Treatment approach
Exposure Therapy
Face the thing that scares you, in planned steps. The most studied protocol there is, run the way the research says.
Or call (646) 493-4007
Choose a time and book. It takes about 30 seconds. Opens our secure client portal.
4.95from 113 reviews
In-network with
- UnitedHealthcare
- Aetna
- Medicare
- Oscar Health
- Meritain Health
- Oxford Health Plans
- Cigna
- Optum
- Highmark BCBS WNY
- Univera Healthcare
- MagnaCare
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Industry-leading, structured care
Progress measured monthly, not guessed at
We respond within one business day
Every clinician state-licensed
Why MindView
The method is only as good as the decision to use it.
Most practices use the one approach they trained in, on everyone. Exposure Therapy is one of many ours are trained in, and which one you get is decided by what is actually driving the problem, then reviewed against monthly measures.
- 01
Intake
What is actually going on, rated 0 to 10 as your baseline.
- 02
Your history
Why it is happening. History, relationships, work, health.
- 03
Treatment plan
Written and collaborative, built against those causes.
- 04
Monthly review
Standardized measures, reviewed with you. You see the trend.
A license is where our training starts, not where it ends.
Every clinician is state-licensed before they see a single client. Then they train with us across every modality, and how to match one to the problem in front of them.
What clients say
4.95 averagefrom 113 reviews
- 5 out of 5 stars
Great service.
Alfie N.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
MindView Therapy has great customer service and is very flexible, with good therapist availability and clear communication of any changes. Genuinely a great place for therapy with zero judgement.
Kailani M.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
The support staff was very helpful in assisting me to find the right provider. And the provider they found me is personable, a good listener, has good advice, and appears to be quite knowledgeable. I'm very happy with my decision to go with MindView.
Kevin R.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
I truly felt seen, heard and understood by my therapist. Goals and next step expectations were clearly explained for processing.
Diane S.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
I had a great onboarding experience with MindView. My therapist took the time to do a really thorough intake, which I appreciated, and the staff keeps communication clear and consistent. Plus, they handled my insurance verification hassle free.
Jennifer P.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
I'm new to this therapy place, however the couples therapist we are seeing is amazing so far. She's a great listener and I can't wait to see how much further we can get with her guidance.
Maritza M.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
Great therapists, excellent customer service.
Meta
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
My therapist has been incredibly supportive and compassionate. She creates a safe, welcoming space, and I truly feel heard and understood. I'm very grateful for her guidance. Highly recommend.
Laura S.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
The clinician is helpful. I would recommend this to my friends. I can communicate better with my family members. Thanks for your cooperation.
Sharmin S.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
The process to find a therapist was very smooth and quick. The intake did take some time, but it was a very thorough process. Overall a great service and very helpful.
Jorge Z.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
Helpful, and they let you know everything in advance.
Naphtali S.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
MindView Therapy has been wonderful to work with. The team is kind, responsive, and made the entire process feel easy from the start. I always felt heard and supported, and I really appreciate the compassionate care I've received. Highly recommend.
Angela D.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
I've had a great experience with MindView. They are easy to communicate with and handle my needs quickly. I've had some great sessions with my therapist and would highly recommend checking them out.
Kylah B.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
My therapist has done a great job of teaching me how to translate my thoughts into personal feelings, as well as helpful techniques to deal with my anxiety.
Ladale N.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
I cannot say enough good things about my counselor. From the very start she made me feel heard, respected, and supported without judgement. She is a great listener and challenges me to grow in healthy ways.
Barbara D.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
She is such a great therapist. She really listens to what you are saying and helps you figure out situations.
Leah D.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
The process from start to finish is made so easy. You get assigned to someone quickly and can choose from various time slots to work around your schedule. No sitting on a phone waiting, just quick and to the point with every step.
Shannon G.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
I've had such a positive experience with MindView Therapy. The sessions have given me so much clarity and practical tools to handle life's ups and downs. I feel more equipped and confident moving forward. If you are looking for a supportive and insightful therapy experience, I highly recommend them.
Lucie L.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
She is an amazing therapist. She understands me and where I am coming from without hesitation. It is a complete judgement-free zone.
