Evidence-Based OCD Treatment Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can make it difficult to live with uncertainty, intrusive thoughts, and the urge to feel certain or prevent something bad from happening. Compulsions and other attempts to reduce distress may provide temporary relief, but they also keep the OCD cycle going. I provide specialized, evidence-based treatment for OCD in children, adolescents, and adults using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). My approach focuses on helping individuals understand how OCD operates, reduce reliance on compulsions and avoidance, and build the confidence to respond differently to intrusive thoughts and uncertainty. Based in Westchester, New York, I offer therapy in person and via telehealth throughout New York State.
Understanding OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves obsessions, compulsions, or both. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, urges, or doubts that cause distress. Compulsions are behaviors or mental acts a person feels driven to perform in an attempt to reduce distress, gain certainty, or prevent a feared outcome. Compulsions aren't always visible. They can include checking, seeking reassurance, mentally reviewing past events, repeating phrases in one's mind, or trying to analyze thoughts until they feel resolved. Avoidance can also become part of the OCD cycle.
Although compulsions may provide temporary relief, that relief can reinforce the cycle, making it increasingly difficult to tolerate uncertainty without performing rituals. OCD can center on many different fears, and the content of the thoughts is less important than the pattern of intrusive experiences and the responses that keep the cycle going.
How I Treat OCD: CBT and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), is an evidence-based treatment for OCD. ERP helps individuals change how they respond to intrusive thoughts, uncertainty, and distress without relying on compulsions or avoidance to feel better.
In my work with OCD, treatment is individualized to the person, their symptoms, and the patterns that maintain their OCD. Rather than simply asking someone to confront their fears, I work collaboratively with clients to understand how OCD operates, identify treatment goals, and develop an approach to exposure that is meaningful to their specific concerns.
ERP involves gradually practicing situations, thoughts, images, or sensations that trigger OCD-related distress while refraining from compulsions and other rituals. Through this process, individuals have opportunities to develop new ways of responding to uncertainty and learn that they do not need to perform compulsions to manage distress or move forward with their lives.
Effective ERP involves more than completing exposure exercises. It requires careful treatment planning, collaboration, and attention to the thoughts, emotions, and avoidance patterns that arise throughout treatment. It is not uncommon for individuals to experience ambivalence, reluctance, or resistance to engaging in exposures, particularly when compulsions and avoidance have become long-standing patterns. Part of my work is helping clients understand and work through these barriers, develop willingness to engage in treatment, and practice new responses both during sessions and in everyday life.
OCD Treatment for Children and Teens
Treating OCD in children and adolescents often involves working closely with parents to help support progress beyond the therapy session. While children and teens learn to respond differently to intrusive thoughts and resist compulsions, parents can play an important role in helping them practice these skills at home and in other everyday situations.
I work collaboratively with families to help parents understand OCD, recognize ways that reassurance seeking and family accommodation can maintain the OCD cycle, and support their child in facing fears without reinforcing compulsions or avoidance. This may involve learning how to respond when a child seeks reassurance, reducing participation in rituals, and encouraging continued practice of exposure exercises between sessions.
The goal is to help children and teens build confidence in their ability to handle uncertainty and distress, develop greater independence in responding to OCD, and participate more fully in daily life. Parent involvement is tailored to the child's age, needs, and treatment goals.
Experience and Expertise
I earned my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Hofstra University in 2014. I completed my predoctoral internship and postdoctoral clinical training at the Bio Behavioral Institute in Long Island, NY, where I received specialized training in the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, as well as other anxiety disorders and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). My training included intensive outpatient treatment for OCD, with an emphasis on evidence-based approaches to helping individuals manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Since completing my training, I have continued to specialize in treating OCD and related disorders. I have dedicated my private practice to helping individuals with OCD better understand and manage their symptoms, reduce the impact of the disorder on their lives, and work toward greater freedom from OCD.
Getting Started with Treatment
If you are interested in scheduling a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your needs and determine whether we might be a good therapeutic fit, please submit your information here and I will reach out to you within the next 24-36 hours.