Anxiety Therapy in Cobble Hill, NY Find Support & Relief
Hi, I’m Carol Covelli, LCSW
Anxiety can show up in so many ways—racing thoughts, tension that won’t let up, or a constant feeling of unease. Below, you can find out more about what anxiety is and how it affects you, as well as how therapy can help.
If you’re looking for support, I offer therapy to help you work through these challenges and feel more at ease. Click below to request a free 30-minute consultation.
I am a licensed therapist located in Brooklyn, NY and provide psychotherapy to clients virtually all across New York, New Jersey and Florida. Currently, I only work online with clients and do not meet with clients in person.
I look forward to hearing from you!
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural response developed through evolution that helps you survive life-threatening situations by preparing your body and mind to react quickly to the danger you’re facing.
It’s like your personal internal alarm system.
But for some people, their internal alarm goes off in situations that aren’t truly dangerous. According to the WHO, as of 2019, anxiety disorders are the world’s most common mental health issue, with 301 million people globally experience an anxiety disorder where anxiety interferes with an individuals personal, school and/or professional life.
When anxiety becomes an issue, it’s presence can range from an occasional disruption to an imposing limitation to the life you want to live.
For some, anxiety can feel like a constant low key hum running in the background of their life— for others, their anxiety can feel like a blaring alarm of fright when they least expect it. Still others experience both. It’s like your internal alarm system reacts to a harmless shadow as though it’s a predator.
When anxiety shows up in these ways, it can feel confusing and even overwhelming, especially when your body is unable to register that you are safe.
Is It Normal Anxiety or an Anxiety Disorder?
Feeling anxious occasionally, and when circumstances call for anxiety to present itself, is normal. In fact, it can even be helpful—like motivating you to prepare for a big presentation or keeping you alert in situations where you need to be more vigilant.
However, for some people, anxiety doesn’t just show up in times of stress. It can arise in situations that are benign or inherently safe. This can leave you feeling on edge, confused, or even scared.
If you’ve noticed that anxiety:
• Interferes with your daily life, work, or relationships,
• Feels out of proportion to the situation,
• Leads you to avoid people or activities,
• Persists for weeks or months without improvement
consulting with a mental health professional can help you better understand what you’re experiencing and determine the best way forward.
How Anxiety Shows Up
Anxiety doesn’t affect everyone exactly the same, but these are some of the more commonly reported experiences:
Physical Signs: A racing heart, tightness in your chest, or difficulty breathing.
Thought Patterns: Repetitive fearful thoughts, imagining worst-case scenarios, or struggling to focus on what is happening in the moment.
Behavioral Changes: Avoiding situations, over-preparing to enter an anxiety-provoking situation, or needing to have a “safe person” with you.
For example, you may avoid driving, crowded areas, or certain situations because they make you feel “jittery”, or you might worry that “something bad will happen.” Or, you may fear attending social situations or engage in public speaking because you’re worried about being judged or scrutinized.
Why Do You Have an Anxiety Issue?
If anxiety is disrupting your life or you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder by a mental health professional, you may be wondering it’s cause. It’s often the case that the origins of an anxiety issue or disorder stem from multiple contributing factors.
Anxiety, in some instances, tends to run in families. However, a single “anxiety gene” has not been identified. Rather, several genes have been identified that contribute to your susceptibility to acquiring an anxiety disorder. This means that if someone in your family has an anxiety issue or disorder, the odds are potentially higher of you having one, as compared to someone else who does not have such family history.
But, be aware that the precipitants to an anxiety disorder are multifaceted, and not necessarily due to genetics alone.
In fact, another important aspect of experiencing problems with anxiety (and panic) relates to our individual life experiences. You may be more susceptible to anxiety or panic if we’ve been exposed to disturbing or difficult circumstances in the course of our life, particularly in childhood.
What I usually tell clients, is having a family history of an anxiety issue may make you more susceptible to developing an anxiety issue yourself.
But, your childhood environment and experiences can be a tipping point as to whether anxiety becomes an issue, and if it does, to what extent.
A Few Of These Environmental Factors Include
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Chronic Stress (Also Known As Burnout)
Long-term exposure to stress can make your mind and body more reactive to challenges.
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Thought Patterns
Internalizing the criticism or judgmental beliefs of others can lead to negative beliefs about yourself such as “I have to do everything perfectly” or “I’m a failure,” which can amplify anxiety.
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Trauma / Post-traumatic Stress
Past difficult, disturbing, or traumatic events can potentially make your brain more susceptible to being reactive to perceived threats in the present.
Common Myths About Anxiety
There are many misconceptions about anxiety. Let’s address a few:
“Anxiety is just being overly worried.”
Anxiety is more than worry—it’s a physical, emotional, and cognitive response that often feels uncontrollable.
“Managing or overcoming anxiety is a matter of willpower.”
