, pressure, or overthinking, while burnout tends to involve exhaustion, detachment, and reduced motivation. However, ongoing anxiety can contribute to burnout over time if it’s not addressed.
How do I stop overthinking at work?
Reducing overthinking involves both changing how you respond to anxious thoughts and shifting behaviors that reinforce them. This may include setting limits on preparation, practicing more direct action, and gradually facing situations without overanalyzing. Therapy can help you build these skills in a structured and supportive way.
Get Help for Work Anxiety in NYC
If work has started to feel overwhelming or harder to manage, you don’t have to keep pushing through it alone.
Therapy can help you feel more confident, less reactive, and more present in your work and your life. At Aspire Psychotherapy, we provide structured, evidence-based treatment for work anxiety in NYC, tailored to high-achieving professionals Your first step is a 30-minute intake with our Clinical Director, who will get to know you and match you with the right therapist for your needs.
What Our Clients Have to 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”
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
