Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Treatment
Real Relief from OCD and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
You've probably already tried to logic your way out of it. You've googled your fears, sought reassurance from the people you love, avoided the things that trigger you, and told yourself this time you'll just push through. And it works, until it doesn't. OCD is relentless because it targets exactly what matters most to you, and the temporary relief of a compulsion only teaches your brain to keep sounding the alarm. And underneath all of it, there are real feelings that have never had a safe place to land. That's what we create here, space to finally feel what OCD has been keeping you from, so healing can happen at the root.
A Warmer Approach to ERP: Combining Exposure Therapy with Emotion-Focused Healing
Most ERP therapy asks you to face your fears without much attention to what's happening underneath them. I combine exposure work with emotion-focused therapy so that as you build tolerance for uncertainty, you're also healing the deeper wounds OCD has been protecting.
OCD FAQs
How Do I Know if I Have OCD?OCD often looks different than people expect. It's not just about cleaning or organization. It can show up as terrifying intrusive thoughts you can't shake, a relentless need for reassurance, avoiding people or places that trigger fear, or a feeling that something is just "not right" that you can't explain. If your mind latches onto fears and the only relief comes from checking, avoiding, or seeking reassurance, only for the cycle to start again, OCD might be what's driving it. A formal diagnosis isn't required to start therapy, but if you're wondering, reaching out for a consultation is a great first step.
What does ERP actually feel like?ERP has a reputation for being uncomfortable, and honestly, it does ask you to sit with uncertainty instead of reaching for relief. But it doesn't have to feel cold or clinical. In our work together, ERP happens inside a warm, safe relationship where we go at a pace that feels challenging but not overwhelming. You're never pushed into something you're not ready for. Most people are surprised to find that facing the fear gradually, with support, actually feels empowering rather than terrifying.
Can OCD and trauma be treated at the same time?Yes, and for many people they need to be. OCD and trauma are deeply connected. Trauma can be the very thing that taught your nervous system it wasn't safe, and OCD can develop as a way of trying to manage that fear. Treating only the OCD without addressing what's underneath it often means the relief doesn't last. I specialize in working with both together, using ERP to address the compulsive cycle while also creating space to heal the deeper wounds driving it.
Why My Approach to
OCD Treatment Is Different
Most OCD treatment focuses on managing symptoms, and while ERP is evidence-based and effective, it can feel cold and mechanical without the right foundation. I combine ERP with AEDP, a warm, attachment-based therapy that creates the kind of safe relationship where real healing can happen. That means we're not just building tolerance for uncertainty, we're also getting to the emotions underneath your OCD and healing the deeper patterns that have kept you stuck.