Dr. Rachel K. Levy, Ph.D.
 Focus Areas

Anxiety is experienced as frequent worry,  fear, or even panic, and can include physical symptoms like a racing heart, tension, or trouble relaxing.   disrupt daily life and relationships.  My approach is tailored to each patient but addresses anxiety on multiple levels-the cognitive with CBT, the interpersonal, and the intrapersonal for durable change and relief.  

Parents often reach out feeling overwhelmed by or concerned for their child.  I draw on motivational interviewing, child development and other approaches to help parents find practical, effective ways forward, along with support through transitions like divorce, co-parenting, or blended families.

OCD is characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that often lead to repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to alleviate anxiety — though some people experience obsessions without compulsions. Individuals with OCD may recognize that their obsessions are irrational but feel compelled to perform compulsive behaviors to prevent perceived harm. This condition can interfere significantly with daily activities and relationships. I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard treatment for OCD, and make sure each patient understands how and why it works before we begin

Depression may present as persistent low mood, loss of interest in things you once enjoyed, fatigue, or changes in sleep and appetite and can take a toll on daily life and relationships if left unaddressed. My approach is individualized and integrative, with the goal of real, felt improvement.  

Eating disorders are characterized by preoccupation with food, weight, or body image, often alongside behaviors like restricting, bingeing, purging, or over-exercising that  impact health, well-being, and daily functioning.   I view eating disorders as often reflecting deeper, unmet emotional needs, frequently rooted in attachment, that must be understood and addressed for lasting change, not just symptom relief.  Drawing on  my decades of research and clinical experience in eating disorders, I work with patients, and, when useful, their families, to optimize outcomes. 

Gambling disorder involves a persistent, often hidden, pattern of gambling that continues despite financial, relational, or emotional harm.  Often what causes people to start gambling isn't what perpetuates it.  I help patients understand and break the cycle of problem gambling and educate them to helpful resources like voluntary self-exclusion programs and non-profits that provide  free, confidential financial counseling, budgeting, and debt-management services, specifically tailored for gambling recovery and financial distress.  

Even strong relationships hit rough patches.  I help couples understand each other more clearly and break the cycles of conflict or disconnection many fall into, building patterns that actually work.

Substance Use Disorders are characterized by persistent use of drugs or alcohol despite negative consequences.   Many have vowed to cut down or quit, only to find that they cannot.  I do not view this as a personal or moral failure; the body can develop both physical and psychological dependence on substances and addressing both carefully are necessary to resolution.  I work closely with each patient to meet their goals, whether that's moderation or abstinence, and can advise when and which. medical interventions may be necessary or useful.  Once a person is medically stable, I use a range of approached to help patients understand  what may have made them vulnerable to substance use in the first place, address those needs directly and develop coping skills,

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This category encompasses a wide range of issues for which individuals might seek therapy beyond specific diagnoses. It includes coping with life transitions (such as divorce or job loss), managing stress or trauma from life events, improving self-esteem, and fostering personal growth.