Treatment options for anxiety depression OCD and ADHD

What we mean by treatment options

Treatment options are the range of clinical approaches we use to reduce symptoms and improve functioning. That includes evidence based psychotherapies, medications, strategies to manage side effects, structured behavioral plans for conditions such as OCD and ADHD, and coordination with other clinicians. We offer individualized care through our psychiatry practice and coordinate with therapists and other providers when collaboration will help treatment.

Why treatment choice matters locally

Choosing the right treatment matters because the same diagnosis can need very different approaches depending on severity, medical history, past response to treatment and life context. In New York City, where demands on work and school are high, we emphasize practical strategies that reduce symptoms and support day to day functioning. Our approach starts with a careful diagnostic assessment and a clear treatment plan you understand.

Key concepts to understand

• Diagnostic assessment. A clear diagnosis is the foundation for deciding whether psychotherapy, medication, or both are appropriate. We evaluate symptoms, history and functioning and explain options during the assessment. Learn about our diagnostic approach in our diagnostic assessment topic.
• Psychotherapy types. Cognitive behavioral methods, exposure techniques for OCD and anxiety, and supportive therapy are common choices. Psychotherapy may be offered alongside medication or on its own depending on the condition.
• Medication management. Medications can reduce symptoms for anxiety, depression, mood disorders and ADHD. We manage dosing, monitor effects and handle side effect management using established clinical principles. Read about medication management and psychopharmacology principles.
• Combined care. Many patients improve fastest with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. We coordinate with therapists and other providers to align treatment goals and timing.
• Evidence based choices. We choose approaches supported by clinical research and adapt them to your needs, whether that means exposure therapy for OCD, stimulants or non stimulant options for ADHD, or mood stabilizers for bipolar spectrum conditions.

Common treatment options explained

Below are the primary approaches we use and when each is commonly indicated.

• Psychotherapy. Includes cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy for anxiety and OCD, and supportive approaches that focus on coping skills. Psychotherapy is often the first line for mild to moderate conditions and an essential component for many people with anxiety or OCD. See our page on exposure therapy for more detail.
• Medication management. Antidepressants, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers and medications for ADHD can be effective when matched to diagnosis and medical history. We follow careful medication management principles, monitor response, and address side effects. Learn more about medication management and psychopharmacology principles.
• Combined psychotherapy and medication. For moderate to severe symptoms, or when previous treatment was incomplete, the combination often gives the best chance of symptom reduction and return to function.
• Behavioral strategies and skills training. For ADHD and OCD, structured behavioral plans, executive function support and exposure based techniques are practical parts of care. We work with patients and families to set realistic behavioral steps and support school or workplace accommodations when needed.
• Coordinated care and follow up. Long term improvement usually requires follow up, outcome tracking and coordination with therapists, primary care, or school health staff. We emphasize clear communication and shared decision making.

How we decide which option to use

Decision making follows a consistent process so your plan matches your needs.

1. Comprehensive assessment. We start with a diagnostic assessment that reviews symptoms, medical history, prior treatments and goals, and helps rule out other causes.
2. Discuss options. We explain the likely benefits and tradeoffs of psychotherapy, medication, or combined care, and how they fit your schedule and preferences.
3. Shared decision making. You and our clinician pick an initial plan and set measurable goals. We also plan how we will track progress and adjust therapy or medication as needed. See our shared decision making topic for how this works.
4. Start and monitor. We begin treatment, monitor response using symptom tracking, and make changes if the plan is not helping.
5. Coordination and follow up. We coordinate care with therapists and other providers when collaboration improves outcomes.

Checklist for choosing a treatment path

How treatment differs by condition

We tailor choices to specific conditions:

• For anxiety disorders we commonly use cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure techniques along with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors when indicated. See our anxiety therapy service for more about specific approaches.
• For depression we consider psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, and close follow up to assess functional recovery. Learn more on our depression therapy page.
• For obsessive compulsive disorder we emphasize exposure and response prevention plus medication when needed. Our OCD therapy page describes this in more detail.
• For ADHD we assess executive function, discuss stimulant and non stimulant medication options, and offer strategies for work and school support. Visit our ADHD therapy page and the ADHD assessment topic for practical guidance.
• For mood disorders we combine medication strategies, psychotherapy and relapse prevention planning, with careful monitoring of mood stability. Our mood disorder therapy page outlines typical components of care.

Comparison of common approaches

Related services we provide

We integrate several services so treatment is practical and continuous. Our core services include psychiatry and medication oversight through our psychiatry services, targeted interventions for anxiety and depression through our anxiety therapy and depression therapy offerings, specialized care for mood disorders on our mood disorder therapy page, and focused treatment for OCD and ADHD on our OCD therapy and ADHD therapy pages. We also use diagnostic assessment and medication management topics to guide complex decisions.

Related locations and local considerations

We practice on the Upper West Side of New York and design plans that reflect city life, commuting, school calendars and workplace demands. Many patients balance appointments with work or classes, so we discuss scheduling, coordination with campus health services or employers, and resources available in New York for additional therapy or support.

Helpful resources and next steps

For readers who want to learn more, we link to our topics on medication management, psychopharmacology principles and diagnostic assessment. If you are part of a care team, our pages on shared decision making and care coordination explain how we work with therapists and physicians. For school or workplace concerns, see our work and school support and accommodations process topics.