Anxiety is a complex response of the mind and body that will push back when you try to plow through it. Managing it works best when education, understanding, processing past disturbing experiences or trauma, tools, and support are applied.
“Anxiety is a weakness.”
Anxiety is part of being human. It’s not a weakness—it’s your internal alarm system working overtime.
How Therapy Can Help
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CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
Based on the premise, what you think affects how your feelings and behavior, CBT focuses on scaling anxious feeling and practical skills to challenge and reframe anxious thoughts in order to develop healthier patterns and manage anxiety.
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Brainspotting, parts work and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
These, and other neuro-based therapies, address anxiety by identifying and processing the underlying experiences that are “stuck,” thereby fueling anxiety.
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Exposure Therapy
Helps you face situations that trigger anxiety in a manageable, incremental, safe, and supportive way, with a pre-prepared plan and skills.
These methods are designed not only to reduce anxiety but also to help you feel more present and steady in your daily life.
If anxiety has been holding you back and you’d like to explore how relief is possible for you, schedule a consultation today.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I am a licensed mental health professional focused on providing mental health care to individual women in midlife struggling with anxiety, stress, perfectionism, and life transitions who need to feel safe and supported. My approach integrates Brainspotting, EMDR, and mindfulness techniques to uncover and address deeper emotional challenges.
I also offer Brainspotting therapy intensives for clients seeking focused, transformative progress on a specific issue or challenge.
These specialized counseling services allow me to work deeply and collaboratively with my clients, tailoring each session to your individual needs and goals.
Whether you’re seeking emotional support for unresolved trauma, overthinking, or navigating big life changes, my counseling and therapy practice is designed to provide the mental health support and coping strategies you need for improved well-being.
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Brainspotting is a powerful therapeutic modality that helps identify and process deep-seated emotional experiences that may be contributing to anxiety, stress, and other challenges in a safe environment. By attuning to your body and brain’s natural ability to heal, Brainspotting allows you to release unresolved emotions and achieve clarity, calm, and personal growth.
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy often used to help clients process trauma and negative thought patterns. If you feel stuck in cycles of overthinking, self-doubt, or unresolved emotional pain, this therapeutic approach may help you gain clarity and move forward with confidence.
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While I don't offer in-person therapy, for clients in New York, New Jersey, and Florida, I offer online therapy through a secure telehealth platform. Online therapy sessions allow me to help clients access therapy and learn the coping skills they need to overcome their mental health struggles from the comfort and privacy of their home.
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My introductory phone call is free and lasts 30 minutes.
My fee is $360 for a 60-75 minute initial intake session.Session fees are $300 for each 50-minute follow-up session.
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My 10 hour intensive program is $3,750. Payment in full is required upon completion of paperwork in order to schedule sessions (payment includes 50% non-refundable deposit)
The program includes:
One 90-minute intake session
2 4-hour Brainspotting intensive online sessions
One 30-minute follow-up meeting 2-4 weeks after completion of intensive sessionsFind out more about intensive therapy here.
Find out more about intensive therapy here.
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I currently work with clients on an out-of-network basis. However, I’m happy to provide you with a superbill that you can submit to your insurance provider for potential reimbursement. Please check with your insurance plan to see if they cover out-of-network services.
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Please be aware that having out-of-network benefits does not guarantee that claims will be approved or that your provider will reimburse you the amount of my fee. The reimbursement you may possibly receive is often less than my fee.
If you have any questions about your specific out-of-network insurance benefit, please contact your insurance plan directly. Some questions to ask are:
Does my plan have out-of-network benefits? If so, how do I submit superbills?
Do I have an out-of-network deductible? How much is it?
What is the allowed amount for CPT codes 90791 (for the initial session) and 90834 (for 50 minute non-intensive follow-up sessions) and 90837 (if you’re doing an intensive therapy) session?
Please be aware, the allowed amount is the amount the insurance will allow for the service you submitting for. It is this amount that is applied to your deductible (typically less than my full fee) and used to calculate your coinsurance.
Once my deductible is met, what is my coinsurance? (This is a percentage that is deducted from the amount allowed for reimbursement (your responsibility) once you’ve fulfilled your deductible.
For example, if you have a $1,000 deductible, and your carrier’s allowed amount is $100, then $100 is applied toward your deductible for each session we’ve met until it reaches the $1,000.
Then, if your insurance has a 30% coinsurance (the coinsurance applies once your deductible is met), will reimburse you $70 for each session.
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You can set up a free 30-minute consultation on my contact page. You’ll be brought to a calendar with my availability where you can request an appointment.
I will confirm your request and send a brief consultation questionnaire that is required to be completed before we speak. Our consultation will be rescheduled if the form is not completed by 2 hours prior to our scheduled consultation time.
Please clarify any insurance related questions with your insurance carrier prior to our consultation.