Paul Greene, PhD is a licensed psychologist and Director of Manhattan Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, a group practice specializing in OCD, health anxiety, panic, and anxiety disorders.
He has over 20 years of clinical experience and previously served as an assistant professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where he conducted research and supervised medical residents. He completed his doctoral training at Boston University and postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Mount Sinai.
Dr. Greene has been quoted in national media including The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, Cosmopolitan, and Salon, and is a member of the Public Education Committee of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
He is available to provide expert commentary, quotes, or background on anxiety, OCD, panic attacks, and related topics.
Media contact
(646) 863-4225
I typically respond to inquiries within one business day.
Areas of Expertise
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), including “pure O” presentations
- Health anxiety
- Panic attacks and panic disorder
- Intrusive thoughts and unwanted mental content
- Insomnia (CBT-I)
- PTSD and trauma-related anxiety
- Body-focused repetitive behaviors (hair pulling, skin picking)
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP)
- Mindfulness and meditation in the treatment of anxiety
Clinical Perspective
Dr. Greene’s work focuses on identifying the patterns that keep anxiety going over time—especially cycles involving reassurance-seeking, avoidance, and attempts to eliminate uncertainty or control internal experiences.
Across many conditions, the same dynamic appears: strategies that feel like they should help (e.g., trying to get certainty, suppress thoughts, or avoid discomfort) often make those experiences more persistent.
While Dr. Greene frequently provides media commentary, the broader clinical approach reflected on this page is shared across Manhattan CBT.
Examples of Dr. Greene’s Clinical Perspective
These are examples of how Dr. Greene explains common psychological patterns:
“Reassurance reduces anxiety briefly, but often strengthens the need for more reassurance later.”
“Panic attacks feel dangerous, but they’re the body’s alarm system misfiring and not a sign of actual danger.”
“The urge to escape during panic is a symptom of the alarm system being activated, not proof that escape is necessary.”
“Mindfulness isn’t about getting rid of thoughts! It’s about changing your relationship to them.”
“Much of emotional suffering comes from treating temporary situations as though they are permanent.”
“The problem in OCD usually isn’t the thought itself. It’s the effort to get certainty about the thought.”
“Successful meditation does not require a quiet mind.”
Selected Resources from Manhattan CBT
The following articles reflect the clinical approach used across our practice and may be useful for background or citation:
- Mindfulness for beginners
- Why do I need constant reassurance?
- What it means to feel like you’re crying for no reason
- Fear of driving and anxiety
- Pedophilic OCD (POCD)
Additional resources available upon request.
Selected Media & Presentations
Selected media coverage
Dr. Greene has been quoted in national and international media on anxiety and OCD. Selected examples include:
- “How to Blush Without Shame” — The New York Times Magazine
- “Meditation Myths You Should Stop Believing” — Forbes
- Additional coverage in Cosmopolitan, Salon, and broadcast media
Educational presentations
Dr. Greene has presented webinars for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) on topics related to OCD and anxiety. Selected presentations include:
- What Are Intrusive Thoughts, and How Can You Deal with Them? (ADAA webinar)
- (New Years) Resolutions in Ruins! (ADAA webinar)
Additional presentations available upon request.
Practice Overview
Manhattan Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is a group psychotherapy practice offering evidence-based treatment for anxiety, OCD, and related conditions. Services are available in-person in New York City and via telehealth in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and other participating states.
Other clinicians at Manhattan CBT are also available to comment on topics including trauma, depression, substance use, and emotion regulation.