About Eliana Bonaguro, LMHC | Anxiety Therapist NYC & Florida

Hello I am Eliana Bonguro, LMHC, and Anxiety Therapist NYC specializing in anxiety treatment and in the treatment of panic disorder OCD and social Anxiety.

You are looking for an anxiety therapist NYC. Someone who understands your struggle, who understands what it’s like to live with racing thoughts, constant worry, and the feeling of being stuck.

You’re not just looking for therapy. You’re looking for something that actually helps you step out of the cycle—something that makes sense of what’s happening in your mind and gives you a way forward. You are not looking for someoen who merely says they treat anxiety, you looking for a specialized anxiety therapist NYC who can offer specialized OCD treatment, anxiety treatment of panic attack therapy.

If you’ve landed here, there’s a good chance you’ve already tried to figure this out on your own.

You may have read articles, listened to podcasts, reassured yourself, analyzed your thoughts, or tried to “think your way out” of anxiety. And maybe for a moment, it helped. But then the doubt came back. The feeling came back. The questions returned, louder and more convincing.

As an anxiety therapist NYC, I work with people who feel caught in these loops. People who are thoughtful, self-aware, and often highly intelligent, yet still feel stuck in patterns that don’t respond to logic alone.

This isn’t a lack of insight.
It’s the way anxiety works.

I Provide Specialized Anxiety treatment for those whose Anxiety That Doesn’t Always Look Obvious From the Outside

Many of my clients don’t “look” anxious.

They go to work. They maintain relationships. They function.
But internally, there is a constant undercurrent of doubt, tension, or mental noise.

I specialize in treating:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (learn more about OCD therapy here)
Relationship OCD (ROCD) (learn more about Relationship OCD therapy here)
Panic disorder and panic attacks (learn more about panic disorder therapy here )
Social anxiety Learn more about social anxiety therapy here)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) (learn more about generalized anxiety disorder therapy here)

As an OCD therapist NYC and anxiety specialist NYC, I focus on the mechanisms that keep these patterns going.

This often includes:

intrusive thoughts that feel meaningful or threatening
a strong need for certainty or emotional clarity
mental checking, analyzing, or reviewing
reassurance seeking (internally or externally)
difficulty trusting your own thoughts or feelings

These patterns can be exhausting. And over time, they can shrink your world.

My Approach: Clear, Structured anxiety and OCD treatment Grounded in Evidence

Therapy with me is active and structured.

I use evidence-based approaches, including:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Cognitive restructuring
Mindfulness-based strategies

As an anxiety therapist NYC, my work centers on helping you change how you respond to thoughts, rather than trying to eliminate them.

Because the problem is not the thought itself.
It’s what the mind does next.

We work on:

reducing compulsive responses (mental or behavioral)
building tolerance for uncertainty
stepping out of analysis loops
responding differently to intrusive thoughts

When you work with an Anxiety Therapist NYC, you will notice that over time, this changes how the thoughts feel, how often they show up, and how much power they hold.

Training and Professional Background

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with advanced training in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

I completed specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy through the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, one of the leading organizations in evidence-based treatment.

I am also a member of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), and my work is informed by current research and best practices in OCD and anxiety treatment.

This means the work we do together is not guesswork.
It is grounded in approaches that are studied, tested, and effective.

What Makes My Work Different

Many people come to me after trying therapy that felt supportive but not effective.

They were able to talk, but not necessarily change the patterns that were keeping them stuck.

My approach is different in a few key ways:

I focus on the process, not just the content
We don’t get lost in the meaning of every thought. We look at how your mind is interacting with it.
I don’t reinforce reassurance cycles
Reassurance can feel helpful in the moment, but it strengthens anxiety over time. I help you step out of that loop.
I teach you how anxiety works
When you understand the system, you’re no longer at its mercy.
Therapy is collaborative and practical
You will leave sessions with tools, not just insights.

As an anxiety specialist NYC and panic disorder therapist NYC, my goal is not just to help you feel better temporarily, but to help you respond differently in a lasting way.

Author of Illustrated Mental Health Guides

In addition to my clinical work as an Anxiety Therapist NYC , I am the author of illustrated mental health guides designed to make complex psychological concepts more accessible.

My books include:

Quieting the Noise: A Visual Guide to Living with OCD
Yesterday It Rained: A Visual Guide to Living with Anxiety

These guides combine evidence-based strategies with visual metaphors and simple language.

Because often, people understand something intellectually, but it doesn’t fully “click.”
Sometimes, seeing it differently is what makes it land.

Anxiety and OCD Therapy NYC That Fits Real Life

I provide therapy for clients across:

Manhattan
Brooklyn
Queens
Long Island
Greater New York City
Everywhere in New York
Florida, including Naples, Fort Myers, Miami, and Tampa

Many of my clients are busy professionals, students, or individuals navigating demanding environments while managing anxiety internally.

Whether you’re looking for a relationship OCD therapist NYC, a panic attack therapist NYC, or support through social anxiety therapy NYC or GAD therapy, therapy is structured to fit into your life while still being effective.

You May Still Have Questions

What kind of therapy works best for anxiety and /or OCD?

