Anxiety Therapy
Get StartedWhat is
Anxiety?
- Do you tend to feel nervous or worry excessively about everyday situations and activities? Do you experience distress over being unable to control this worry?
- Do you experience persistent thoughts or feelings of impending doom?
- Do you create scenarios in your mind that trigger physical or emotional distress?
- Do you often experience unwanted physical symptoms such as sweating, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, nausea, and/or muscle tension?
- Do you feel restless, irritable, have trouble falling asleep, or have difficulty concentrating?
Anxiety is a common and natural reaction to stress and/or danger. However, when it becomes intense and persistent, anxiety can be incredibly uncomfortable and disrupt your day-to-day functioning.
The Anxiety Toolbox
How Do We
Help You?
At Long Island Psychology, we are here to help you regain control of the thoughts and emotions that fuel your anxiety so that you can experience a calmer, more peaceful existence.
In the process of treatment, we work to:
- Assess how anxiety manifests for you personally, within the context of your unique circumstances
- Provide a better understanding of the source of your anxiety and how these patterns recur and interfere in your life
- Facilitate an exploration of how life events, thoughts, behaviors, and feelings are interconnected
- Provide strategies for identifying, tracking and understanding the unhealthy thought patterns that lead to anxiety
- Explore evidence that confirms or disconfirms your beliefs
- Teach skills for challenging and changing distorted thinking
- Replace ineffective coping strategies/behaviors with more effective ones
- Offer guidance on helpful relaxation, mindfulness, and breathing techniques
- Enhance your ability to tolerate some levels of anxiety and accept life’s challenges
Treatment
May Include:
- Techniques from various therapeutic modalities, such as CBT, Mindfulness/ACT, Psychodynamic Therapy and Positive Psychology
- Homework and/or small task assignments (ex. thought tracking worksheets) to complete outside of session
- Psychological and/or psychopharmacological treatments (medication) – Both are accessible for alleviating anxiety symptoms, however a combination of the two is often most effective. If medication is indicated, we will refer our clients to a qualified psychiatrist for an evaluation.
- Recommendations that will vary depending on one’s age, form of anxiety, severity of symptoms, readiness for treatment, and influence of other physical, medical, or mental disorders
What Benefits Can
Therapy Offer You?
- A safe outlet within which to share and release built up tension
- Reduced frequency, intensity, and duration of anxiety/stress
- Greater sense of control over your cognitive and emotional processes
- Increase in ability to tolerate discomfort about things you cannot control
- Effective tools to help you relax in the face of challenges and in your daily routine
- Greater sense of mastery over life’s challenges
- Improved sense of peace and calm
YOUR ROLE IN
The Process
- Willingness to notice, document, and challenge thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
- Openness to viewing thoughts and behaviors objectively
- Efforts to practice mindfulness and relaxation exercises outside of sessions
- Patience and consistency with the treatment process
Get Started
Contact us today to schedule an appointment or learn more about how Long Island Psychology can help you.
Anxiety Conditions We Treat on Long Island
We provide specialized treatment for various anxiety disorders, each requiring a unique approach tailored to your specific needs:
Relevant Blog Posts
Frequently Asked Questions
About Group Therapy on Long Island
How does group therapy work on Long Island?
You might picture sitting in a circle sharing your deepest secrets with strangers, but group therapy Long Island sessions are carefully structured, safe environments where healing happens naturally through shared experiences.
What actually happens in group sessions
- Small groups of 6-8 people meet weekly for 8-week programs
- Licensed therapists facilitate discussions using proven methods like Dynamic Experiential Learning
- Members share at their comfort level - no one forces you to speak
- Confidentiality agreements create safety for everyone
- Each session has a structure while allowing organic connection
How the process builds over time
- Week 1-2: Getting comfortable and establishing trust
- Week 3-4: Beginning to share experiences and challenges
- Week 5-6: Deeper work on patterns and relationships
- Week 7-8: Integration and planning for continued growth
Group therapy long island programs work because healing accelerates when you realize you're not alone in your struggles.
