Anxiety Therapy
for High-Achievers & Perfectionists
Serving New Jersey, New York, & Florida
You're doing all the expected things—going to work, paying bills, keeping up with relationships. On the outside, you look fine. But inside, there's a steady worry. Thoughts race and won't stop. Your chest feels tight and it never fully eases. You're always tired from being "on" all the time.
You've gotten good at hiding your anxiety. But that doesn’t make it any lighter.
If you're tired of struggling alone, therapy can help you understand these feelings and find real relief.
What High-Functioning Anxiety Really Looks Like
High-functioning anxiety doesn't always look like panic attacks or staying in bed all day. It's quieter than that. It's the constant mental checklist. The overthinking every conversation. The feeling like you're always waiting for something bad to happen.
You might relate if you:
Look calm and capable on the outside, but feel anxious and overwhelmed on the inside
Have trouble relaxing, even when there's "nothing to worry about"
Overanalyze interactions and replay conversations in your head
Feel like you need to control everything to feel safe
Struggle with perfectionism or fear of disappointing others
Experience physical symptoms like tension, fatigue, or digestive issues
Feel guilty for being anxious when "things are fine"
Worry that if you let your guard down, everything will fall apart
You're not broken. You're human. And there are reasons you feel this way.
Understanding Where Your Anxiety Comes From
Anxiety doesn't just appear out of nowhere. Often, it's been forming over years—rooted in experiences, relationships, and messages you've internalized about yourself and the world.
The "Seeds" That Were Planted
Maybe you grew up in an environment where:
You had to be hyper-aware of others' emotions to feel safe
Mistakes weren't allowed or love felt conditional
You learned early that the world wasn't entirely safe or predictable
Your needs or feelings were minimized or dismissed
These experiences taught you to be vigilant. To scan for danger. To hold it all together. Those survival strategies helped you then—but now, they're running in the background, keeping you on edge even when there's no real threat.
Understanding the "Why" Changes Everything
In therapy, we don't just manage symptoms. We explore why your anxiety shows up the way it does.
Understanding the roots of your anxiety—the patterns, the beliefs, the early experiences—helps you respond to it differently. Not by trying to fight it or ignore it, but by making sense of it and loosening its grip.
How Therapy
Can Help You Find Relief
At Montclair Counseling Collective, we work with adults who experience generalized anxiety—the kind that's been with you for a while, shaped by your history and experiences.
Together, we'll:
Understand Your Current Anxiety
We'll start by exploring what anxiety looks like for you right now—your triggers, your patterns, and how it's affecting your life.
Uncover the Roots
Over time, we'll look back at where these patterns began. Not to dwell on the past, but to gain insight and understanding. When you see why you're anxious, it becomes less confusing and more manageable.
Build New Ways of Relating to Anxiety
You'll learn to recognize anxiety when it shows up, understand what it's trying to tell you, and respond in ways that don't keep you stuck in cycles of worry and exhaustion.
Develop Coping Strategies for the Present
If your anxiety is newer or tied to current stressors (relationships, work, world events), we'll also focus on practical tools to help you cope and find stability.
Create Space for Healing
Therapy is a place where you don't have to have it all together. Where you can explore, reflect, and be honest about what you're carrying—without judgment or pressure.
A Psychodynamic & Relational Approach to Anxiety
We’ll use a psychodynamic and relational framework, which means we'll explore not just WHAT you're anxious about, but WHY anxiety has become such a big part of your experience.
What This Looks Like:
We'll explore your past experiences and how they've shaped your present-day anxiety. Not to specifically blame anyone, but to understand the patterns that were formed and how they're still showing up.
We'll examine your relationships—with others and with yourself. Often, anxiety is connected to how we learned to navigate connection, safety, and expectations.
We'll go at your pace. There's no rush. Healing happens through reflection, insight, and connection—not through forcing change before you're ready.
This approach is especially helpful for people who want to understand the "why" behind their anxiety, not just learn coping skills. (Though we'll work on those too when it's helpful.)
Is This Therapy Right for You?
This therapy is designed for adults who are high-functioning but quietly struggling. You might be a good fit if:
✓ You're able to manage daily responsibilities, but anxiety is always humming in the background
✓ You want to understand why you feel anxious, not just how to "manage" it
✓ You're open to exploring your past and how it's shaped your present
✓ You're tired of just coping and want deeper, lasting change
✓ You're willing to slow down and reflect, even when it feels uncomfortable
✓ You're curious about yourself and ready to do the work
Questions You Might Have About Anxiety Therapy
How is this different from CBT or other anxiety treatments?
CBT focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors in the present. Psychodynamic therapy goes deeper—exploring why those thoughts and patterns exist in the first place. Both approaches have value, but if you want to understand the roots of your anxiety (not just manage symptoms), this approach may resonate more.
Do you prescribe medication?
No, I'm a psychologist, not a psychiatrist, so I don't prescribe medication. However, I'm happy to collaborate with your prescriber if medication is part of your treatment plan.
How long does therapy take?
It varies. Some clients notice shifts within a few months, while others work with me for a year or more. Therapy isn't about rushing—it's about creating lasting change at a pace that works for you.
Is therapy virtual or in-person?
All sessions are conducted virtually via a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. This allows you to access care from anywhere in New Jersey, New York, or Florida.
What if my anxiety isn't "bad enough"?
If anxiety is affecting your quality of life—even if you're still functioning—it's worth addressing. You don't need to be in crisis to deserve support.
Do you accept insurance?
Please contact me directly to discuss insurance and payment options.
You Don't Have to Keep Carrying This Alone
You've been managing your anxiety for a long time—probably longer than anyone realizes. You've learned to push through, stay busy, keep it together.
But you don't have to keep doing it alone.
Therapy can help you understand why you feel this way, find relief that actually lasts, and build a different relationship with yourself—one that isn't rooted in constant vigilance and worry.
You deserve support. You deserve to feel lighter.
