Specialized OCD & Anxiety treatment

Are you struggling with intrusive thoughts, anxiety, or behaviors that feel difficult to control?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or wondering whether OCD or anxiety is a part of what you’re experiencing, I’m glad you’re here.

As an OCD specialist, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside many courageous individuals as they learn how to face their fears through exposure therapy.

Over time, I’ve seen individuals reconnect with themselves, their values, and experience joy again, even in the presence of fear, discomfort, and uncertainty.

During our initial sessions, I will focus on assessment and treatment planning to collaboratively meet your treatment goals. Most sessions include a blend of psycho-education, in-session exposures, and skill building.

Most individuals see a gradual lifting of symptoms within the first few months and sustained improvement after treatment ends along with a sense of empowerment.

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

While many may say, “I’m so OCD” or regard OCD as a fun personality trait, OCD is an often serious and disabling mental health condition affecting individuals of all ages. Although OCD can occur at any age, there are two age ranges where OCD tends to first appear; Between the ages of 7-12 or between late adolescence to early adulthood, around age 20. The International OCD Foundation estimates that 1 in 40 adults have OCD or will develop OCD in their lives; while 1 in 100 children or teens are estimated to also have OCD.

Many individuals with OCD will experience “episodes” or “flare-up’s” throughout their lives, which occurs when one gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. While many people sometimes have obsessive thoughts or repetitive habits, a clinical OCD diagnosis requires that obsessions and compulsions consume significant time (over an hour daily), cause severe distress, and/or interfere with important valued life activities.

See the definitions of both obsessions and compulsions as well as examples of each someone with OCD might experience.

Obsessions are distressing and unwelcomed ideas, thoughts, feelings, images, or urges that are intrusive, repeatedly enter “out of the blue” into one’s mind and seem to occur against your will. They may be repugnant, senseless, and do not fit within your morals or who you are as an individual. Some obsessions are bizarre in nature and all obsessions seems to grow with time. Typically, obsessions follow themes or harm, risk, and danger. They can involve the emotions of shame and disgust.

Common Fears and Obsessions:

  • Fear of harming oneself or others on purpose by acting on impulses or urge

  • Fear of being responsible for harming oneself or others by accident (fire, bugulary, hit-and-run)

  • Fear of being contaminated by germs, bodily fluids, and environmental contaminants

  • Fear of spreading germs or contamination to others

  • Feeling “dirty” with no consequence other than feeling “dirty”

  • Fear of sexual thoughts or urges (Immoral or taboo)

  • Fear of offending God by blasphemy or by having “bad thoughts”

  • Excessive concern with morality, right and wrong

  • Fear of not being in the “right” relationship

  • Not feeling “just right” or needing things to be symmetrical or even to “feel right”

  • Hyperawareness of body sensations or movements

  • Fear of developing chronic health conditions

Compulsions are behaviors that you feel driven to perform although you may recognize them as senseless or excessive. Usually compulsions are performed in response to an obsession, or according to certain rituals or rules. At times, you may try to resist doing them but this may prove difficult. You may experience discomfort that does not diminish until the behavior is completed. While most compulsions are observable behaviors, some are unobservable mental acts.

Common Compulsive Behaviors:

  • Checking doors, locks, or other items

  • Excessively “figuring it out”

  • Repeating words or phrases

  • Asking for excessive reassurance from others, oneself, or healthcare professionals

  • Mental reviewing of thoughts, events, sensations

  • Need to ask, tell, or confess to others

  • Washing compulsions such as ritualized handwashing or showering

  • Excessive praying and/or confession

  • Needing to undo or redo a behavior if not done “just right”

  • Researching online for reassurance

  • Avoiding certain activities, people, objects