The most effective treatments for OCD and anxiety, including panic attacks and social anxiety, are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).

An OCD therapist NYC trained in ERP focuses on helping you face the thoughts or situations that trigger anxiety while changing how you respond to them. This approach targets the cycle that keeps anxiety going, rather than just talking about symptoms.

Can anxiety and OCD go away without therapy?

Sometimes symptoms improve temporarily, but without addressing the underlying patterns, they often return.

Many people find that strategies like reassurance, avoidance, or overthinking provide short-term relief but keep the cycle going. Working with an anxiety therapist NYC or ERP therapist NYC helps break that cycle in a more lasting way.

How long does therapy for anxiety or OCD take?

This depends on the person, the severity of symptoms, and how consistently strategies are practiced between sessions.

Some people begin to notice shifts within a few weeks, while deeper changes take more time. The goal is not just short-term relief, but building skills that help you respond differently long after therapy ends.

What if my thoughts mean something?

This is one of the most common fears in OCD and anxiety. Many people searching for an OCD therapist NYC or anxiety therapist NYC worry that intrusive thoughts must reflect something true or important.

In therapy, we don’t try to prove or disprove every thought. We change how you relate to it. Thoughts can feel meaningful, but that does not mean they require analysis, certainty, or action. Learning to respond differently is what reduces their intensity and frequency over time.

I have Relationship OCD and doubts about my relationship. Will a relationship OCD therapist NYC help me see if I actually feel this way?

This is one of the most common questions in relationship OCD. When you’re stuck in doubt, your mind tries to analyze your feelings over and over to “figure it out,” but this usually makes the uncertainty stronger.

Working with a relationship OCD therapist NYC or OCD therapist NYC is not about determining whether your relationship is right or wrong. Instead, therapy focuses on helping you stop analyzing your feelings, reduce compulsive thinking, and respond differently to uncertainty.

When you’re no longer trying to solve the relationship through anxiety and emotional checking, your thinking becomes clearer and less reactive. From that place, people are often able to experience a more grounded and stable sense of clarity, rather than one driven by fear or urgency.

You can learn more about the signs of relationship OCD and how relationship OCD shows up in daily life.

What is Relationship OCD?

Relationship OCD Fear of Abandonment: When Fear of Losing your Partner Becomes OCD

What if therapy doesn’t work?

If you’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help, it doesn’t mean you can’t improve. Many people come to an OCD therapist NYC or an anxiety therapist NYC after previous approaches felt supportive but not effective.

It often means the approach didn’t target the underlying cycle that keeps anxiety going. With structured, evidence-based treatment like CBT and ERP, therapy focuses on changing the patterns that maintain anxiety, rather than just talking about them.

A More Grounded Way Forward

Right now, it might feel like you need to solve everything before you can move forward.

You don’t.

You don’t need certainty before starting therapy.
You don’t need to have it all figured out.

As an anxiety therapist NYC, my role is to help you step out of the cycle of overthinking, doubt, and fear so you can start living with more clarity and stability.

Let’s Take the First Step

If you’re ready to begin, you can reach out for a consultation.

There’s no pressure to have the “right” words or the perfect explanation.

We start where you are.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Social Anxiety

Panic Disorder and Health Anxiety

Depression and mood regulation issues

Relationship anxiety and communication challenges

Perfectionism, high-functioning anxiety, and burnout

Emotional dysregulation and chronic overwhelm

Low self-esteem and negative self-talk

Fear of failure or “not being enough”

Education

Hunter College

Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Ms.Ed)

THE BECK INSTITUTE OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

THE BECK INSTITUTE OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Mood Disorders

Other Certifications

Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCPT)- International Association of Trauma Pofessional

Check out my book:

Yesterday It Rained: A Visual Guide to Living with Anxiety

Available now on Amazon.

Written by a licensed therapist and anxiety therapy specialist , with advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), this illustrated mental health book transforms complex treatment concepts into relatable metaphors—empowering you to face fear without feeding it.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:

• Understand the OCD cycle and why compulsions keep you stuck

• Recognize common OCD subtypes—like moral OCD, harm OCD, relationship OCD, contamination fears, existential obsessions, checking, symmetry, perfectionism, and magical thinking

• Use CBT techniques to challenge distorted thinking

• Practice exposure therapy gradually and safely

• Reconnect with your values, reduce avoidance, and take back control

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or feeling overwhelmed by constant mental noise, Quieting the Noise offers a warm, validating, and highly visual approach to coping with OCD. Perfect for adults and teens, this empowering resource is ideal for self-help readers, clients in therapy, or clinicians seeking a more creative and effective way to support those with OCD.

Quieting the Noise: : An Illustrated Guide to Living with OCD

Quieting the Noise: An Illustrated Guide to Living with OCD is not your typical OCD workbook. Blending clinical expertise with emotionally resonant illustrations, this self-help book offers a compassionate and practical guide for anyone struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, or intrusive thoughts.

Written by a licensed therapist with advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), this illustrated mental health book transforms complex treatment concepts into relatable metaphors—empowering you to face fear without feeding it.