Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

If you're reading this page, chances are you or someone you care about is struggling with OCD. Maybe you've been told you're "just being picky" or that you should "just stop" the behaviors that feel so necessary. Perhaps you've felt misunderstood when people joke about being "so OCD" because they like things organized, when your experience feels nothing like that at all. You're not alone, and what you're experiencing is real, valid, and treatable.

What OCD Really Looks Like

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is far more complex than the hand-washing and organizing that most people think of. OCD involves unwanted and intrusive thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) that create intense anxiety, followed by behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that temporarily reduce that distress. But here's what many people don't understand: these obsessions often involve deeply distressing content that goes against your values—thoughts about harm, contamination, sexuality, religion, or "just right" feelings that something isn't quite as it should be.

The shame and confusion that comes with OCD can be overwhelming. You might wonder, "Why am I having these thoughts?" or "What does this say about who I am?"

How I Approach OCD Treatment

I use evidence-based treatments that have been proven effective for OCD including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).

CBT helps us understand the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, while challenging the beliefs that keep OCD in power. ERP involves gradually facing the situations that trigger your obsessions while learning to resist the compulsions—think of it as retraining your brain's alarm system.

What makes my approach different is that I pay close attention to you as a whole person. Your cultural background, family dynamics, work environment, personality traits, and life circumstances all influence how OCD shows up in your life. A college student dealing with contamination fears will have different challenges than a parent worried about harm coming to their children, or a professional whose perfectionism is interfering with their career.