Michael Brustein, Licensed Psychologist

I’m a clinical psychologist in New York City, trained at Harvard Medical School and the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. I work with high-striving, curious professionals who struggle with anxiety, anger, obsessive compulsion (OCD), perfectionism, and the pressures that often come with achievement. Much of my work is with executives, founders, and C-suite leaders navigating burnout, high-stakes decisions, and the emotional costs of sustained performance. Many of my clients function seamlessly on the outside while feeling caught in overthinking, self-criticism, irritability, or relationship friction, or in a persistent sense that they should be doing (or feeling) better. I’m the author of Perfectionism: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals, and as an assistant professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, I’ve taught psychotherapy techniques, abnormal psychology, and group therapy. My approach integrates cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and psychodynamic therapy, so the work is both practical and exploratory. You’ll learn concrete strategies to reduce rumination, anxiety, and emotional reactivity in real time. Alongside that, we’ll look at why certain situations feel so charged, why familiar cycles repeat, and what internal expectations shape your life and relationships. At times I bring books, essays, or film into our work. People often recognize themselves in a character or story before they’ve found the words to describe their own experience, and those moments can open up new ways of thinking about identity, relationships, and internal conflict. I primarily work via telehealth and offer limited in-person sessions in New York City. I’m licensed through PSYPACT, which allows me to see clients by telehealth in 43 states. If any of this sounds familiar, I’d be glad to talk. I offer an initial phone consultation to get a sense of what you’re looking for and whether we’re a good fit.