Finding Meaning in the Modern World: The Therapeutic Philosophy of Aliza Shapiro, LCSW Published on DLCWellness | Featured Expert Series
“Every person has the capacity to live a meaningful life - therapy simply helps them rediscover how.”
-Aliza Shapiro, LCSW
In a city defined by momentum, where the line between ambition and overwhelm often blurs, Aliza Shapiro, LCSW, has created something rare: a space designed to help people slow down, reflect, and rebuild a sense of meaning.
As the founder of Therapy in the City, Aliza works with adolescents, young adults, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, OCD, related disorders, and the emotional weight of modern life. Her approach blends clinical precision with compassion, guiding clients toward clarity, resilience, and a renewed sense of self.
A Science-Driven Approach to Emotional Growth
At the foundation of Aliza’s work are two of the most scientifically supported therapeutic frameworks: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
CBT teaches clients how to recognize and challenge distorted thinking patterns that reinforce anxiety, depression, and self-doubt. By reframing these thoughts through evidence-based techniques, clients begin to see measurable changes in both mood and behavior.
DBT, on the other hand, brings mindfulness and emotion regulation to the forefront. Developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan, DBT helps individuals balance acceptance and change - learning to validate their emotions while still moving toward healthier behaviors.
Together, these modalities allow Aliza to deliver therapy that is structured, goal-oriented, and profoundly human. It is science anchored in empathy - a therapeutic approach designed to restore balance in the mind and meaning in daily life.
Therapy That Meets You Where You Are
Through her private practice, Therapy in the City, Aliza provides both in-person and virtual therapy sessions across New York, New Jersey, Florida, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, and Vermont.
The goal is accessibility without compromise. By offering secure, virtual sessions alongside in-office care, clients can connect with a therapist who understands their experience - no matter where they live.
Clients describe Aliza as warm, intuitive, and direct in a way that feels grounding. Her sessions blend emotional depth with practical, actionable strategies. Whether supporting an adolescent struggling with intrusive thoughts or a couple rebuilding communication, Aliza delivers tailored care that fosters genuine, sustainable progress.
Mental Health in the Digital Age
Beyond the therapy room, Aliza is reshaping how mental health is discussed and understood online.
Through her social platforms, @therapist_in_nyc on Instagram and TikTok, she has built an engaged community focused on self-awareness and emotional wellness. Her content breaks complex psychological concepts into clear, relatable insights -always delivered with warmth, clarity, and candor.
Her online presence isn’t driven by trends; it’s driven by accessibility. She brings the principles of therapy into everyday conversation, creating space for meaningful dialogue and destigmatization around topics such as anxiety, trauma, OCD, and emotional regulation.
In doing so, Aliza bridges two worlds - clinical expertise and digital connection -showing that healing begins not with perfection, but with understanding.
Redefining Modern Therapy
What distinguishes Aliza’s practice is not only the scientific rigor behind it, but the heart that guides it. Therapy in the City is built on the belief that healing begins with awareness, compassion, and the courage to face the parts of ourselves we’ve avoided.
Her sessions are not about “fixing” people, but about helping them reconnect with the parts of themselves that have been overshadowed by stress, fear, or self-doubt. In a world that moves too quickly, Aliza’s work invites people to pause - to re-engage with their own story and begin living it with intention.
About the Expert
Aliza Shapiro, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist and the founder of Therapy in the City, a private practice based in New York City. She specializes in CBT and DBTfor anxiety, depression, OCD, and related disorders, offering therapy for individuals and couples across multiple states, including NY, NJ, FL, CA, CO, CT, MA, SC, and VT.
Beyond her clinical work, Aliza is a leading mental health advocate who uses her platform @therapist_in_nyc to educate, inspire, and normalize the conversation around mental health.
To learn more or book a consultation, visit therapyinthecity.org.
DLCWellness Editorial Summary
DLCWellness proudly features Therapy in the City as part of its Featured Expert Series, spotlighting licensed professionals and organizations making meaningful contributions to mental health and wellbeing.
Our mission is to amplify the voices of experts who combine scientific insight with compassion - creating real, accessible pathways to emotional wellness in a changing world.