Anxiety therapy in Manhattan

Depression and Anxiety are probably the most commonly talked about mental illnesses today, affecting nearly 40% of the US. Although anxiety and depression can feel different with different symptom,s they are both mood disorders, are often experienced together, and are treated in a similar way. Psychotherapy is widely considered an effective treatment for both depressive and anxiety disorders. A study from 1998 found the following:

“Within 4 to 6 weeks after starting psychotherapy, attending support groups, or combining these therapies, up to 80% of people who receive treatment for depression see an improvement in their symptoms” (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, 1998)

Anxiety

At CAP Anxiety is the most common reason for people seeking treatment. Anxiety can be a blanket term for any type of stress, worry, social anxiety, or panic. Although all of those things can be a part of your experience when having anxiety they do not necessarily mean you have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders consist of GAD (generalized anxiety d/o), Panic d/o, OCD (obsessive-compulsive d/o), Phobias, and PTSD to name a few.

Generally, anxiety creates feelings of nervousness, worry, or dread about something that has yet to happen. It’s like feeling a negative outcome before said outcome happens. The tough thing about anxiety is that the feared outcome may never happen it is the ruminating that tends to cause the most suffering.

We see anxiety as connecting two things that are not actually connected. In doing so we can’t logically make our way out of the rumination on possible outcomes. Therapy can help take you out of your thoughts and into your body where all of that stress is stored. Through experiential approaches, we do more than reality test. We help people to shift their felt experience based on the present moment versus fears of an imagined future.

Understanding Anxiety

Anxiety isn’t just “nervousness” — it’s often a signal from the body and psyche that something needs attention, care, or integration. While occasional stress is part of being human, chronic anxiety can feel like living in a constant state of vigilance, dread, or overwhelm — often without a clear cause.

At Creative Arts Psychotherapy, we understand anxiety as more than a set of symptoms. We view it as a response rooted in the nervous system, shaped by your history, relationships, and environment. Our approach helps clients explore what anxiety is trying to communicate — and gently build the capacity to respond to life with more flexibility, clarity, and grounding.

Common Symptoms of Anxiety

  • Racing thoughts or constant worrying

  • Difficulty concentrating or sleeping

  • Panic attacks or shortness of breath

  • Muscle tension or digestive discomfort

  • Feeling out of control or “trapped in your head”

  • Avoidance of certain people, places, or experiences

  • A deep fear of something going wrong — even when things seem okay

Why Am I Anxious?

Anxiety can arise from:

  • Unresolved trauma, including early attachment wounds

  • Chronic stress or burnout

  • Perfectionism or fear of failure

  • Social pressures or identity-based oppression

  • A nervous system that’s learned to stay in survival mode

You are not broken. Anxiety is adaptive — it’s how your system learned to protect you. In therapy, we help you slow down enough to hear the signal beneath the noise.

Anxiety Therapy for New York Residents

In addition to the stress of everyday life, New Yorkers have the unique experience of living in one of the busiest, most populated, and most expensive cities in the world. In 2021, 35.8% of adults in New York reported symptoms of anxiety or depression (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Here at CAP, we cater our treatment to the diverse populations in the city we serve.