Dr. Carolyn Spiro-Levitt
I’m a clinical psychologist with over 10 years of experience helping children, teens, and adults overcome anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, depression, and the stress of major life transitions. I specialize in treating anxiety and OCD using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard, evidence-based approach. My work is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and I draw on these methods to help clients face fears, break patterns of avoidance, and develop lasting coping skills.
My expertise in anxiety treatment spans the lifespan—from helping young children build healthy coping strategies to supporting adults with long-standing anxiety or OCD. I also work closely with parents of anxious children using the SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) program, a proven, research-based method that empowers parents to reduce family stress while fostering their child’s independence and resilience.
In addition to my focus on anxiety disorders, I have advanced training in perinatal mental health and provide support during pregnancy and postpartum, as well as for those navigating infertility, birth trauma, and pregnancy or infant loss. I am also certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), a highly effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related concerns.
My goal is to create a warm, validating environment where you feel understood and equipped with practical tools to make meaningful, lasting changes. I tailor every treatment plan to the individual or family, combining evidence-based methods with empathy and care.
I earned my Bachelor of Science in Human Development from Cornell University and my PhD in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University. Before graduate school, I completed a post-baccalaureate research fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health, where I studied childhood anxiety disorders and their treatment.
My clinical training included externships at Northwell Health/Zucker Hillside Hospital and the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD), and a predoctoral internship at Montefiore Medical Center. These experiences gave me the opportunity to work with people facing a wide range of challenges and to learn directly from leading experts in evidence-based therapy.