A Hoboken Psychologist Challenges How We Think About Anxiety

May 26, 2026 - 22:07

Dr. Joe Coleman, a licensed psychologist and founder of Liberty Psychological Services in Hoboken, is taking a different approach to anxiety treatment. Instead of focusing solely on symptom reduction, his practice encourages clients to reconsider what anxiety actually means in their lives.

Coleman argues that anxiety is not simply a disorder to be eliminated. Rather, it can serve as a signal worth examining. Many people spend years trying to suppress anxious feelings through medication, avoidance, or distraction. But Coleman believes that understanding the root message behind the anxiety can lead to more lasting change.

At Liberty Psychological Services, the therapy process involves exploring the context of a person's anxiety. What triggers it? What story is the mind telling itself? Coleman helps clients see that anxiety often points to values that matter to them, such as a desire for safety, connection, or achievement. By reframing anxiety as a form of information rather than a malfunction, clients can learn to respond differently.

This perspective does not dismiss the real distress that anxiety causes. Instead, it offers a path that goes beyond just managing symptoms. Coleman's practice uses evidence-based methods like cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness, but always with the goal of helping people build a new relationship with their anxious thoughts. For those tired of fighting their anxiety, this approach offers a chance to understand it instead.