Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

What is OCD?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that a person feels driven to perform. These thoughts and behaviors can feel exhausting, time-consuming, and highly distressing. OCD isn’t about being “neat” or “organized” — it's about feeling stuck in cycles of anxiety and ritualized behaviors.

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Common OCD themes include:

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Fear of contamination or germs

Fear of harm coming to self or others

Intrusive taboo thoughts (violent, sexual, religious, or moral themes)

Excessive need for symmetry or exactness

Relationship OCD

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How I Treat OCD:

OCD is very treatable, but it requires specialized approaches that target both the obsessive thoughts and the compulsive behaviors. I use a combination of evidence-based treatments tailored to each client:

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1. Exposure and Response Prevention

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(ERP)

ERP is one of the gold-standard treatments for OCD. We gradually expose you to the thoughts, images, or situations that trigger your obsessions while helping you resist the urge to engage in compulsions.

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2. Inference-Based Cognitive

 

 

Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)

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Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT) is a newer form of therapy for OCD that focuses on how intrusive doubts form. It targets “inferential confusion,” where people mistake possibility for probability, leading to obsessive fears. By addressing the faulty reasoning behind obsessions, I-CBT helps reduce OCD symptoms at the root.

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3. Acceptance and Commitment 

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Therapy (ACT)

With ACT, we focus on helping you accept the presence of unwanted thoughts without needing to control or eliminate them. We also work on values-based living so that OCD no longer dominates your life.

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4. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

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We work on identifying and challenging distorted beliefs that fuel OCD. Together, we examine thinking patterns, cognitive distortions, and the meaning you assign to your unwanted thoughts. 

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Individualized Approach

Every person’s OCD shows up differently. I take time to assess your specific symptoms, triggers, and patterns so that treatment is directly relevant to you. Some people benefit from a combination of approaches depending on where they are in their process.