Finding an Anxiety Therapist in NYC

Ever feel like your search for Anxiety Therapy NYC is a blur? You’re not alone—so many of us get caught in that swirl of choices before finding the right support.

Photo by Taylor Deas-Melesh; uploaded from Unsplash on 4/18/25.

If you’ve been searching for anxiety therapy in NYC, you’re not alone—and ironically, the search itself can be enough to trigger even more anxiety. The endless scroll of therapist directories, recommendations from friends, and wondering who’s really going to get it... it’s a lot. Especially if you’re already feeling overwhelmed, spiraling with racing thoughts, or stuck in a loop of self-doubt.

I get it—both professionally and personally. I’m Eric Hovis, a licensed mental health counselor offering Anxiety Therapy in NYC, and I work with clients who are tired of feeling like they’re managing anxiety on the surface while something deeper keeps pulling them into the same patterns again and again.

I also remember my own moment of clarity years ago, standing on a subway platform. I used to constantly get shoulder-checked in the subway—like I was always in someone’s way without realizing it. And then, after doing some deep internal work on my anxiety, I noticed... it stopped happening. I was finally taking up my full space—physically, emotionally, energetically. And people around me could feel it. We could finally share the space. It’s that kind of transformation I want to help my clients access, too.

When NYC Becomes a Pressure Cooker

New York has a way of making us feel like we need to be somebody—quickly, publicly, and preferably while looking like we’ve already arrived. For a lot of people I work with, this shows up as anxiety masked by high performance. You’re functioning. You’re showing up. You might even be succeeding by every external measure. But inside? It can feel frantic. Unsteady. Like you’re one minor setback away from a spiral.

And that spiral can look like:

• Constant tension in your chest or jaw

• Thoughts that won’t quit, no matter how much you analyze them

• A relentless fear of messing something up

• Panic that strikes at the worst possible times

• Exhaustion from trying to manage everything

I often work with folks who are smart, thoughtful, and used to leaning on their intellect to get through hard things. It’s a strategy that may have worked for years. But anxiety, especially when it’s chronic or rooted in earlier experiences, doesn’t usually resolve by thinking harder. In fact, trying to think your way out can sometimes make it worse.

How Anxiety Therapy in NYC with Me Is Different

My approach to Anxiety Therapy in NYC is not about quick fixes or surface-level coping strategies. While those have their place, I’m interested in something deeper: helping you feel safe enough to get to the root of what’s driving your anxiety.

Let’s pause and breathe together—this is what it looks like when Anxiety Therapy NYC shifts from your mind into your body for real relief.

Photo by Darius Bashar; Uploaded from Unsplash on 4/18/25.

That means working with more than just your thoughts—it means working with your body, your past experiences, your inner emotional system, and how you've had to adapt to survive. We do this gently, at your pace, with full respect for what’s been protective in the past.

I use an integration of:

• EMDR Therapy – to target the deeper emotional learning that’s stored in your nervous system and gently release old patterns.

• Internal Family Systems (IFS) – to help you relate to the different parts of yourself (like the anxious part, the perfectionist part, the overwhelmed part) with more curiosity and compassion.

• Mindfulness & Experiential Practices – to help you tune into what your body is saying and shift from managing anxiety to relating to it differently.

Often, there’s a profound shift when clients start to see not just that they’re anxious—but how they’re relating to their anxiety. Are you trying to control it? Avoid it? Fix it? Shame it? When that relationship starts to soften, things begin to change. And the old strategy of trying to outthink your anxiety gets replaced with something wiser, more grounded, and more connected.

“I’m Spiraling and I Can’t Get Out of It”

That’s a phrase I hear a lot—along with:

• “I’m stuck in a loop.”

• “My brain won’t stop.”

• “I’m frantic but frozen.”

• “I keep obsessing about conversations or mistakes.”

• “I feel like I’m falling behind in life.”

These are more than just uncomfortable moments—they’re signs that your nervous system is trying to protect you. But if you were never taught how to feel safe being your full self—emotionally, relationally, even physically—then your system may be stuck in a high-alert mode that doesn’t know how to turn off.

Part of our work together is helping your nervous system feel enough safety, spaciousness, and support to shift out of those loops.

Anxiety in NYC Has Its Own Flavor

Living in this city can be both exhilarating and brutal. There’s a kind of constant buzz—an energy that can push us to excel, but also wear us down. Some common NYC-specific anxieties I’ve seen in my practice include:

City stress wearing you down? Anxiety Therapy NYC can help you find calm even in the middle of NYC’s nonstop hustle.

Photo by Hernan Sanchez; Uploaded from Unsplash on 4/18/25.

• Anxiety about asserting your identity – Especially if you’re queer, trans, or part of a marginalized group, navigating how to be yourself here can be intense.

• Anxiety about relationships – Not just dating, but also friendships, work relationships, chosen family. So many clients feel unsure if they’re allowed to need support—or how to ask for it.

• Anxiety about success and performance – That pull to always be productive, always be “on,” always be climbing. Even when it feels hollow.

• Political anxiety – Which has only intensified in recent years. (You can read more in my blog series on political anxiety)

• Post-trauma nervous system hijack – For many, the anxiety isn’t just “about something”—it is the aftereffect of trauma. Here’s a guide to grounding I’ve written that might help.

What to Expect in Anxiety Therapy in NYC

Therapy with me isn’t about “fixing” you. It’s about building a relationship with yourself that’s rooted in safety, clarity, and compassion. I want to help you:

• Feel less stuck in spirals and obsessive loops

• Move from managing your anxiety to understanding it

• Loosen the grip of perfectionism and overcontrol

• Discover the emotional roots underneath your anxious patterns

• Develop a more empowered, embodied presence in your life

We’ll likely start with some grounding and mindfulness tools to stabilize things. From there, we may explore your early experiences, relational patterns, or belief systems that are still running in the background. I’ll follow your pace—but I’ll also gently challenge when I sense something important that’s ready to shift.

And along the way, I’ll keep it real. This work can be deep, but it doesn’t have to be heavy all the time. There’s room for insight, curiosity, and even humor here.

You Don’t Have to Stay in Survival Mode, Anxiety Therapy in NYC can help

If you’re here reading this, there’s likely a part of you that’s ready for something more. More than just white-knuckling it through the week. More than another temporary strategy. More than constantly questioning whether you’re doing enough.

I believe healing is possible. I’ve seen it again and again—in my clients and in myself.

If you're looking for Anxiety Therapy in NYC, I’d be honored to walk with you. You can learn more about my approach below or reach out to schedule a free consultation. No pressure, no hard sell—just a chance to see if working together feels like the right fit.

You deserve to take up your full space. Not just on the subway platform—but in your life.