Barbie Z.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
I've had a really wonderful experience at MindView. My therapist is a great listener and always made me feel heard and understood. I've seen meaningful progress. Would recommend.
Manana D.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
Great experience at this practice.
Honey Y.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
Kind, helpful, and good at what they do! My therapist is truly one-of-a-kind, and has helped me so much.
Nick B.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
Ok, hard to complete documents.
Karol L.
Verified review
Exposure therapy is a structured form of cognitive behavioral therapy that reduces fear by approaching what you avoid, in planned and graded steps, instead of escaping it. Avoidance keeps fear alive because it never lets you learn that the feared outcome does not happen, or that you could handle it if it did. Exposure reverses that. It is a first-line treatment for phobias, panic disorder, social anxiety, PTSD, and OCD.
Might this approach fit you?
- Your life has quietly shrunk around the things you avoid.
- You plan your route, your day, or your job around one specific fear.
- You know the fear is out of proportion and knowing that changes nothing.
- You avoid a place, a memory, or a situation and the avoidance is costing you more than the fear would.
- You have talked about the fear for years without ever approaching it.
- You want a protocol with steps, not another open-ended conversation.
You do not have to be in crisis to start. If several of these sound familiar, therapy can help.
If this sounds like the support you want, we can help.
Choose a time and book. It takes about 30 seconds. Opens our secure client portal.
What is exposure therapy?
Exposure therapy reduces fear by approaching what you avoid, in planned steps, instead of escaping it.
That sounds obvious and it is not, because avoidance feels like it works. You leave the situation, the anxiety drops, and your brain records that as a rescue. Do that a few hundred times and the fear is now well-trained. The relief is real, and it is exactly what keeps the problem alive.
Exposure reverses the pattern. You stay with the thing long enough to find out that the feared outcome does not arrive, or that you could handle it if it did. The American Psychological Association lists exposure-based treatment among the best-supported approaches for anxiety disorders.
How avoidance makes fear bigger
Fear tells you something is dangerous. Avoidance stops you from ever finding out whether it is.
The cost is not just the thing itself. It is the planning, the excuses, the route you take, the job you did not apply for, the room you will not go into. Most people do not come in because of the fear. They come in because of how much life it has taken.
There is also a second layer worth naming. Subtle avoidance counts too: gripping the seat, keeping a water bottle handy, rehearsing every sentence before a conversation. These feel like coping. They do the same job as leaving, and they are why some people face their fear for years without ever getting better at it.
What kinds of exposure are there?
Which one you use depends on what you are avoiding.
In vivo is real-life approach: the elevator, the bridge, the dog, the phone call.
Imaginal works with a memory or a feared scenario you cannot safely recreate, most often in PTSD.
Interoceptive works with the physical sensations themselves, deliberately bringing on a racing heart or breathlessness so they stop signalling catastrophe. This is central in panic disorder.
Most plans use more than one. Your treatment plan names which, and why.
What actually happens in a session?
The first sessions contain no exposure at all. They are assessment, explanation, and building the graded list together.
When exposure starts, a session has a shape: agree the step, do it, stay with it while anxiety rises, and stay with it while it falls on its own. Then review what happened against what you predicted. The learning is in the gap between the two.
You will practise between sessions, but only steps you have already done with your therapist. Nothing new gets tried alone.
Is this different from ERP?
Yes, and they overlap. Exposure and response prevention is the OCD-specific form: you approach the trigger and also stop the compulsion that usually follows. The response prevention half is what makes it ERP.
For a phobia, panic, or PTSD, there is usually no compulsion to prevent, so the work is exposure without that second component. If you have OCD, the ERP page is the more precise fit.
How do I start exposure therapy at MindView?
Book a session and your first appointment is a full intake, not an exposure. You will map what you avoid and what it has cost you, and your therapist will explain how the approach works before anything is asked of you.
The early work produces a written plan and a graded list you helped build and agreed to. Every month you complete standardized measures and review the trend with your therapist, so you can see whether the fear is actually moving.
