Terri Bacow’s Private Practice

Terri Bacow’s Private Practice Welcome to my therapy practice! I am a CBT specialist on the Upper West Side of NYC.

Motherhood can feel like living with your nervous system permanently set to “something is about to go wrong.”😯I had a gr...
05/08/2026

Motherhood can feel like living with your nervous system permanently set to “something is about to go wrong.”😯

I had a great conversation with Monica Crnogorac () host of the Parenting Anxious Teens Podcast - we talked about why parenting, especially parenting teens, can amplify anxiety, perfectionism, guilt, overthinking, and emotional exhaustion for moms.

We also discussed what actually helps: how to stop spiraling, manage uncertainty, respond more calmly, and take care of yourself without feeling selfish.

We covered:

• why moms are so mentally overloaded
• the connection between anxiety and control
• the pressure to “do motherhood perfectly”
• practical coping tools rooted in psychological science
• how to model emotional resilience for your kids

If you’ve ever laid awake replaying a conversation with your child, worried constantly about whether you’re “doing enough,” or felt like your brain simply never shuts off… this episode is for you.

Because motherhood is hard enough without anxiety running the entire show...

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom peers!! I see you!! 🌸🌸🌸🌸💕💕

🎧 Streaming now.

CBT

Hello parents of anxious kids (and the therapists who work with them)! I haven’t done a book review post in a while, but...
02/03/2026

Hello parents of anxious kids (and the therapists who work with them)! I haven’t done a book review post in a while, but this one is special. I’m genuinely excited to recommend a fantastic new workbook for kids ages 8–13 with OCD, perfect for parents, therapists, or anyone supporting a child who’s struggling.

As a parent myself and someone who works with anxiety, I know how stressful it can be when your child has an anxiety disorder. It’s hard to watch them struggle, and it’s not always obvious what to do next.

My talented colleague Dr. Marni Jacob has written a smart, engaging, science-backed workbook called What to Do When You Have a Tricky, Sticky, Picky Brain (capturing exactly what OCD feels like!) and it just came out last month. It’s the perfect book to grab if your child is showing signs of OCD or has already been diagnosed. And trust me, they won’t reject it once they see the vivid colors, adorable illustrations, and FUN exercises. Dr. Jacob makes it clear from the start that she “gets it,” and she’s going to help, while making CBT concepts totally accessible and easy to follow.

If you’re a clinician who does ERP, this book is also a terrific companion for your work. I told Dr. Jacob I’m planning to pull concepts from it for some of my young adult clients, too.

I’m totally in love with this workbook. Published by , you can find it on Amazon and other online retailers.

If you’re looking for a warm, practical, kid-friendly way to introduce OCD management skills and build confidence (without making it feel overwhelming), this is it. Highly recommend. ⭐️

I was so excited to be one of 11 therapists interviewed for Samantha Brodsky’s new mental health Substack . Sam is a jou...
01/21/2026

I was so excited to be one of 11 therapists interviewed for Samantha Brodsky’s new mental health Substack . Sam is a journalist who writes a great deal about mental health (her work has previously been featured at Wondermind (a company founded by Selena Gomez and her mother).

Her goal with is to share insights from therapy givers (therapists!) and therapy goers. I spoke to her a few weeks ago for a feature on therapists’ top wins from 2025. Mine of course was starting a new book!

I loved what the other professionals she also interviewed shared in this piece, and adore Sam’s mission to lighten your mental load by demystifying therapy. Her substack is totally free and it is fascinating, and she shares plenty of advice from her own experiences (check out her post on “mental loans” from her own therapist).

Please feel free to give her a follow, and be on the lookout for further updates from me about the writing process!

substackcommunity therapistperspective writingabook behindthescenes momlife

Calling all moms! I’m excited to share that I’m writing a new book! (And if I’ve seemed a little MIA here lately, this i...
01/08/2026

Calling all moms! I’m excited to share that I’m writing a new book! (And if I’ve seemed a little MIA here lately, this is why. If you are a mom yourself, you probably totally get it. The juggle is real!)

If you’re married with children and feel like you’re doing most of the thinking, planning, remembering, and managing, while your partner somehow gets credit for “helping,” this is the book for you.

Why Am I Doing Everything? explores the invisible mental load so many mothers carry, and the burnout, resentment, and low-grade irritation that can build even in loving relationships.

For those of you who are accustomed to my posts about anxiety, I can share that this book will definitely draw on psychological science—and my experience as both a clinician and a mom—to share practical, research-backed tools that help you understand what’s happening, communicate more clearly, and make real changes at home - best of all — without piling on more work for you.

This is a book for moms who love their families, are trying their best, and still occasionally fantasize about checking into a hotel alone… just to sleep. The publisher is . I’m tagging some colleagues who I know can relate—and who I’m grateful to have in my corner as I work on this. Thank you for cheering me on!

More to come. 💛

marriageandmotherhood modernmotherhood burnoutculture mompsychologist
therapyandmotherhood mentalhealthmatters evidencebased tiredmomsclub newbook
authorlife bookannouncement happy2026

Are you an eldest daughter? This is not a diagnosis, but a social/cultural term with many elements of truth to it! Psych...
10/30/2025

Are you an eldest daughter? This is not a diagnosis, but a social/cultural term with many elements of truth to it! Psychological research on birth order does support that the greatest resources (and pressure) are directed at the first born.

I was pleased to discuss this in with journalist . Many people who are the oldest daughter in their families report feeling “seen” by the term, and it is wonderful when your feelings are validated.

As an anxiety specialist, I help a lot of folks with high functioning anxiety which some eldest daughters report having due to the expectations they feel they need to meet. It is helpful to remember that perfectionism can make anxiety stronger and modifying standards can be liberating.

