Anxiety & Panic
More than "just stress" — and very treatable.
Generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, and chronic worry are distinct, diagnosable conditions with effective treatments. The problem isn't you. Care works best when it is matched to what is actually driving your symptoms, and that starts with a careful evaluation.
Telehealth · NY · NJ · CA · CT · FL · IL · KS · OH · PA · TX · VA
Anxiety disorders are not a character flaw
Anxiety is a real neurobiological condition — not excessive sensitivity, poor coping, or weakness. It involves patterns in how the brain processes threat, uncertainty, and arousal, and it responds to treatment that addresses those mechanisms directly.
The term "anxiety" covers a family of distinct disorders: generalized anxiety disorder (chronic, pervasive worry), panic disorder (recurrent panic attacks with anticipatory anxiety), social anxiety (fear of judgment or embarrassment in social situations), and agoraphobia, among others. Each has a distinct treatment profile.
What most of them share: they tend to be underestimated by clinicians who aren't specialists, undertreated with generic prescriptions and non-specific therapy, and experienced by patients as shameful or self-indulgent. None of that is warranted.
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia
- Social anxiety disorder
- Specific phobias interfering with daily life
- Anticipatory anxiety and avoidance
- Anxiety related to medical conditions
- Chronic worry that disrupts sleep, work, and relationships
- Anxiety co-occurring with depression or OCD
A generic prescription and 45 minutes of talk therapy often isn't enough
The standard route — see a general practitioner or psychiatrist for 15 minutes, leave with an SSRI, see a therapist who does supportive talk therapy — fails a meaningful percentage of people with anxiety disorders. Not because medication or therapy don't work, but because the treatment isn't matched to the mechanism.
Effective anxiety treatment requires identifying the specific disorder, understanding what's driving it, and choosing an approach — behavioral, pharmacological, or both — calibrated to that. Panic disorder, social anxiety, and GAD each respond to somewhat different approaches.
Dr. Batista brings OCD and anxiety expertise to every case. Appointments are not 15 minutes. Treatment decisions are explained, not handed down.
Precise, Evidence-Based
Comprehensive diagnostic evaluation to identify the specific anxiety presentation and any co-occurring conditions.
Medication management when appropriate — with a full explanation of options, mechanisms, and expected timelines.
Psychotherapy-informed treatment from a psychiatrist who understands both modalities and can coordinate care with a behavioral therapist when indicated.
Treatment starts with understanding
No two anxiety presentations are identical. Treatment at this practice begins with a thorough evaluation — not a checklist.
Full Diagnostic Evaluation
A comprehensive assessment of your anxiety history, symptom patterns, prior treatments, sleep, substance use, and any co-occurring conditions — to get the diagnosis right, not just close enough.
Clear Treatment Plan
Options explained in plain language: what each medication does, what the behavioral approach involves, what to expect in terms of timeline and side effects. Nothing prescribed without your understanding.
Ongoing Longitudinal Care
Follow-up appointments with the same psychiatrist, at intervals that match your needs. Direct access between visits. No handing off to a covering provider.
Talk to a psychiatrist who specializes in anxiety and panic disorders.
Book a Fit Call — $100 · 20 minutesPanic attacks are not dangerous — but they can become life-limiting
A panic attack is an acute episode of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms — racing heart, shortness of breath, derealization, the overwhelming sense that something is catastrophically wrong. They are not medically dangerous. But untreated panic disorder tends to expand: the anticipatory anxiety grows, avoidance grows, and the circle of "safe" situations shrinks.
Panic disorder is a treatable condition, and there are well-established options for it. We'll talk through what those options are, what to expect, and what makes sense for you.
Book a Fit Call — $100 · 20 minutesExplore reading, support groups, and the ADAA webinar on intrusive thoughts.
Common Questions
Do you offer telehealth for anxiety? Which states do you serve?
Yes. Dr. Batista provides telehealth care for adults 18 and older in New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. You must be physically located in one of these states at the time of your appointment.
What does treatment involve—medication, therapy, or both?
Care starts with an evaluation to understand your anxiety and the patterns behind it. Dr. Batista is both a psychiatrist and an experienced psychotherapist, and treatment can include medication management, psychotherapy provided by Dr. Batista herself, or both, with ERP (exposure and response prevention) when appropriate. If you already have a therapist you want to keep, she can coordinate with them, with your permission. Medication is not a requirement; decisions are made together.
How do I get started, and what does the first step cost?
You can book an evaluation directly: the Initial Psychiatric Consultation is 90 minutes and costs $1,200, while the Extended Evaluation is two hours with a written report and costs $2,400. If you have questions about fit and logistics first, the optional 20-minute video Fit Call costs $100, credited toward an evaluation booked within 30 days. The Fit Call is nonclinical and does not include diagnosis, medical advice, or treatment recommendations.
Do you take insurance? Can I get reimbursed?
The practice is private-pay and out of network. Dr. Batista provides superbills that patients can submit to their insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. In some cases, the practice can also submit a courtesy claim electronically on a patient's behalf, depending on whether the plan accepts it. This does not make the practice in network or guarantee reimbursement.
Who is this a good fit for?
This practice sees adults 18 and older with anxiety, including generalized anxiety, panic, and social anxiety. You can seek help for the first time or ask for a fresh look at treatment you have already tried. Care is tailored to your symptoms, goals, and history.
Ready to get started?
Anxiety disorders have effective treatments. We'll start with a careful evaluation and a clear conversation about your options, by telehealth in any of 11 states.
Optional · 20 minutes · $100, credited toward an evaluation booked within 30 days
90 minutes · $1,200 or two hours with report · $2,400