ACT Therapy for High-Impact Professionals.
I'm Olivier — a licensed psychologist working with high-achieving professionals who are quietly struggling. My approach combines evidence-based therapy with the kind of honest, human conversation that actually moves things.
"You don't have to have it all figured out before you reach out."
Core Approach
"ACT has been evaluated in over 500 randomized controlled trials, demonstrating effectiveness across anxiety disorders, OCD, depression, chronic pain, and burnout."
Relationship First
I believe the therapeutic relationship is the engine of change. Before any technique, I focus on building genuine trust — the kind where you can say the thing you haven't said out loud yet.
Evidence-Based
I use ACT, CBT, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Prolonged Exposure because the research shows they work. No guesswork — just rigorous methods, tailored to you.
Results That Matter
I know your time is valuable. We'll set clear goals and track real progress — not because therapy is a transaction, but because you deserve to see things actually change.
Where I Can Help
I work with a focused set of presentations — these are the areas where I do my deepest work.
Anxiety & OCD
Anxiety and OCD are exhausting. You've probably tried pushing through, rationalizing, or avoiding — and found none of it lasts. I use ERP fused with ACT to go beyond coping skills and address the underlying patterns driving your distress.
- Performance Anxiety
- Intrusive Thoughts
- Perfectionism Stalling
Trauma & PTSD
Trauma rewrites the story you tell about yourself. I use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) — gold-standard PTSD treatments — to help you process what happened and reclaim your life.
Depression & Relationships
Whether you're moving through depression that's dulled everything, or a relationship that's hit a wall, I offer a direct path forward — ACT for mood, and the Gottman Method for couples.
High-Performers Under Pressure
I understand the pressure of rounding in a hospital, the stakes of a Series B, and what it means to be "the strong one." I work with professionals who are succeeding by every external measure — and still struggling.
The ACT Hexaflex
Acceptance
Acceptance isn't resignation. It's learning to stop exhausting yourself fighting thoughts that aren't going anywhere. When you make room for discomfort, it loses its grip on you.
Cognitive Defusion
Your mind tells fast, convincing stories. Defusion gives you distance from those stories so you can see them for what they are — just words, not commands you have to obey.
Present Moment
Most suffering happens in the past or future. Learning to stay grounded in the now isn't just mindfulness jargon — it's the foundation for clear decisions under real pressure.
Self-as-Context
No matter how much changes around you — job, title, relationship status — there's a stable 'you' underneath all of it. We work to access that so external chaos doesn't define you.
Values Alignment
Not your goals. Not your resume. Your values — what genuinely matters underneath the noise. Therapy without this is just symptom management. I want more for you than that.
Committed Action
Knowing your values is step one. Moving toward them, even when it's uncomfortable, is what therapy is actually for. We build real momentum — session by session.
| Therapy | Primary Indications | Format | Evidence Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACTAcceptance & Commitment Therapy | Anxiety, OCD, depression, burnout | Individual | 500+ RCTs |
| CBTCognitive Behavioral Therapy | Anxiety, depression, perfectionism | Individual | Gold standard |
| ERPExposure & Response Prevention | OCD, phobias | Individual | Gold standard |
| CPTCognitive Processing Therapy | PTSD, trauma | Individual | VA/DoD approved |
| PEProlonged Exposure | PTSD, trauma | Individual | VA/DoD approved |
| GottmanGottman Method (Level 2) | Couples conflict, communication | Couples | 40+ years research |
Choose Your Path
Pick the portal that matches your insurance or payment preference. Not sure which? Email me first — I'll point you in the right direction.
Northwell Direct
If you're a Northwell Health employee or partner, this is your direct path in.
Enter Sessions HealthAetna & BCBS Patients
I'm in-network with Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield through Alma. Fast-track insurance verification and scheduling.
View Alma ProfilePrivate Pay / PSYPACT
Out-of-network, private pay, or outside of NY? Through PSYPACT, I can see clients across 40+ states.
Enter Sessions HealthA bit about who I am
Olivier van Hauwermeiren, PsyDLicensed Clinical Psychologist
I'm a licensed clinical psychologist based in New York City. I completed my doctoral training at Nova Southeastern University — an APA-accredited program — and my predoctoral internship at Nassau University Medical Center on Long Island, where I worked across community mental health and hospital settings.
My clinical work is grounded in ACT, CBT, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Prolonged Exposure. I also work with couples using the Gottman Method (Level 2 trained), because relationships are often where our psychological struggles show up most clearly. I offer sessions in both English and Spanish.
Outside the therapy room, I've contributed to research on personality and emotional functioning in Mixed Martial Artists — work that deepened my thinking about performance, stress tolerance, and what it takes to compete under pressure. That perspective shapes how I work with high-performing clients today.
At the core of everything I do is a simple belief: people can change, and the right relationship makes that change possible.
Full bio & credentials →
Credentials & Background
Education
Nova Southeastern University, PsyD
Internship
Nassau University Medical Center
Licensed
New York · Wisconsin · PSYPACT
Languages
English & Spanish
Couples
Gottman Method, Level 2 Trained
Common Questions
What is ACT therapy, and how does it work?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that helps you relate differently to difficult thoughts and feelings — reducing their behavioral impact without requiring you to eliminate them. Rather than fighting anxiety or rumination, ACT builds psychological flexibility: the ability to act in line with your values even when distress is present. It is backed by over 500 randomized controlled trials across anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, and burnout.
Who does OVH Psychology typically work with?
Primarily high-achieving professionals in medicine, law, tech, finance, and the performing arts — people who are functioning well externally but carrying anxiety, OCD, burnout, or relationship strain quietly. Many have tried therapy before and come to OVH Psychology because they want something more targeted and rigorous.
Does OVH Psychology offer online therapy?
Yes. All sessions are available via HIPAA-compliant telehealth. Dr. van Hauwermeiren holds PSYPACT Authority (APIT), authorizing interjurisdictional telepsychology practice across 40+ participating US states — including New York, California, Florida, Texas, and Illinois.
What's the difference between ACT and CBT?
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) works by identifying and restructuring unhelpful thought patterns. ACT takes a different approach: rather than changing thoughts, it focuses on changing your relationship to them — building psychological flexibility so your thoughts lose their grip on your behavior. Both are evidence-based; most protocols at OVH Psychology integrate elements of both.
How do I get started with therapy at OVH Psychology?
The first step is a free 15-minute introductory call — no commitment, just a conversation to see if it's the right fit. If it is, the first full session is a thorough intake covering your history and goals. You can book directly through the Sessions Health portal, the Alma profile (Aetna/BCBS), or by emailing info@ovhpsychology.com.
If something here resonated, that's worth paying attention to.
I offer a confidential 15-minute intro call — no commitment, just an honest conversation to see if we're the right fit.