Anxiety Therapy in New York
Anxiety can be difficult to recognize when much of what it asks you to do gets rewarded. You're thorough, prepared, quick to anticipate a problem. But a presentation can go well and still occupy the rest of your evening, as you revisit a sentence that nobody else is likely to remember.
Over time, the effort to prevent something going wrong can become a problem of its own. You prepare beyond what's useful, defer decisions until you feel certain, or avoid situations you once handled without much thought. The immediate relief makes those habits understandable, even as they leave you with less room to live.
I'm Dr. Olivier van Hauwermeiren, a clinical psychologist working with adults across New York, including Long Island. I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you understand these patterns and develop more freedom in how you respond to them.
A free 15-minute call, no commitment, booked through Headway. Or email me first if you'd rather start there.
What you might be noticing
- Preparing for a meeting long after you've covered what you need to know
- Putting off decisions because you can't be sure you're making the right one
- Lying awake replaying a conversation or worrying about tomorrow
- Avoiding places or activities because you're afraid of having a panic attack
- Tension in your jaw or shoulders, stomach trouble, or difficulty sleeping
- Asking for a second opinion, feeling better briefly, then needing to ask again
How I work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
You may already have a convincing explanation for why you worry. In a difficult moment, though, understanding the pattern doesn't necessarily change your response. ACT helps us work with that moment: noticing a thought as it shows up, allowing some discomfort, and choosing what to do without having to settle every doubt first.
Values give that practice a purpose. If being present with your family matters to you, putting down work for an evening becomes worth practicing even when it leaves you uneasy. ACT and CBT both have research behind them for anxiety (Joanna Arch and colleagues compared them in a randomized trial). In our work, we'll also ask whether the changes are making a meaningful difference to your life.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT gives us a way to examine the predictions that shape your behavior. If you expect a small mistake to undermine your credibility, repeatedly polishing a presentation may keep you from discovering what would happen if you allowed one. We can design ways to test those expectations and review what you learn. With panic, that work can include understanding the physical sensations and gradually returning to situations you've begun to avoid.
Practicing what anxiety has made difficult
Practice between sessions helps us move beyond a useful conversation into changes you can notice during the week. We might work on sending an email after one review or staying in a conversation without planning every sentence. We'll choose those steps together, with a clear reason for each, and pay attention to what makes them difficult.
If obsessions and compulsions are part of the picture, we'll address those specifically. The OCD page explains how I use Exposure and Response Prevention for that work.
How we begin
In the first session, I'll ask you to orient me to your life. What's been happening, how long has it been a problem, and what have you already tried? We'll also talk about sleep, health, and anything else that might be contributing.
We'll translate what you want from therapy into changes you can recognize in your own life. Being able to take the train again, make a decision without hours of deliberation, or be present with your partner gives us something concrete to work toward. I'll explain the reasoning behind the plan, and we'll revisit it as we learn what helps.
Sessions happen over secure video. Treatment length depends on what we're working on and how things change; we can discuss an initial plan after the assessment.
The practical part
- Licensed in New York, and sessions are fully virtual, so anywhere in the state works: Manhattan, Long Island, Westchester, upstate
- In-network with Aetna and Northwell Health, private pay otherwise, with a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement
- Book a free consult directly through Headway, or email me with questions
- Currently accepting new clients
From the blog
Common questions
Is this anxiety, or am I just stressed?
They overlap. I'd want to know how long it's been going on, whether it continues when the immediate pressure eases, and how much it's affecting your sleep, relationships, or choices. You don't need to decide what to call it before reaching out.
Will you tell me my fears are irrational?
I wouldn't assume your concerns are irrational. Some worries point to real problems; others keep asking for attention long after you've done what you reasonably can. We'll look at the situation and at what happens when you try to resolve the worry, because repeatedly analyzing a fear can become part of what's keeping you caught in it.
I've done CBT before. What would be different?
Tell me what you tried and where it got stuck. We might need a different approach, more practice outside sessions, or a closer look at whether something else is contributing. I wouldn't assume the previous work was wrong just because you're still struggling.
How long does treatment take?
It varies with the problem, your goals, and what else is happening in your life. After the assessment we'll discuss a plan and check progress regularly. If things aren't changing, I want us to talk about that and adjust what we're doing.
Do you prescribe medication?
No. I provide therapy as a psychologist. If medication is part of your treatment, I can coordinate with your psychiatrist or primary care doctor with your permission.
References
When worry is taking up too much room
A free consult gives us a chance to talk about what anxiety has been asking of you, what you've already tried, and how I would approach the work.
A free 15-minute call, no commitment, booked through Headway. Or email me first if you'd rather start there.
Written by Dr. Olivier van Hauwermeiren, PsyD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist, New York