When anxiety won’t let your mind rest , & reassurance never lastsANXIETY THERAPY IN NYC & ONLINE
Specialized treatment for OCD, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), and anxiety disorders
Virtual Therapy throughout NY, CA, FL, CT and NJ.
Living with anxiety can look like this
Tired of intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and compulsions controlling your life?
Do you avoid mirrors or social situations, because the anxiety feels unbearable about how you perceive your appearance?
Does reassurance work temporarily and the intrusive thoughts come back stronger?
Are you exhausted from the amount of time anxiety takes from your daily life?
Why this feels so hard to change on your own
Anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and compulsions don’t just create distress — they slowly shrink your world. You might find yourself avoiding situations you once enjoyed, overthinking every decision, or feeling disconnected from yourself and others. Over time, the constant mental noise can leave you exhausted, ashamed, and unsure how to move forward.
Many people blame themselves for not being able to “push through” or make the thoughts stop. But anxiety disorders like OCD and BDD are designed to keep you stuck in cycles of fear, reassurance, and self-doubt. Willpower alone isn’t enough — and it was never meant to be.
Therapy offers a space where these patterns can be understood and gently interrupted, so anxiety no longer runs your life.
What You Can Expect in Working With Me:
A clear understanding of your anxiety patterns
We’ll identify the specific cycles keeping intrusive thoughts, compulsions, reassurance-seeking, or avoidance in place — so you’re no longer guessing what’s happening or why it keeps returning.There is room here for shame, self-doubt, and the parts of you that feel “broken.” Instead of pushing them away, we’ll work with them compassionately and without judgment.Support that doesn’t shame or overwhelm you
Many clients come in feeling broken or frustrated with themselves. We’ll make space for that, while also building compassion, clarity, and steadiness instead of self-criticism.Evidence-based tools you can actually use
You’ll learn how to respond differently to intrusive thoughts and urges — without reassurance, mental checking, or fighting your mind — in a way that’s structured, gradual, and sustainable.Rebuilding trust in yourself over time
As you practice responding differently, confidence grows — not because anxiety disappears, but because you learn you can handle it without your life shrinking.Support for reclaiming the parts of life anxiety has taken over
Relationships, work, identity, and values often get sidelined. Our work focuses on helping you move back toward the life you want, even with discomfort present.
For many people, these patterns have been present for years — sometimes even after past treatment attempts.
THERAPY SERVICES
Experience healing & transformation from anxiety, from a comprehensive, holistic and evidence- based approach to therapy.
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Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Feeling trapped in an endless loop of checking, comparing, avoiding, and trying to feel “sure” about your appearance — only to feel worse afterward?
BDD isn’t about vanity; it’s about intrusive doubt that never fully settles.
Together, we work on changing how you respond to these thoughts so your life no longer revolves around managing them. -
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Intrusive thoughts that feel urgent, disturbing, or impossible to ignore can take over your day — especially when compulsions bring only brief relief.
OCD feeds on certainty and reassurance, which is why insight alone isn’t enough.
Our work focuses on helping you respond differently to these thoughts so they lose their grip over time. -
Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors
Skin picking or hair pulling can feel automatic, shame-filled, and incredibly hard to stop — even when you want to.
These behaviors aren’t a lack of willpower; they’re patterns tied to anxiety and regulation.Treatment helps you interrupt the cycle with awareness, support, and new ways of responding.
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Anxiety Disorders
Constant worry, physical tension, racing thoughts, and fear about your health or how you’re perceived can quietly take over your life.
Avoidance and reassurance often make anxiety stronger over time.
Therapy helps you build a new relationship with anxiety so it no longer runs the show. -
Body Image Concerns
In a world that constantly comments on appearance, it’s easy to feel disconnected from your body or caught in comparison.
Body image struggles can quietly shape how you see yourself, move through relationships, and show up in daily life.
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Self-Esteem Issues
When self-doubt and harsh inner criticism follow you everywhere, even success doesn’t feel secure. Low self-esteem often develops alongside anxiety and perfectionism — not because you’re failing, but because you’ve learned to measure yourself harshly.
Therapy helps you build a steadier, more compassionate relationship with yourself.
Hi, I’m Robyn Stern — Providing Anxiety, BDD, and OCD Therapy in NYC
Starting therapy can feel daunting — especially if anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or compulsions have already taken so much from your life. You may find yourself stuck in cycles of overthinking, avoidance, or reassurance-seeking, wondering why insight alone hasn’t been enough to make things change.
For many people, these patterns have been present for years — sometimes even after past treatment attempts. OCD, BDD, and anxiety disorders are persistent conditions that can quietly take over, leaving you exhausted, discouraged, and disconnected from yourself and others.
I’ve been through my own treatment and recovery from anxiety and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Because I’ve walked this path myself, I understand how confusing and isolating it can feel — and how important it is to work with someone who truly understands these cycles from the inside out.
That lived experience shapes how I show up in the therapy room: steady, compassionate, and grounded in what actually helps.
Therapy with me is structured, collaborative, and rooted in evidence-based care. We focus on changing how you respond to intrusive thoughts, urges, and anxiety — so they gradually lose their power, and you can move back toward the life you want to live.
You don’t have to be fixed, rushed, or perfectly motivated. You just don’t have to do this alone.
Kind Words from my Colleagues
How this Works:
A clear, supportive process — especially if you’ve been living with these patterns for a long time.
STEP 01
Book your free call
We’ll talk briefly about what’s been showing up for you and what you’re hoping for — without pressure or expectation. This call is simply a chance to see if working together feels like a good fit.
STEP 02
Your Own Path
If we decide to move forward, we’ll create a treatment plan that’s responsive to your specific patterns — not a one-size-fits-all approach. The pace is intentional, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based care.
STEP 03
Healing & Renewal
Our work focuses on helping you respond differently to anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and urges — so your life gradually expands instead of shrinking around them. Progress looks like steadiness, confidence, and greater freedom to live according to your values, even when discomfort is present.
You don’t have to be defined by anxiety or a diagnosis
You deserve to be seen as a whole person, not just your symptoms or the thoughts that feel loud right now. Therapy isn’t about becoming someone different; it’s about building tools that help you feel more grounded, confident, and connected to what matters to you, even when anxiety shows up.
If you’re tired of intrusive thoughts and compulsions running your life, support is available (and you don’t have to be certain or “ready” to take the next step).
