Anxiety Therapy
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Anxiety Therapy in New Jersey, New York, and Online
Most people don’t come in saying, “I have an anxiety disorder.”
They say things like:
“I feel like I’m crawling out of my skin.”
“I can’t relax.”
“My mind won’t stop.”
“I’m always worrying about something.”
It’s constant. The thoughts keep looping. Your body feels on edge. Even when things are “fine,” it doesn’t feel fine.
And over time, it gets exhausting.
What Is Anxiety?
Our bodies are built to look out for danger.
Anxiety is that system doing its job. It helps us stay alert, prepare, and respond when something matters.
The problem is when that system gets stuck in the “on” position.
Instead of turning on when you need it and settling when you don’t, it keeps firing. Your mind keeps scanning. Your body stays activated.
You might notice it physically:
- Your heart racing
- Your breathing getting shallow or tight
- Your chest feeling constricted
- Your stomach off, nauseous, or unsettled
Even when there’s no clear danger, your body feels like something is wrong.
Anxiety itself is not bad. In the right amount, it can help you perform and stay focused. But when it goes on too long or gets too intense, it can start to work against you. Instead of helping you act, it can leave you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or even paralyzed.
Anxiety also tends to create loops. Your mind starts trying to solve or prevent something, but instead of landing anywhere, it keeps circling. The more you try to think your way out of it, the more stuck it can feel.
And understandably, people start to cope by avoiding. Avoiding situations. Avoiding decisions. Sometimes even using alcohol or other substances to take the edge off. In the short term, that can feel like relief. Over time, it tends to make anxiety stronger and more persistent.
Another way to think about anxiety is like a smoke alarm.
It’s designed to go off when there’s danger. But sometimes it goes off when you’re just making toast.
When that happens, it can feel urgent and real, like you need to get out immediately. But not every alarm means there’s a fire.
Part of the work is learning how to recognize the signal, understand what it’s telling you, and respond in a way that actually helps.
How Anxiety Can Show Up
Anxiety shows up differently for everyone. For some people it’s constant worry or overthinking. For others it’s more specific:
- Social anxiety, feeling judged or avoiding interactions
- Performance or test anxiety
- Panic attacks or sudden surges of intense fear
- Health anxiety
- Intrusive thoughts that are hard to let go of
- Difficulty making decisions
- Trouble relaxing, even when things are going well
Many people experience a mix of these. However it shows up, the common thread is the same: your system is working overtime, and it is not settling on its own.
Our Expertise in Anxiety Treatment
The CBT Center was founded by Dr. Michelle Drapkin, a licensed psychologist with specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Dr. Drapkin and Dr. Andrew Keenan are both board-certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), the oldest and most rigorous board certification body in psychology, founded in 1947. ABPP certification requires credentials review, peer-reviewed practice samples, and a formal oral examination. It is not a certificate course. It is a peer-verified demonstration of advanced clinical competence in the specialty.
Dr. Drapkin and Jamie Schwartz are also Diplomates of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (A-CBT), the leading certifying organization specifically for cognitive and behavioral therapy.
Dr. Drapkin is a member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) and will be presenting at the ADAA 2026 Annual Conference in Chicago in a State of the Art Clinical session, a designation reserved for presentations on the leading edge of evidence-based practice.
Anxiety is not a side specialty here. It is the core of what we do.
How We Treat Anxiety
The first step is noticing.
Learning to recognize when anxiety is showing up in your body and your mind, instead of getting pulled into it automatically.
And a big part of that is understanding this: just because you think something does not make it true.
From there, we help you step out of the loop.
We work together to understand what matters to you and where anxiety has been getting in the way. Then we focus on helping you move toward those things in ways that actually make sense for your life.
We do not try to eliminate anxiety completely. That is not realistic, and it is not the goal. Instead, we help you change your relationship to it.
That often means learning how to approach instead of avoid. Avoidance makes sense in the moment. It reduces anxiety quickly. But over time, it tends to make anxiety stronger and more limiting. So we work on gradually facing the things that feel hard, in a structured and supported way.
We use evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), exposure-based strategies, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Motivational Interviewing, always tailored to you, not a script.
Why Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Is the Gold Standard for Anxiety
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is widely recognized as the most effective psychological treatment for anxiety disorders. That is not marketing language. That is what the research shows.
A major meta-analysis examining 41 randomized controlled trials involving over 2,800 patients found that people receiving CBT for anxiety disorders were nearly three times more likely to respond to treatment than those in placebo conditions. Effect sizes were especially strong for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), OCD, and panic disorder.
A comprehensive review of 269 meta-analyses, one of the largest reviews of psychotherapy research ever conducted, found that CBT has its strongest evidence base specifically for anxiety disorders, outperforming other approaches in the majority of comparison studies.
And critically, the gains hold. A systematic review published in JAMA Psychiatry found that the benefits of CBT for anxiety disorders were maintained long after treatment ended, with many patients continuing to improve even after therapy concluded.
We use CBT because the evidence is overwhelming. And because we see it work every single day.
What Anxiety Therapy Looks Like in New Jersey, New York, and Online
Anxiety therapy at The CBT Center follows a clear structure, but it is never rigid.
We start each session with a check-in: what has been coming up, what has been feeling hard, and where anxiety has been showing up most. At times, we may also use brief measures like the GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale) to track progress over time so we are grounded in what is actually changing.
From there, we get to work.
