Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by suffering from intrusive thoughts, urges, or impulses that elicit feelings of disgust, anxiety, panic, or discomfort (obsessions), and engaging in behavioral or mental acts (compulsions) in an attempt to mitigate the negative feelings. Symptoms often feel uncontrollable and create significant distress or dysfunction. Unfortunately, it can be incredibly difficult to find an OCD specialist, and non-specialists’ attempts at treatment are unhelpful at best, and at worst, further progress the illness’ severity.

Exposure and response prevention is a short-term form of therapy (up to 20 sessions) that is considered the gold standard treatment for OCD. In addition to being trained in ERP with CBT for OCD and anxiety-related disorders, I have completed training in inhibitory learning theory, and inference-based CBT.

OCD’s presentation can look like a variety of other conditions, and misdiagnosis is common. Common misdiagnoses include generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, panic disorder, delusional disorder, and schizophrenia. It takes an average of 7.1 years to receive a correct diagnosis, and in that time, patients’ symptoms leave them feeling hopeless, full of shame, and like they cannot be helped. If you have OCD, feel you have tried everything, and struggle to believe you will ever be free of it, please know that you are not broken, and you are not particularly difficult — you just need the right help.

I offer ERP to adults and adolescents aged 12 and older. Please note that ERP is a short-term treatment with a maximum of 20 sessions. If a client’s symptoms do not significantly improve within 20 sessions, it is recommended they engage with other forms of mental health care for at least one year before trying ERP again (I will provide referrals as needed). Once treatment has concluded, I will provide clients with referrals to therapists who specialize in the long-term maintenance of OCD.

Hoarding Disorder

Hoarding disorder is characterized by persistent difficulty with discarding or parting with possessions, a compulsive need to save items regardless of value, distress associated with discarding items, and clutter and congestion that compromise the ability to use one’s living space as intended. While it was once considered only a subset of OCD and is still categorized under the umbrella of obsessive-compulsive disorders, it is now understood that hoarding disorder is its own diagnosis.

Hoarding disorder is highly stigmatized, often begins in childhood or adolescence, and can go undetected for decades. It is often at the center of familial conflict and can result in challenges with social services and law enforcement. People go through their lives full of shame, embarrassment, and self-judgment, and the isolation that often accompanies (and enables) hoarding can significantly diminish one’s insight and understanding of the scope and impact of their hoarding behaviors.

It is imperative that individuals receiving treatment for hoarding disorder be met with compassion, understanding, and curiosity because hoarding can make you feel small, helpless, and overwhelmed. This is not easy, you did not ask for this, and you deserve to feel empowered, seen, heard, and validated. When we work together, you can rest assured that I won’t look at your things and see junk or trash – I will see your belongings, and they will be treated with the respect you think they deserve.

My expertise with hoarding comes not only from my education, work experience, or training; it also comes from lived experience. I struggled with hoarding disorder for the majority of my life. I understand the thought processes behind saving tattered clothing because they’ll get fixed someday, or what it’s like to save nearly empty bottles of toiletries to ensure the opportunity to use every last drop. I have felt the panic that comes with the thought of having company, and the shame of sleeping on my couch for months because my bedroom was inaccessible. I understand all of that and more. Perhaps the most valuable thing my lived experience has taught me is that it’s possible to get to the other side.

Traditionally, exposure and response prevention with cognitive behavioral therapy have been used to treat hoarding disorder, but recent research suggests that patients who are also treated with modalities such as motivational interviewing and compassion-focused therapy have lower rates of relapse and a more positive treatment experience. I am trained in both MI and CFT and integrate them into my work with all my clients, especially those struggling with hoarding disorder. These modalities are designed to build a greater sense of self-efficacy and self-esteem, and can produce absolutely beautiful results that may change your life.

Please believe me when I say that while I know how terrifying this is, I also know that you deserve better — you don’t have to live like this anymore.

I offer treatment for hoarding disorder exclusively to adults. Please note that this is a short-term treatment (typically 5-10 sessions), and that referrals for psychotherapists who specialize in the long-term maintenance of hoarding disorder will be provided at the conclusion of treatment. Due to insurance constraints, hoarding disorder treatment must be paid for out-of-pocket,