ClaraGrace Pavelka, LMSW
Associate Therapist
IN-NETWORK WITH AETNA AND NORTHWELL HEALTH
Specialties: Body Image & Disordered Eating, Perfectionism, Anxiety & Overthinking, Relationship Challenges, Identity Exploration, Life Transitions
Clients: College Students, Young Professionals, & Adults
Hi, I’m ClaraGrace.
In therapy with me, we start with the part of you that works hard to keep it together. You meet the deadlines, maintain the relationships, and hold yourself to a standard that leaves little room for error. From the outside, it looks handled, but somewhere beneath the surface, you keep asking, “There has to be a better way,” or “Why do I still feel stuck?”
That’s where our work begins.
I see people of all genders one-on-one, and I especially love supporting people through anxiety, perfectionism, and body image struggles. Body image is rarely just about food or appearance. It’s about the impossible standards society sets, and how deeply those messages can take root in the way you see yourself, treat your body, and move through the world. I listen closely, and I’ll work as hard as you do, whether you want to start with the everyday stress or you’re ready to go deeper.
Together, we’ll explore:
the patterns shaping your relationship with yourself, your body, and food
how perfectionism, self-criticism, and societal pressure may be driving anxiety, burnout, or disconnection, and shaping what you believe you deserve
the stress and nervous system signals your body has been sending, and what they’re trying to tell you
practical tools for emotional regulation, self-compassion, and self-trust
Our work goes to the root of what keeps this cycle going, because once you can see it clearly, real and lasting change becomes possible.
You’ve spent years holding it all together. This work is about finally putting yourself on the list of people you show up for, and building a healthier relationship with your body, food, and yourself. It’s about a steadier nervous system and a life that doesn’t just look good from the outside but actually feels like yours.
My Approach
I believe what brings you into therapy has a logic to it. Anxiety, perfectionism, and body image struggles often develop for a reason, as ways to cope, protect yourself, or manage overwhelming pressure.
Trained at Columbia University and grounded in trauma-informed care, my approach is warm, collaborative, and deeply human. Therapy is never one-size-fits-all, so we’ll build the work around you. The pressure you feel in your career, your relationships, and your relationship with your body is real, and it deserves care and nuance.
Together, we work to understand the patterns keeping you stuck, build practical tools for change, and help you feel more grounded, confident, and at home in yourself.
I draw on:
ACT for values-based living: Rather than fighting difficult thoughts and feelings, we make room for them while still moving toward what matters most to you.
CBT for anxiety and perfectionism: We gently challenge the inner critic and all-or-nothing thinking that fuel anxiety, burnout, and disconnection.
DBT skills and mindfulness: You’ll gain practical tools for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and staying grounded, so life feels more manageable outside of session.
What Working With Me Feels Like
Some weeks, you may want to go deeper into the relationships, experiences, and emotions behind how you move through the world. Other weeks, you may want something more practical, like a skill, a plan, or direct feedback you can use right away. I move at your pace, and both have a place here.
I’m an active part of the conversation. I’ll ask the real questions, offer my honest take, and tell you what I’m noticing. There’s room for humor alongside the harder conversations, because the moments that remind you you’re human belong in the room too.
You bring your story and your goals, and I bring my full effort and care. You don’t need to arrive with answers. We’ll work it out together.
What We Work On Together
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Anxiety Spirals
The kind of anxiety where your mind just won’t shut off no matter where you are or what you’re doing
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Relationship Dynamics
Exploring relationships with loved ones (friends, partners, family) that leave you feeling unseen + misunderstood
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Finding Your Way Through Change
Life transitions and identity shifts that leave you feeling stuck, lost, or unsure of what’s next
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Burnout + Perfectionism
Working through the years of not feeling “enough” that have led to the pressure to never slow down
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Body Image + Self-Worth
Working with your mind and body to unlearn old narratives and learn to feel at home in yourself
Credentials
Education
Masters in Social Work — Columbia University
B.A. Psychology and Women and Gender Studies — University of Texas at Austin
Clinical Experience
New York State Psychiatric Institute
NYC Public Schools
My Toolkit
Cogntive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Skills
CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I)
CBT for Psychosis
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Perfectionsism
Dialectival Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Skills
Current Role
Associate Therapist—Gluck Psychology Collective
WHAT TO EXPECT
Frequently Asked Questions About Working With ClaraGrace
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ClaraGrace Pavelka works with college students, young professionals, and adults navigating:
anxiety and overthinking
perfectionism
burnout
body image struggles
disordered eating
self-worth challenges
relationship dynamics
identity exploration
major life transitions
Many of her clients are high-functioning on the outside while internally feeling overwhelmed, self-critical, emotionally exhausted, or disconnected from themselves.
She specializes in helping individuals better understand the patterns underneath anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and body image struggles while building a healthier relationship with themselves overall.
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Therapy with ClaraGrace is warm, collaborative, insight-oriented, and grounded in real life.
Some sessions focus on slowing down and understanding deeper emotional patterns, relationship dynamics, and the experiences that shaped how you see yourself. Other sessions are more practical and focused on emotional regulation tools, structure, boundaries, self-compassion, and coping strategies you can actually use outside of therapy.
She creates a space that feels thoughtful, supportive, and nonjudgmental while also helping clients challenge the perfectionism, self-criticism, and pressure that often keep them stuck.
Clients often appreciate that therapy with ClaraGrace can hold both depth and levity. There is space for honesty, reflection, humor, vulnerability, and genuine connection throughout the process.
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ClaraGrace integrates:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
trauma-informed therapy
mindfulness and nervous system regulation
Motivational Interviewing
CBT for insomnia (CBT-I)
eating disorder psychoeducation
Her work focuses on helping clients understand the deeper patterns underneath anxiety, perfectionism, body image concerns, burnout, and disordered eating while also building practical tools for emotional regulation, self-trust, and sustainable change.
She also incorporates a strong relational and identity-focused lens, helping clients explore how societal pressure, gender expectations, family dynamics, and life experiences may still be shaping how they relate to themselves today.
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At this time, ClaraGrace is only providing virtual sessions in the evening.
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Yes. ClaraGrace Pavelka is currently in-network with Aetna and Northwell Direct through Gluck Psychology Collective.
If you have questions about insurance coverage, out-of-network benefits, or therapy rates, our team is happy to help guide you through the consultation process.
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ClaraGrace Pavelka’s rate for 45–50 minute individual therapy sessions is $225.
She is also currently in-network with Aetna through Gluck Psychology Collective.
If you have questions about insurance coverage, therapy rates, or finding the best fit financially and clinically, we’re happy to discuss options during the consultation process.
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ClaraGrace may be a strong fit if you:
are tired of constantly feeling “not enough”
struggle with perfectionism or anxiety
feel emotionally overwhelmed beneath a high-functioning exterior
have a difficult relationship with food, your body, or self-worth
tend to people-please or overextend yourself
want therapy that balances emotional insight with practical support
are looking for a therapist who feels warm, collaborative, thoughtful, and genuinely human
Her approach is especially supportive for clients who are ready to move beyond simply “holding it together” and want to feel more grounded, self-compassionate, emotionally regulated, and connected to themselves.
Let’s Work Together
If you’re feeling stuck, disconnected, or ready to make space for your own healing—I’d be honored to walk alongside you. Click the link below to get started.
