Where science,

meets spirit.

At Upstate Center for OCD & Anxiety, we help people find steadier ground when life begins to feel narrow, overwhelming, or ruled by fear. Whether you’re feeling caught in compulsions, worn down by constant worry, or avoiding the very experiences that matter most to you, you are not broken — and you are not alone.

Therapy here is about more than learning to cope. It’s about reconnecting with what matters, building flexibility in the face of fear, and reclaiming a life guided by your values. When you’re ready to turn toward what’s been holding you back, we’ll walk that path with you — thoughtfully, compassionately, and at your pace.

Psychotherapy Services & Specialties

What We Treat

  • Fears and phobias that make your world feel small.

  • Health anxiety is characterized by excessive worrying and preoccupation with having a serious medical condition. Individuals with health anxiety often misinterpret normal bodily sensations as signs of a severe illness and constantly seek reassurance from medical professionals or engage in excessive health-related behaviors, such as repeatedly checking their body for signs of illness or researching medical conditions online. These measures may provide temporary relief but do not alleviate the underlying anxiety.

  • People with OCD have no control over what intrusive thoughts will pop into their brain. These thoughts can occur very frequently—often with no rhyme or reason. This is very distressing to the individual, and their compulsions are an effort to “push away” those obsessions and/or prevent them from happening again.

  • What are Panic Attacks?

    A panic attack is defined as the emergence of four or more physiological sensations (e.g., heart race, dizziness, light-headedness, stomach distress, trembling, feelings of derealization) peaking in intensity within 10 minutes.  More information on panic attacks here.

    What is Panic Disorder?

    Panic attacks are common in all anxiety disorders and in the general public (approximately one-third of the population has had a panic attack in the past year). However, those who suffer from panic disorder, the occurrence of even a single panic attack may be so distressing that they develop an intense and persistent fear of having another one. They fear a catastrophic outcome will occur (i.e. I'm going to lose control of myself, I'm going to die, I'm going to go crazy and/or I'm going to embarrass myself).

    Often, people with Panic Disorder tend to avoid situations that might elicit a panic attack (called Agoraphobia). Examples of avoided situations: locations (airplanes, traffic, large open spaces); foods (caffeine, sugar, alcohol); emotions (excitement, anger, anxiety); and activities (exercise, sex).

  • Social Anxiety (or Social Phobia)Social anxiety can significantly impact a person's daily life and functioning. It may lead to avoidance of social situations or enduring them with great discomfort. This avoidance can interfere with forming and maintaining relationships, participating in social or professional activities, pursuing educational or career opportunities, and overall well-being.

  • Intense fears of needles, driving, flying, emetophobia, etc.

  • Accommodation reduction coaching helps loved ones learn how to support recovery without unintentionally reinforcing anxiety or OCD. Together, we identify patterns that keep fear in place and build practical, compassionate ways to respond that encourage independence, flexibility, and confidence over time. This approach supports both the individual struggling and the people who care about them.

  • We provide evidence-based care that is thoughtfully adapted for neurodivergent individuals, including those with ADHD, autism, AuDHD, and sensory processing differences. Our approach emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and respect for individual nervous systems, learning styles, and lived experience. Treatment is tailored to support meaningful change without asking clients to mask or move away from who they are.

What We Do Differently

At Upstate Center for OCD & Anxiety, we believe effective treatment lives at the intersection of science, humanity, and hope. Our work goes beyond symptom management to help you build a life that feels meaningful and expansive — even in the presence of anxiety, uncertainty, or fear.

We use gold-standard, evidence-based treatments including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), layered thoughtfully with compassion, collaboration, and respect for your lived experience. This means treatment is both structured and deeply human — grounded in research, while attuned to who you are, what you value, and how change actually unfolds.

Rather than promising certainty or quick relief, we focus on cultivating openness and grit — to gain the confidence that you can move forward, adapt, and live well even when answers aren’t clear and anxiety is present. Progress here is steady, intentional, and rooted in learning how to meet uncertainty with flexibility, courage, and care.

Our work is active, layered, and evidence-based, designed to support real, lasting change.

  • Grounded in ERP and ACT — gold-standard care for OCD and anxiety

  • Human-centered and collaborative — tailored to your pace, values, and lived experience

  • Hope-rooted — building confidence in your ability to face uncertainty, not eliminate it

  • Focused on real life — helping you move toward what matters, even when fear is present

Booking

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Schedule an appointment with our expert clinicians and start your journey toward healing. Whether you're seeking therapy, assessments, or consultation, we’re here to support you with compassionate, specialized care. Request a session today.

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