Anxiety & OCD

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Anxiety is a normal human experience, but when worry, fear, or avoidance begins interfering with your life, therapy can help. Anxiety therapy can provide a space to understand what may be contributing to your anxiety while developing healthier ways to respond to uncomfortable thoughts and feelings.

I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help identify patterns of thinking and behavior that can contribute to anxiety. Together, we can look at the thoughts, assumptions, and behaviors that may be keeping the anxiety cycle going and work toward more flexible and helpful responses.

OCD can be especially confusing and overwhelming. Intrusive thoughts do not define who you are, but they can feel incredibly real and distressing. Compulsions, reassurance seeking, checking, avoidance, mental rituals, and other behaviors can provide temporary relief while ultimately strengthening the OCD cycle.

For clients experiencing OCD, I may incorporate Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), an evidence-based approach to OCD treatment. ERP involves gradually and intentionally approaching feared thoughts, situations, sensations, or uncertainties while learning to resist compulsions and other anxiety-driven responses.

ERP is not about forcing yourself into situations before you're ready or simply “facing your fears.” It is a collaborative process that is adjusted to your individual needs, goals, and comfort level.

While CBT and ERP can provide practical tools for anxiety and OCD, I believe therapy should never feel like you're being handed a worksheet and sent on your way.

My approach is person-centered, collaborative, and individualized. I want to understand you—not just your symptoms. Your experiences, relationships, values, strengths, and goals all matter when developing a treatment approach.

I also integrate narrative therapy techniques when appropriate. Anxiety and OCD can sometimes become intertwined with the way we see ourselves: “I'm an anxious person.” “What if this thought means something about me?” “I should be able to control this.” Narrative work can help us examine these stories, separate you from the problem, and create space for a different understanding of yourself.