Send this to someone you know who can relate! Taylor would approve!

When it comes to anxiety, no one likes being uncomfortable! We try to manage our fear of being uncomfortable in a partic...
10/03/2025

When it comes to anxiety, no one likes being uncomfortable! We try to manage our fear of being uncomfortable in a particular situation by avoiding that situation or person. This is understandable!

However, if the worst that happens to you in any given circumstance is that you might be uncomfortable, is that really so bad?

Discomfort is temporary! And, you are no stranger to it! It is helpful to remind yourself that you have been uncomfortable before, and you have gotten through it and then have promptly forgotten all about it. Tolerating discomfort builds strength and resilience.

Coping statements can give you a quick boost of courage. They are wonderful reminders you can keep in your pocket. Elsa from Frozen had the best one when she said, “The cold doesn’t bother me anyway....”

Don’t let the cold bother you!! Pass it on!

Sometimes we face stressful situations that we simply can’t control. In those moments, it’s worth pausing to ask: Will w...
09/10/2025

Sometimes we face stressful situations that we simply can’t control. In those moments, it’s worth pausing to ask: Will worrying help—or will it just make me feel worse? Most of the time, worry doesn’t add value, even if it feels like it will.

I frequently ask my clients to jump in on a pros and cons exercise with me (you can’t go wrong with a good old fashioned mini debate). If you compare the benefit of worrying against the cost(s) a clear winner will emerge. Adding worry on top of something that you can’t control definitely isn’t the strategy to go for (anyone playing in the US Open will agree - it is ALL about strategy).🎾

Share this with your favorite overthinker… they’ll thank you (eventually).

Mental health stigma is so over!! I was thrilled to chat about this with the lovely host and advocate on the podcast. ...
08/12/2025

Mental health stigma is so over!! I was thrilled to chat about this with the lovely host and advocate on the podcast. Our episode is out tomorrow August 13 - please be on the lookout for it!!! 🎙️🎙️

Fran is the founder of (a nonprofit promoting mental health awareness and su***de prevention) and the community (where you can practice self-acceptance and boost your motivation).

She and I had an illuminating conversation about anxiety management and CBT! In particular, we discussed how to reframe your mindset by identifying a handful of key thinking traps that you may not even realize you are engaging in.

Fran shared her own personal journey with anxiety and mental health treatment. It was amazing to connect. Stay tuned for the episode and clips of it, which I will be sharing this week!

This is me! And many of us!Anxiety and mood disorders tend to affect women at a 2:1 ratio compared to men. Girls and wom...
08/08/2025

This is me! And many of us!

Anxiety and mood disorders tend to affect women at a 2:1 ratio compared to men. Girls and women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with generalized anxiety (GAD), panic disorder and specific phobias, for example.

This is due to a complex mix of biological, psychological and sociocultural reasons. Research shows that women’s brains may be more reactive in regions tied to fear and emotion regulation (e.g., the amygdala and prefrontal cortex).

Further, girls and women are more likely to ruminate (dwelling on distressing thoughts) and engage in negative self-appraisal (i.e., body dissatisfaction, self-criticism and perfectionism).

Lastly, women are quite frankly more stressed - they are frequently expected to manage caregiving, emotional labor, and household responsibilities. even when working full time. Anxiety often begins in puberty, at a moment of increasing academic and social demands.

There are other factors too (i.e. gender stigma, exposure to trauma, genetics).

The upshot? Women’s health matters, and it is no surprise that women are true superheroes. Let’s give our moms, daughters and friends more support!! And therapy always helps! Post shared from

Share this with a gal that you know and love! 💕

Misinformation can be a really big problem these days!! While social media has so many advantages, one of the drawbacks ...
08/06/2025

Misinformation can be a really big problem these days!! While social media has so many advantages, one of the drawbacks is that you can encounter ideas that are false or inaccurate, especially when it comes to mental health.

For example, there are a ton of TikTok videos that suggest that certain feelings, sensations or symptoms “mean” that you have a full blown psychological disorder. This includes the misconception that “everyone” has a little bit of “something.” Further, when not posted by experts, often a suggestion will be made regarding a trick or step to improve your mental health that may be totally misguided (i.e., going for a walk is nice for mood, but it will not cure depression).

I was pleased to comment on this topic in this terrific article in written by . My aim is not to lecture (I love our IG community!) but rather to encourage folks struggling with mental health concerns to be cautious. If you think something is going on for you, the best way to get a diagnosis is to meet with a licensed mental health provider. Typically, the only way to know if you have a certain condition is if you meet very specific (DSM-V) criteria.

Above all, try to follow the accounts that really seem to know their stuff - the ones generated by the experts themselves! To read more, check out the full article (link in bio and in stories)

You may be spending a lot of time fighting with your worry thoughts or trying to get them to stop. Defusing worry is a t...
07/31/2025

You may be spending a lot of time fighting with your worry thoughts or trying to get them to stop. Defusing worry is a tactic in which instead of actively engaging with your worries, you detach yourself from, or “unfollow” them.

Defusion is a strategy that asks you to look at your worry thoughts simply as mental activity in your brain. Research shows that people who stop attempting suppress worry and simply mindfully observe that they are having worry thoughts feel more calm. In this strategy, the content of the worry is totally irrelevant :)

To defuse your worry, view your thoughts from a distance, nonjudgmentally and with curiosity. Mindfully identify your worries, and fill the blanks of the following statements (or what I like to call, “therapy mad libs”):

I am having the thought that_____________.
I am having the belief that______________.
My anxiety is telling me that_____________.
My brain is suggesting the idea that_________.

Pick your favorite, try it, and see what a difference it makes!!

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New York, NY

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+19177560060

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