Who should not do group therapy in Nassau County?
Group therapy isn't right for everyone, and that's completely okay.
While group therapy Nassau County sessions help many people, certain situations make individual therapy a better starting point.
When individual therapy might be better first
- Active addiction requiring immediate medical intervention
- Severe depression with thoughts of self-harm
- Acute trauma that needs specialized individual processing
- Personality disorders requiring intensive one-on-one work
- Active psychosis or dissociative episodes
Timing considerations
- You're in crisis and need immediate intensive support
- Week 3-4: Beginning to share experiences and challenges
- Major life changes happening (divorce, job loss, grief) need individual focus first
- You've never done therapy before and feel too anxious for group participation
Social readiness factors
- If you're not ready to hear others' experiences without being triggered
- When your social anxiety is so severe that group participation feels impossible
- If you're currently in an abusive relationship that isn't safe to discuss in groups
Our Long Island mental health counseling group therapists can help determine if you're ready for group work or need individual preparation first.
Is group therapy covered by insurance in Suffolk County?
Insurance coverage for group therapy can be confusing, but here's what you need to know.
Most insurance plans in Suffolk County recognize group therapy as a legitimate treatment option, though coverage varies significantly between providers.
How insurance typically covers group therapy
- We're out-of-network providers, meaning you pay upfront and get reimbursed
- Many insurance companies reimburse 60-80% of out-of-network costs
- Group sessions cost significantly less than individual therapy
- Your insurance may have specific requirements for coverage
Steps to check your coverage
- Call your insurance company and ask about out-of-network mental health benefits.
- Ask specifically about group therapy or "group counseling" coverage
- Find out your deductible and yearly mental health allowance
- Request information about required documentation
Alternative payment options
- Payment plans available for our 8-week programs
- Use HSA or FSA funds for group therapy costs
- Ask about sliding scale options based on financial need
- Consider the long-term cost savings of group vs. individual therapy
Contact us at 516.274.7876 to discuss coverage options and get documentation for your insurance company.
What's the difference between group therapy and support groups on Long Island?
Understanding this difference helps you choose the right type of support for your Long Island mental health journey.
Group therapy structure and goals
- Led by licensed mental health professionals with advanced degrees
- Uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques like CBT and Dynamic Experiential Learning
- Structured 8-week programs with specific outcomes and homework
- Focuses on changing patterns and developing new coping skills
- Limited to 6-8 carefully screened participants
Support group characteristics
- Often peer-led by people with similar experiences
- Open-ended membership - people come and go
- Focus on sharing experiences and mutual support
- Less structured, more conversational format
- Usually free or low-cost
When to choose group therapy
- You want professional guidance for changing behavior patterns
- Need structured skill-building for anxiety, depression, or relationship issues
- Want intensive work in a time-limited format
- Benefit from therapeutic techniques beyond peer support
Our group therapy on Long Island programs combine the best of both: peer support with professional expertise to create lasting change.
How many sessions does group therapy take to be effective?
Most people start noticing improvements within the first few sessions, but meaningful change takes time.
Our group therapy Long Island programs are designed as 8-week intensive workshops because research shows this timeframe allows for real skill development and pattern change.
What to expect in different timeframes
- Sessions 1-2: Getting comfortable, understanding group dynamics, learning initial coping strategies
- Sessions 3-4: Beginning to share more deeply, practicing new communication skills, noticing patterns
- Sessions 5-6: Significant breakthroughs, deeper work on underlying issues, stronger group bonds
- Sessions 7-8: Integration work, planning for continued growth, celebrating progress
Factors affecting your timeline
- Severity of anxiety, depression, or relationship challenges
- Previous therapy experience and current coping skills
- Motivation to practice techniques between sessions
- Support system outside of the group
- Any underlying trauma or attachment issues
Why 8 weeks works
- Time to build trust with other group members
- Opportunity to practice new skills multiple times
- Allows for setbacks and continued growth
- Creates lasting relationships for ongoing support
Many participants in our Nassau County and Suffolk County groups choose to continue with individual therapy or join another group program after completing their initial 8-week workshop.
