Meet Zoe Cohen, LMSW, LCSW

Conason Psychological Services is Growing: Welcome Zoe Cohen, LMSW, LCSW!

We’re excited to announce that Conason Psychological Services is expanding! Please join us in welcoming Zoe Cohen, LMSW, LCSW, to our team.

Zoe and I first met in 2023, but the timing wasn’t quite right for her to join us. When we reconnected late last year, everything aligned perfectly, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have her on board.

Expert in Evidence-Based Eating Disorder Treatment & Mental Health Care

Zoe brings specialized expertise in evidence-based therapy for eating disorders, including:

✔ Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

✔ Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT)

✔ Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E)

✔ Family-Based Therapy (FBT)

While these approaches may sound like alphabet soup, each is specifically designed to support individuals struggling with eating disorders, disordered eating, and related mental health challenges.

Zoe’s therapeutic style is a unique blend of warmth, empathy, and a no-nonsense, straightforward approach, helping clients navigate their mental health journeys with clarity and support.

Who Zoe Works With

In addition to her work with eating disorders, Zoe specializes in treating:

🔹 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

🔹 Mood Disorders

🔹 Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

She provides therapy for adolescents, adults, and families, offering compassionate, evidence-based care.

Now Accepting New Clients

Zoe is currently accepting new clients for:

📍 In-Person Sessions – at our Manhattan office

💻 Virtual Therapy – available for clients in New York (NY), New Jersey (NJ), Connecticut (CT), Florida (FL), and Rhode Island (RI)

If you or someone you know is seeking specialized support, reach out today to schedule a consultation and see if Zoe is the right fit for you or your clients.

📩 Contact Us to Get Started!

The best way to get to know Zoe is through her own words so, as has become tradition at Conason Psychological Services, I'm sharing my interview with Zoe below:

Your work is informed by modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). For those who aren’t familiar, can you describe them for us?

I have always resonated with CBT, as I find it to be most effective for clients that are highly anxious due to the change oriented and present focused nature. Specifically for patients that tend to struggle with rigidity, over-control, and black/white thinking. I take a pragmatic and humanistic approach to CBT, ensuring that my clients feel understood while providing practical tools for change. I often utilize metaphors, role-play, and imaginal exposures to really help my clients get a good sense of what this would feel like. And, I really try to get in the weeds with my patients, helping my patients to conquer their fears, in a slow and gradual way, together. This is not a solo journey, and walking alongside each client in whatever way is necessary is central to my approach.

I’m trained in specialized therapeutic modalities tailored to meet the unique needs of my clients, including CBT-E and DBT. CBT-E is a transdiagnostic approach that follows a structured, protocol-driven process with four key stages: assessment and formulation, addressing core behaviors and cognitive distortions, exploring deeper emotional and identity issues, and preparing for relapse prevention and long-term recovery.

I also find DBT to be highly effective for many of my clients, regardless of their specific diagnosis. Its emphasis on building a broad skill set— emotional regulation, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance—makes it a versatile and valuable approach for navigating a range of life’s challenges.

You have a lot of experience working with patients who have complex symptoms including chronic eating disorders, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and self-harm . Can you share some of your training and how this has informed and inspired your approach?

Prior to specializing in eating disorder care, my clinical training began with a position at a suicide prevention hotline, where I developed essential skills for providing immediate, high-level support to individuals in crisis. This experience was foundational in shaping my approach to therapy, particularly my ability to remain calm and compassionate while taking decisive action when necessary.

I also spent time at a therapeutic school in Manhattan, where I worked with children and teens diagnosed with a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This role deepened my clinical understanding and gave me valuable experience with patients dealing with complex issues such as chronic suicidality and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior.

You have a special interest in working with patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Can you share how this informs your work, whether you’re working with an OCD diagnosis or not.

What I like about treating OCD is that most clients believe it’s really difficult to challenge obsessive thoughts and compulsions, but in reality, OCD can be treated in a pretty quick fashion with the right support and care. I help clients to really understand what is creating the anxiety that is leading them to engage in compulsive behaviors and rituals, and help them face the fear that they are typically avoiding.

I believe that real change can happen utilizing evidence-based modalities AND I fully believe in embracing oneself and helping my clients to understand and parse out if their symptoms are harmful or helpful. I often hear statements like “why am I like this?” or “how do I get rid of my anxiety?” My approach is to help clients not only understand and accept their brains, but even learn to appreciate them. Some symptoms we can work to eliminate, while others we can manage—moving toward greater acceptance and tolerance of what is.

Working with a provider that is the “right fit” is the most important part of any therapeutic relationship and treatment. How would you describe your sessions and overall therapeutic style? What’s it like to work with you?

I view the therapeutic relationship as the cornerstone of successful treatment. A strong, trusting bond between therapist and client is crucial for meaningful progress. My style is best described as engaged, empathetic, and dynamic. I’m deeply invested in my clients' journeys, offering both challenge and support in equal measure. Sessions are interactive, and I encourage clients to bring whatever is on their minds—whether it’s a specific concern or just a desire to explore more deeply.

My goal is to create a space where clients feel safe, heard, and understood, whether we’re meeting in person or virtually. I strive for warmth, openness, and trust, so that clients look forward to their sessions and feel comfortable delving into their emotions and experiences. Therapy is a collaborative process, and I work hard to ensure that clients know they are never alone in their healing journey.