Support that respects your ambition & helps you achieve more.
Meet Chris Ward, LCSW, Therapist in Manhattan & Across NYC.
It’s normal for doubt to show up when you’re doing things that matter. But you don’t have to let it take over.
In many ways, you’re living your dream of climbing the ladder of success in the big city. But it doesn’t really feel the way you thought it would. It’s not the long hours or late-night emails that bother you—it’s the constant second-guessing and anxiety that hits when it matters most.
You know there’s more you want to do, but if you’re going to keep climbing, something’s got to shift. You need better ways to handle the pressure so you can show up with the confidence it takes to claim your place in New York’s competitive professional climate.
I specialize in helping career-driven New Yorkers like you build the confidence to thrive in your 9 to 5—and beyond.
How we’ll work together:
Let’s define what you want, what’s getting in the way, & how you can keep moving forward.
I know what it’s like to work hard for something you care deeply about, only to feel yourself freeze when it really counts. That experience—my first panic attack during an interview for a dream role—shifted the way I think about anxiety and success. It’s what pushed me to build a career helping other ambitious professionals who are tired of anxiety dictating what they say yes to, how they show up, and what they believe they’re capable of.
I bring a mix of strategy, structure, and mindset work into therapy—not just helping you feel better in the moment, but helping you understand what’s happening, change how you respond, and stay connected to what you care about, even under pressure. I know this work can be a turning point in your life and career because I’ve experienced it myself. I can’t wait to help you experience that shift, too.
I’m here to give you structure and support—like the scaffolding all over the city—while you build toward your goals.
The difference? We’ll actually take this scaffolding down when you’re ready.
Why therapy with me is different:
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You don’t have to be in therapy forever to feel better. Most people I work with start seeing real shifts in just a few months—they feel more capable, more confident, and more like themselves again.
Some stay longer because they want to keep building on that progress or work through new goals. Wherever you are, we’ll focus on helping you respond differently to self-doubt, stop getting stuck in it, and start trusting your strengths again.
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You’re in a high-pressure season right now. That doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong, it means you’re chasing something important. I’m not here to ask you to hit pause. I’m here to help you carry the pressure differently so you can show up the way you want to—with clarity, energy, and purpose. You don’t have to choose between ambition and well-being here. You can have both, and I can help you get there.
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We’ll always have a plan. Not a rigid one—we can take a detour if something comes up that you want to explore—but enough structure to keep things focused and make sure we’re moving toward the changes you want to make.
Talking is important, but it’s what you do between sessions that builds confidence and momentum. That’s why you’ll usually leave our time together with a few things to practice. Not “homework” in the traditional sense, but more like using the tools and skills you learn here in your everyday life. Committing to consistency is what will get you to your goals—the same way you would need to commit to going to the gym to see results.
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This isn’t therapy where we just sit around dissecting the week. Instead, we’ll get into the nitty gritty of what’s working well for you, what’s not, and what to do differently.
I’ll bring in tools and perspectives to help you think more clearly and handle things more effectively—so you’re not just understanding your patterns, but shifting them. My role is part advisor, part coach, part collaborator, and I’m always focused on helping you move forward in a way that feels doable.
My methods:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Anxiety isn’t something we can just delete from your brain—but we can change how it shows up in your life. ACT helps you build a different relationship with those anxious thoughts and feelings, so they stop taking over every moment.
Together, we’ll work on zooming out, staying connected to what matters, and finding ways to keep moving even when anxiety is in the background. It’s not about pretending everything’s fine, it’s about learning to acknowledge and make space for the worry or stress without letting yourself spiral.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
If you’ve ever felt trapped in your head or dealt with panic attacks, CBT can give you a solid framework to ground yourself in reality and get unstuck. We’ll look at the patterns—how your thoughts, feelings, and reactions feed into each other—and start untangling them.
You’ll walk away with tools you can actually use, not just new perspectives to ponder. In other words, we won’t just talk about the problem—we’ll build a plan to shift it.
Training & Education
Education & Licensure
BA Psychology, University of Hartford, 2009
MSW, New York University, 2011
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in NY State
Professional Highlights
ER Social Worker, Lincoln Hospital
Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Social Worker, Lenox Hill Hospital
3 years, Healthcare sales & marketing
14 years, Professional social worker
9 years, Private practice therapist
Trainings & Certifications
ACT trainings
CBT trainings
ACT for anxiety
ACT for social anxiety
ACT for panic disorder
CBT for anxiety