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Therapy for Anxiety

Effective psychotherapy for long-term change with Emily Siegel, licensed therapist in New York

Warm, comfortable therapy office in New York where clients receive therapy for anxiety

The impact of persistent anxiety

I work with people who are experiencing anxiety in various forms. Some describe it as chronic worry; others as tension, burnout, or a general sense that something isn’t quite settled. Often, it’s manageable on the surface but difficult to live with internally. Over time, it can interfere with work, relationships, and overall quality of life.

Psychotherapy is a first-line treatment for panic attacks, obsessive thinking, social anxiety, and chronic worry. It offers a way to work through these symptoms as well as the deeper emotional patterns that sustain them.

Therapy for anxiety might be helpful to you if:

  • You overthink, second-guess, or question yourself

  • You feel tense, restless, or on edge

  • You have trouble relaxing 

  • You persistently monitor your thoughts, feelings, or behavior

  • You often worry about how others are perceiving you

  • You feel pressure to get everything “right” and worry about making mistakes

  • You replay conversations, decisions, or imagined outcomes

  • You feel pressure to “perform” socially

  • You feel a sense of urgency or dread

  • You experience physical symptoms—heart racing, stomach discomfort, restlessness, etc. 

Struggles that commonly bring people to therapy:

  • Generalized anxiety and chronic worry

  • Social anxiety and fear of judgment

  • Panic attacks and physical symptoms of anxiety

  • High functioning anxiety and burnout

  • Perfectionism and self-criticism

  • Obsessive thinking and difficulty letting things go

  • Difficulty sleeping due to racing thoughts

  • Persistent stress

  • Intrusive thoughts

  • Overwhelm during major life changes, such as moves, career shifts, or relationship transitions

You don’t need to be in crisis to begin

You don’t need to be in crisis to begin therapy for anxiety. Therapy offers a chance to slow down and look at your experience more closely—even if you’re not yet sure what exactly needs to change. It can be a place to understand what’s happening beneath the surface and begin to explore what might be possible.

You’re not alone in what you’re feeling.

Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people seek therapy. Many people—regardless of how things look on the outside—struggle with persistent worry, tension, or unease. You might feel worn down by the ongoing pressure and ready to find some relief.

Sometimes, anxiety is tied to something that’s happening in your life that feels overwhelming. You might be:

  • Navigating a challenging family dynamic

  • Questioning a complicated or difficult relationship 

  • Under pressure to perform in a job that’s wearing you down

  • Struggling to balance your own needs with the expectations of others

  • Moving through an unsettling life change 

  • Trying to make a big decision with no clear path forward

This kind of anxiety is incredibly common, especially among people who are thoughtful, high functioning, and used to pushing through. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one in three adults in the U.S. will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.¹ 

The good news is that anxiety is highly treatable. With the support of an experienced therapist, it’s possible to understand the roots of your anxiety, make sense of how it operates in your life, and begin to relate to it in new ways.

Finding Relief: Therapy for Anxiety in New York

Emily Siegel, therapist in New York offering therapy for anxiety

Emily Siegel, licensed psychotherapist

Anxiety disrupts daily life, making it difficult to feel steady, confident, and balanced. My therapeutic approach is designed to help you reduce anxiety symptoms as well as to understand their underlying dynamics. Over time, therapy for anxiety can lead to lasting relief and a greater sense of ease navigating everyday challenges. 

In our work together, we’ll take time to understand both present-day challenges and deeper emotional patterns. Sessions are collaborative and tailored to your needs. We will work together to develop insight, identify unhelpful patterns, and build more clarity in your day-to-day life.

I draw from a broad range of therapeutic methods, including psychodynamic therapy and psychoanalytic work to explore unconscious patterns, as well as cognitive-behavioral + mindfulness-based methods to address thought and behavior cycles. This combination of approaches allows us to target your individual needs.

My style is non-judgmental, engaged, and steady, with a focus on long-lasting and meaningful change. We will speak openly about how the process is going along the way. 

Therapy can transform how anxiety shows up in daily life. Many people find that with commitment and support, their anxiety becomes more manageable. With consistent work, it becomes possible to find clarity and steadiness. 

Bird flying, symbolic of the change achieved in therapy for anxiety

What to expect in therapy for anxiety?

Therapy begins with an opportunity for us to get to know each other and clarify your reasons for seeking support. We’ll discuss your history and current challenges, explore the patterns underlying your anxiety, and focus on developing insight.

Sessions are 45 minutes long and are held once a week. I offer a three-session consultation period at the start, which gives you a chance to see if working together feels like the right fit. At the end of this period, I provide feedback on the work we’ve begun and share my thoughts on how therapy might proceed moving forward.

The pace and focus of therapy are tailored to your needs, with an emphasis on creating a steady and supportive environment. Many people find that over time, therapy brings greater clarity, relief, and ease in managing anxiety.

Unsure about starting therapy for anxiety?

It’s not unusual to have questions about whether therapy is the right fit. You may feel unsure about whether or not your anxiety warrants treatment, or uncertain about what the process will involve. You don’t need to have a clear goal before starting—figuring that out can be part of our work together.

Some people have been in therapy before but felt it stayed on the surface. Others are concerned that slowing down to look at things more closely will be uncomfortable. We can discuss these concerns openly and move at a pace that feels manageable.

FAQ’s

  • Many people have had mixed or limited experiences with therapy in the past. Sometimes the approach wasn’t the right fit, or the work didn’t go as deep as it needed to. If you’re considering starting again, we can talk openly about what felt helpful or unhelpful in previous work and what you’re hoping will feel different this time.

  • You don’t need to be in crisis for therapy to be useful. Some people seek therapy because they feel overwhelmed; others come in simply wanting more clarity and space to think.

  • That’s okay. Many people begin therapy for anxiety without a clear goal. Making sense of what’s going on and what you want from the process can be something we figure out together over time.

  • It’s not uncommon to worry that slowing down to look more closely at your experience will be destabilizing. In our work together, we’ll move at a pace that feels tolerable. You won’t be pushed to go further than you’re ready to, and we’ll speak openly about how the process is feeling as we go.

  • Skepticism is understandable, especially if you’ve lived with anxiety for a long time or worked with a therapist before. Therapy isn’t a quick fix, but it can create the conditions for meaningful change—especially when the focus includes both present symptoms and underlying patterns.

  • Yes—therapy for anxiety can be a useful way to explore and address the emotional and psychological sources of physical symptoms, such as muscle tension, restlessness, or sleep issues. Therapy can also support people who experience panic episodes—treatment for panic attacks often begins by addressing emotional patterns.

Begin with a Conversation

If you are looking for a therapist for anxiety in New York, I invite you to schedule a free consultation. This 15-minute phone call is an opportunity to ask questions, discuss what you’re experiencing, and get a sense of how we might work together. There’s no obligation—just a chance to see if therapy feels like the right next step for you.