Evidence-Based Therapy for Anxiety and Related Disorders
I provide expert, evidence-based treatment to help individuals overcome anxiety, OCD, depression, and other related challenges. My focus is on delivering Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and other cognitive-behavioral treatments tailored to each client's needs.
Treatment
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) performed to reduce distress. I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard treatment for OCD. ERP helps you face anxiety-provoking thoughts and situations in a safe, gradual way, building greater tolerance to anxiety and breaking the cycle of avoidance and compulsion. Through ERP, you can gain control of your life and live an OCD-free lifestyle.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD is characterized by persistent, excessive worry about everyday activities or events. I help clients understand the role that intolerance of uncertainty plays in their anxiety and how to change their relationship with worry. My approach includes recognizing and challenging unhelpful thinking patterns and developing practical coping skills to reduce chronic anxiety and improve daily functioning.
Trichotillomania and Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors
Trichotillomania (hair-pulling) and other BFRBs, such as skin-picking, nail biting, and cheek biting, can be difficult to control and often occur in response to stress, boredom, or emotional discomfort. I use Habit Reversal Training (HRT) and the Comprehensive Behavioral (ComB) model to help clients understand and address the unique factors maintaining these behaviors. This includes identifying sensory, cognitive, emotional, and environmental triggers and developing tailored strategies to replace hair-pulling or skin-picking with healthier coping mechanisms.
Illness Anxiety Disorder (Hypochondriasis)
Individuals with IAD experience excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness, often misinterpreting normal bodily sensations as signs of severe medical conditions. This persistent concern can lead to frequent doctor visits, excessive health-related internet searches, or avoidance of medical care altogether due to fear of bad news. I help clients challenge health-related anxieties by addressing unhelpful thought patterns, reducing reassurance-seeking behaviors, and building greater tolerance for uncertainty. Through cognitive-behavioral strategies, clients learn how to manage their fears in a way that allows them to focus on their well-being without feeling consumed by health-related distress.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, leading to distressing memories, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, and avoidance of reminders of the trauma. I use Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy and other CBT approaches to help clients process their experiences, confront distressing memories in a controlled manner, and regain a sense of safety and stability in their lives.
Depression
Depression can cause persistent feelings of sadness, low energy, difficulty concentrating, and a loss of interest in once-enjoyed activities. It can also lead to changes in sleep, appetite, and motivation, making it difficult to engage in daily responsibilities and relationships. I use CBT to help clients identify and change negative thought patterns that contribute to low mood, increase engagement in meaningful activities through behavioral activation, develop healthier coping strategies to manage distress, and build self-compassion
Specific Phobias
Specific phobias involve intense, irrational fears of particular objects or situations, such as heights, flying, or certain animals. These fears can significantly interfere with daily life. I use exposure therapy to gradually and systematically introduce clients to their feared situations in a safe, controlled manner, helping them build confidence and resilience.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder involves extreme fear of judgment, embarrassment, or rejection in social settings, often leading to avoidance of social interactions or the need to "white knuckle" your way through these interactions. I use CBT techniques such as cognitive restructuring and behavioral experiments to challenge negative beliefs, increase confidence, and reduce avoidance so clients can engage more comfortably in social situations.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
BDD is a condition in which individuals become preoccupied with perceived flaws in their appearance, often engaging in excessive checking, grooming, or avoidance behaviors. I use specialized CBT, including exposure to feared situations and response prevention techniques, to help clients break free from the cycle of obsessive self-scrutiny and improve their self-image.
Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia
Panic Disorder involves sudden, intense fear, often with physical symptoms like a fast heartbeat or dizziness. These typically will occur in situations where you may have experienced a panic attack before, or where you fear you might have a panic attack. These include stores, public transportation, planes, bridges, enclosed spaces, or places where you otherwise feel trapped. I use CBT and gradual exposure exercises to help clients face their symptoms and reduce fear. Gradual exposure to these avoided places helps you feel more confident in situations you fear.
Emotional and Behavior Regulation Difficulties
Some individuals struggle with managing intense emotions, impulsivity, or difficulty in relationships. I incorporate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) approaches, drawing from its principles to help clients build skills in distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Through structured interventions, I support clients in understanding their emotional responses, improving impulse control, and fostering more effective ways to communicate and navigate relationships.
Insomnia
Insomnia is a condition where individuals have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early and not being able to fall back asleep. Chronic sleep difficulties can lead to problems with concentration, mood, and overall well-being. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which is an evidence-based approach that helps clients identify and change thoughts and behaviors that interfere with sleep. Treatment includes strategies such as sleep scheduling, relaxation techniques, and cognitive restructuring to reduce nighttime anxiety and improve sleep quality.
Shy Bladder Syndrome (Paruresis)
Shy Bladder Syndrome, also known as paruresis, is a form of social anxiety where individuals struggle to urinate in public restrooms or when they feel observed. This condition can lead to significant distress, avoidance of certain social situations, and interference with daily activities. I use cognitive-behavioral techniques, including graduated exposure therapy, to help clients gradually reduce anxiety and build confidence in using public restrooms. Treatment focuses on changing unhelpful thoughts, practicing relaxation strategies, and gradually increasing comfort in anxiety-provoking situations.
Treatment Methods
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is an evidence-based, structured form of therapy that focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. It teaches individuals to recognize distorted thinking, develop coping strategies, and engage in healthier behaviors to improve emotional well-being. CBT is highly effective for anxiety, depression, and other emotional difficulties, providing clients with lifelong tools to manage distress and maintain progress outside of therapy sessions.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
ERP is a specialized form of CBT designed for treating OCD and other anxiety disorders. It involves systematically exposing clients to feared situations or thoughts while preventing the compulsive behaviors or avoidance tactics that reinforce anxiety. Over time, ERP helps individuals build tolerance to distress, allowing them to break free from the cycle of fear and regain a sense of control over their lives.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
DBT is an integrative approach that combines cognitive-behavioral strategies with mindfulness and emotion regulation techniques. It is particularly useful for individuals who experience intense emotions, self-destructive behaviors, or difficulties in relationships. I utilize DBT-informed interventions to help clients develop distress tolerance, improve emotional regulation, enhance mindfulness, and build stronger interpersonal skills. These techniques are especially effective for clients struggling with impulsivity, overwhelming emotions, and relationship challenges.