At a glance
| Best suited for | Adults whose anxiety, trauma, or OCD is maintained by avoidance of a specific situation, memory, sensation, or object. |
|---|---|
| What sessions look like | Structured and active. You and your therapist approach an agreed step, stay with it while the anxiety rises and falls, and review what you learned. Early sessions are preparation, not exposure. |
| Typical length | Often shorter than open-ended therapy. Many exposure protocols run 8 to 16 sessions, though your therapist reviews progress with you monthly rather than promising a fixed number. |
What can it help with?
- •Specific phobias
- •Panic disorder and agoraphobia
- •Social anxiety
- •PTSD and trauma
- •OCD
- •Health anxiety
Who might it suit?
- •People whose lives have narrowed around avoidance
- •Anyone with a specific, identifiable fear
- •People who want a structured protocol with clear steps
- •Those who have tried talk therapy and are still avoiding
What we use it to treat
What does therapy here actually look like?
The first three sessions follow a clear structure, so you always know what is coming next.
- The opening work
Your therapist asks what brought you in, takes your history, and maps exactly what you avoid and what it is costing you. You rate the intensity of what you are feeling from 0 to 10, which becomes your baseline. No exposure happens in this session. From there, your therapist walks through your life across stages, looking for when the fear started, what has maintained it, and what you have already tried. This decides whether the work is in vivo, imaginal, or interoceptive. You and your therapist build the plan together, including a graded list of exposures ordered from most manageable to hardest. You rate each one, and you agree the order. Nothing goes on that list without your say. You also set one personal goal that matters to you.
- Ongoing
Weekly sessions work through the list, starting low and moving up as each step stops being difficult. Between sessions you practice what you have already done in session. Once a month you complete standardized measures and review the trend with your therapist, and the plan is adjusted from what they show.
Therapy here is measured, not guessed
Once a month you have a measurement-based care review. You complete standardized measures, and your therapist reviews the trend with you. If something is not working, the plan changes. Regular therapy is the work. The review is the navigation system that keeps it pointed at the right target.
Sessions are weekly for the first two months to build a foundation, then frequency is reassessed with you. You set the pace, and you share only what you are comfortable sharing.
You do not have to figure this out alone.
Choose a time and book. It takes about 30 seconds. Opens our secure client portal.
Common questions
Will you make me face my worst fear on day one?
No, and any therapist who would is doing it wrong. Exposure is graded. You and your therapist build a ranked list together and start well below the hardest item, moving up only when a step stops being difficult. You agree to every step before it happens, and you can stop. Being ambushed would teach your brain that the situation is dangerous, which is the opposite of the point.
Is exposure therapy just forcing yourself to do scary things?
No. White-knuckling through something while distracting yourself, holding your breath, or gripping a safety object does not work, because the fear never gets disconfirmed. Exposure is deliberate: a planned step, held long enough for anxiety to fall on its own, without the escape behaviors that usually shortcut it. The structure is what makes it work.
Does exposure therapy actually work?
It is one of the most heavily researched treatments in mental health and is recommended as a first-line approach for phobias, panic disorder, social anxiety, PTSD, and OCD. The evidence base is strong. What no therapist can do is guarantee your outcome, and we will not claim one. Your progress is measured monthly so you can see the trend yourself.
What if I have trauma? Is exposure safe?
Exposure-based protocols are first-line treatments for PTSD, so trauma is not a reason to rule it out. It does mean pacing, preparation, and a therapist who knows what they are doing. Your therapist assesses your history and current stability first, and if a different approach fits better right now, they will tell you.
Is exposure therapy covered by insurance?
We are in-network with most major plans. In New York: UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Medicare, Oscar Health, Meritain Health, Oxford Health Plans, Cigna, Optum, Highmark BCBS WNY, Univera Healthcare and MagnaCare. We confirm your benefits before your first session.
Can exposure therapy work over video?
Yes, and for some fears telehealth is an advantage. Practising in your own home, your own neighborhood, or the actual setting where the fear shows up is often more useful than doing it in an unfamiliar office. Your therapist will tell you if a particular exposure needs a different setting.
How do I get started?
- 1
Check your insurance
Most major plans are accepted, and checking takes under a minute.
See if we take your insurance - 2
- 3
Meet your therapist
Your first session is an intake. Your therapist asks what brought you in, and you set a weekly time together.
Related approaches
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Take the first step
You do not have to figure this out alone. Booking takes about 30 seconds.