We often start by getting clear on what matters to you. What do you want your life to look like if anxiety were not running the show? That helps guide everything we do.
We build skills like mindfulness and awareness so you can notice anxiety without immediately getting pulled into it.
And we focus a lot on approach. That might mean gradually facing situations you have been avoiding, testing out feared outcomes, or working through exposures in a way that feels structured and doable. The goal is not to overwhelm you. It is to help you build confidence and flexibility over time.
For worry, we sometimes take a counterintuitive approach. Instead of fighting thoughts all day, we may set aside specific time to worry on purpose. That often helps contain the loop and gives you more control over when and how it shows up.
We also wrap up sessions with a look forward. Together, we identify small, realistic steps to practice between sessions so the work carries into your daily life.
Over time, people often notice they are less stuck in their thoughts, more willing to face things they have been avoiding, and better able to handle anxiety when it shows up.
Who We Work With
We work with adults across a wide range of anxiety presentations. That includes:
- People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) who worry constantly and cannot seem to shut their mind off
- High-achievers and perfectionists whose anxiety is tied to performance, fear of failure, or impossibly high standards
- People with social anxiety who avoid situations, dread judgment, or struggle with interactions that others seem to navigate easily
- People experiencing panic attacks or living in fear of the next one
- Those dealing with health anxiety who find themselves caught in cycles of worry, checking, or reassurance-seeking
- People whose anxiety has started to limit their work, relationships, or daily life in ways they can no longer ignore
You do not need a formal diagnosis to work with us. If anxiety has been getting in your way, that is enough of a reason to reach out.
When to Consider Anxiety Therapy
If you’re here reading this, something brought you here, for you, or for someone you care about.
Anxiety has a way of making even this step feel hard.
You might be thinking:
“What if this doesn’t help?”
“What if I don’t know what to say?”
“What if I’m too anxious to even start?”
That is not unusual. In fact, it is part of how anxiety works.
We often tell patients this: we get a little nervous too. Not in the same way, but because we care and we are looking forward to meeting you. That mix of anticipation and nerves is something we understand.
You do not need to feel ready. You do not need to have the right words.
You just need a place to begin.
Get Started
We serve clients in New Jersey, New York, and across 40 or more states through PSYPACT, a national compact that allows licensed psychologists to practice across state lines. Wherever you are, we can likely work together.
We’ll follow up within a few hours to connect, learn a bit more about what you’re looking for, and help you figure out next steps.
Related Services
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is the most researched, most effective talk therapy available. We don't just use CBT — we're board-certified in it. This is what we do, and we're really good at it.
Individual Therapy
One clinician, focused entirely on you. Full-hour sessions, real follow-through between appointments, and a team that actually picks up the phone.
Virtual Therapy
Great care shouldn't depend on where you live. We're licensed in NJ, NY, and 40+ states — so wherever you are, we can likely work together.
Stress Management Therapy
What you’re feeling matters — and so does how you manage it. We use evidence-based techniques to help you reduce stress and regain balance.
OCD Therapy
You don’t have to stay stuck in the pattern. With the right support and strategies, it’s possible to regain control, build resilience, and move toward a calmer, more balanced mind.
Depression Therapy
Depression lies to you — it tells you nothing will help and you don't deserve better. We know that's not true, and we'll help you find your way back.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will usually start to notice small shifts first. You may feel less caught in your thoughts, a little more able to pause before reacting, or more willing to face things you have been avoiding. Over time, those changes add up. We also track progress directly using structured measures, so we are not just guessing.
That is completely okay. We are not here to take anything away from you. Most coping strategies exist for a reason. Part of the work is understanding what is helping, what might be getting in the way, and where you might want more flexibility. We go at your pace.
Sometimes facing anxiety can feel uncomfortable at first, especially when we begin working on avoidance. But we move at a pace that makes sense for you. The goal is not to overwhelm you. It is to help you build confidence and skills so anxiety becomes more manageable over time.
No. Treatment is collaborative. We decide together what to focus on and when. Facing fears is often part of the process, but it is done gradually and with full support. Nothing happens before you are ready.
Anxiety is a normal human response. The goal is not to eliminate it completely, but to change your relationship to it so it feels more manageable and less limiting. Most people find that anxiety becomes much quieter and far less in control of their decisions.
When anxiety gets stuck in a loop, your mind and body stay activated even when there is no immediate danger. Part of treatment is helping your system learn how to settle again, and giving you the tools to help it along when it does not settle on its own.
Anxiety is a normal emotion that everyone experiences. An anxiety disorder is when that anxiety becomes persistent, difficult to control, and starts interfering with daily life, work, or relationships. You do not need a formal diagnosis to benefit from therapy. If anxiety is getting in your way, that is what matters.
It depends on what is driving your anxiety and what your goals are. Many people notice meaningful improvement in 10 to 16 sessions. Some anxiety presentations, especially those involving longer-standing patterns or avoidance, may take more time. We talk about realistic expectations early so you know what to plan for.
Not always. Many people make significant progress with therapy alone. For others, a combination of therapy and medication is most effective. We are happy to talk through what might make sense for you and, if relevant, coordinate with your prescribing provider.
Yes. We offer virtual therapy for clients throughout New Jersey, New York, and more than 40 states through PSYPACT. Sessions are conducted via a secure video platform and are just as structured and effective as in-person care.
Anxiety treatment is available virtually throughout NJ, NY and 40+ states.