Can group therapy help with social anxiety in Roslyn Heights?
Group therapy is actually one of the most effective treatments for social anxiety - and here's why.
It might seem counterintuitive to join a group when you're anxious about social situations, but our group therapy programs in Roslyn Heights create the perfect environment for overcoming social fears.
How group therapy specifically helps social anxiety
- Practice social skills in a safe, controlled environment
- Realize others share similar fears and struggles
- Get immediate feedback on social interactions
- Build confidence through repeated positive experiences
- Learn that most social fears are unfounded
What we address in anxiety groups
- Fear of judgment or criticism from others
- Difficulty starting or maintaining conversations
- Physical symptoms like sweating, blushing, or trembling
- Avoiding social situations that interfere with work or relationships
- Perfectionism that makes social interaction feel risky
Gradual exposure approach
- Week 1-2: Share only what feels comfortable, mostly listening
- Week 3-4: Practice basic conversation skills within the group
- Week 5-6: Role-play challenging social situations
- Week 7-8: Apply skills to real-world situations and report back
Why group format works better than individual therapy alone
- Real-time practice with multiple people
- Immediate evidence that your fears are manageable
- Supportive environment that reduces shame about anxiety
- Opportunity to help others, build confidence, and make connections
Our therapists serving Garden City, Rockville Centre, and surrounding areas specialize in helping people overcome social anxiety through carefully structured group experiences.
What happens if I know someone in my group therapy session?
This is one of the most common concerns people have about joining group therapy.
The possibility of knowing someone in your Long Island mental health counseling group is real, especially in Nassau and Suffolk County communities, where people often cross paths.
How do we handle confidentiality when members know each other
- Strict confidentiality agreements signed by all participants
- Discussion of dual relationships during the intake process
- Option to switch to a different group if needed
- Clear boundaries about outside contact between sessions
- Professional guidance on managing these situations
What the research shows
- Knowing someone in a group can actually deepen the therapeutic experience
- Shared community connections often strengthen commitment to healing
- Many people find it reassuring to work with familiar faces
- Confidentiality violations are extremely rare in professional settings
Your options if this happens
- Continue in the group with clear boundaries established
- Switch to another group meeting at different times
- Consider individual therapy until another group becomes available
- Work through the discomfort as part of your therapeutic growth
Benefits of community-based healing
- Building stronger local support networks
- Reducing stigma about mental health in your community
- Creating lasting friendships based on authentic sharing
- Helping others while receiving help yourself
Our therapists have extensive experience managing these situations professionally and ethically to ensure everyone's comfort and growth.
How much does group therapy cost compared to individual therapy?
Group therapy is significantly more affordable than individual sessions, making quality mental health care accessible.
Understanding the cost difference helps you make informed decisions about your group therapy Long Island investment.
Typical cost comparisons
- Individual therapy: $150-250+ per session in Nassau/Suffolk County
- Group therapy: $50-80 per session (varies by program length)
- 8-week group program: Often costs less than 3-4 individual sessions
- Insurance reimbursement: Usually applies to both formats
Why group therapy costs less
- The therapist's time is shared among multiple participants
- Reduced overhead costs per person
- Group dynamics enhance healing efficiency
- Peer support reduces the need for individual intervention
Payment options we offer
- Insurance reimbursement assistance and documentation
- Payment plans for the 8-week program costs
- HSA/FSA eligible expenses
- Sliding scale considerations based on financial need
Value considerations beyond cost
- Multiple perspectives and support from peers
- Real-time practice of social and communication skills
- Faster progress through shared learning experiences
- Lasting relationships formed through group process
Making the financial decision
- Consider the total cost over 8 weeks vs. the months of individual therapy
- Factor in insurance reimbursement possibilities
- Think about the value of peer support and community building
- Remember that effective group therapy often reduces the need for long-term individual treatment
Contact our office at 516.274.7876 to discuss specific costs and insurance coverage for your situation.
