Ready to achieve more of your goals with less anxiety?
Meet Chris Ward, LCSW | CBT Therapist in New York City.
Right now you’re…
You’re struggling with anxiety at work, feeling too nervous to speak up in meetings or doubting that you’re ready for that promotion. If you’ve ever second-guessed yourself or frozen up when it mattered most, you know how disappointing it feels to miss out on opportunities that could advance your career.
You’ve come to the right place.
I specialize in helping ambitious, career-driven New Yorkers like you build the confidence to thrive under pressure, work towards your career goals, and achieve the success you’ve worked so hard for.
When we work together, the first appointment or two will look like a project kickoff meeting — we’ll discuss your goals and how anxiety is showing up for you. We’ll get clear on what you are hoping to achieve, both in therapy and in your career. And we’ll explore how anxiety is getting in your way — whether it’s impacting your confidence, focus, or ability to perform under pressure.
We’ll use this information to create a personalized plan to help you overcome anxiety, build confidence, and develop practical tools to handle obstacles as they arise.
From there, our sessions will be structured and goal-focused, providing the efficiency busy professionals appreciate. However, structure doesn’t mean rigidity. If you ever feel like you just need to talk it out, we’ll shift gears to make space for what’s on your mind.
Therapy with me is typically short-term, lasting about 3–6 months, with some clients choosing to stay on to work on other things. By the end of working together, you can have the skills and confidence to manage challenges on your own and continue pursuing your goals with a greater sense of ease.
I get it, because I’ve been there.
I know how it feels to be so determined to succeed, only to freeze up or second-guess yourself when it matters most, and miss out on an opportunity. I know, because it happened to me.
My first panic attack happened while interviewing for my first full-time job, at my college internship — a dream role at the time. That moment cost me the opportunity, but it also gave me a deeper understanding of how anxiety can hold us back. Now I use that experience, paired with over a decade of trainings and professional experience, to help other career-driven New Yorkers break free from anxiety and build lasting confidence, so they can achieve the success they deserve.
Therapy with me looks different.
Therapy is Short-Term
You shouldn’t have to be in therapy for years to get results. Therapy with me is short-term, where clients are feeling better and meeting their goals within 3-6 months — many clients choose to stay longer to work on other things.
Sessions are Focused
You don’t want to leave a therapy appointment feeling like you’ve discussed lots of topics, yet nothing at all. That’s why I keep appointments focused on one or two of your goals at a time so you don’t feel stuck.
Practical Therapy Tools
It’s disappointing to leave every session feeling like you’ve only talked about it but don’t know what to do about it. Therapy with me equips you with practical therapy tools so you can actually make progress.
Clients describe me as…
Warm & direct
You’ll get the straightforward truth, delivered in a helpful and kind way.
Structured, yet flexible
Like scaffolding, therapy frameworks give sessions with me structure and focus. But unlike scaffolding, I remove the structure when needed, because sometimes you will just want to talk it out.
Always validating
It’s normal for my clients to worry that something is wrong with them and their brains. I teach them what’s actually going on with their brains and bodies so they can be assured nothing is wrong while feeling empowered to make changes.
Training & Education
Degrees:
Master of Social Work (MSW), New York University (NYU), 2011
BA, Psychology, University of Hartford, 2009
Licensure:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), NY State, #084397
Trainings & Topics I Stay Updated On:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
CBT & ACT specifically focused on treating anxiety and panic
Anxiety & Panic Disorder — psychology, biology, latest treatments
Business — sales, marketing, leadership, productivity, business growth, organizational psychology