Symptoms I Treat

I work with individual adults and adolescents dealing with serious anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) often with co-occurring depression, anger, grief, self-doubt, relationships, and other unresolved issues.

Therapeutic Methodologies

In understanding that our issues and circumstances are unique and sometimes complicated, I use a variety of integrated therapeutic methodologies. I may use an integrated approach of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure response prevention (ERP), acceptance commitment therapy (ACT), rumination focused exposure response prevention (RF-ERP), Rogerian, solution-focused therapy (SFT), family systems, and mindfulness in helping my clients reach their goals.

Anxiety

Worry is normal and responds to common sense strategies to manage feelings. Anxiety disorders are different and typically do not respond to common sense strategies. Anxiety can manifest in different ways from generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorders, phobias, and panic attacks. Most people experiencing serious anxiety wait 4-5 years before they seek help. The average anxious person sees multiple therapists before they find the “right one.” Gaining insight into how the anxiety is triggered and fueled is vital to creating a plan to overcome the grasp of your thoughts. Anxiety craves being in control and is a master at manipulating your fear and uncertainty. We will explore a variety of techniques that best match your anxiety and tolerance to overcome these emotions. Chances are that your willingness to embrace the discomfort is the key to your healing. For lower levels of anxiety, using mindfulness and emotion regulation techniques may work to manage the discomfort. For higher levels of anxiety, ACT, CBT, and ERP are evidence-based therapies that are proven to help people work through the struggle to improve their life.

OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

OCD is often misunderstood by the person suffering from it, their loved ones, and sometimes professionals. Unfortunately, OCD with mental obsessions and compulsions are often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed for years. Someone that is suffering from OCD is having an unwanted thought, image, or urge that gets stuck and repeats itself in their brain. Typically these thoughts are related to disturbing “what if” scenarios and uncertainty that torment the sufferer. These obsessive thoughts trigger intensely distressing feelings that manifest in compulsions to avoid or rid the person of fearful thoughts. The compulsions are coping behaviors and rituals the person does in an attempt to neutralize or make the obsessions go away. Initially, submitting to the compulsions may temporarily ease the tension, however, this is frequently an OCD trap. Doing the compulsion does not totally appease the feeling. The anxiety does not fully subside and the rituals become more time-consuming and can negatively impact the person’s quality of life, occupation, and relationships. People with OCD can feel as though they are going crazy and may not have shared their struggles with anyone. Being courageous and willing to meet the intensity of OCD daily with greater fierceness can impact success. Fortunately, ERP in combination with CBT or ACT is proven to be the most effective therapy in dealing with OCD.