Licensed to practice in 3 states and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD), Trauma and PTSD, Anxiety and 1 more.
New to Grow
Hello, I'm Lilyvette Perez. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor with nearly 20 years of experience helping adults navigate life's challenges. I currently specialize in treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) using evidence-based therapies, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Prolonged Exposure (PE). I understand how exhausting it can be to live with intrusive thoughts, anxiety, compulsions, trauma, or avoidance. My goal is to provide a supportive, collaborative space where you feel understood while helping you develop the skills and confidence to create lasting change. I offer telehealth therapy in English and Spanish for adults in Texas, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
I specialize in the assessment and treatment of OCD, anxiety disorders, and PTSD, and the first two sessions are dedicated to a comprehensive assessment. This process is an important foundation for treatment because it allows me to gain a thorough understanding of your symptoms, history, strengths, and goals so that together we can develop the most effective treatment plan for your needs. During these sessions, we'll discuss what brings you to therapy, how your symptoms have affected your daily life, previous treatment experiences, and the changes you hope to make. I may also use evidence-based assessment measures to better understand your symptoms and establish a baseline so we can objectively monitor your progress throughout treatment. By the end of the assessment process, you'll have a clear understanding of my treatment approach, we'll identify meaningful goals, and we'll develop a personalized roadmap for therapy so you can begin treatment with confidence and direction.
My approach combines nearly two decades of clinical experience with specialized training in ERP for OCD and anxiety disorders and PE for PTSD. Rather than focusing solely on talk therapy, I use structured, evidence-based treatments that address the underlying factors maintaining your symptoms and promote lasting change. I believe therapy works best when clients understand why they're experiencing their symptoms and how treatment helps them recover. Throughout our work together, I'll teach practical skills, provide education, and guide you through evidence-based interventions at a pace that feels both challenging and manageable. My goal is to help you reduce fear and avoidance, build resilience, and develop the confidence to continue applying these tools long after therapy has ended.
If you're struggling with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), an anxiety disorder, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), you don't have to face it alone. You may feel overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts, compulsions, excessive worry, panic, avoidance, or the lasting effects of a traumatic experience. Perhaps you've tried to manage these challenges on your own or have been in therapy before but are looking for a more structured, evidence-based approach. Whether you're seeking therapy for the first time or returning with a renewed commitment to your mental health, you'll be met with compassion, respect, and a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs and goals. Together, we'll work to better understand your symptoms, develop practical skills, and gradually help you face the fears or experiences that have been keeping you stuck. Recovery is possible. My goal is to help you build confidence, reduce distress, and regain the freedom to live a life guided by your values and not by anxiety, OCD, or trauma.
Other specialties
I identify as
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a highly effective, evidence-based treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and is also used to treat certain anxiety disorders. Many people are understandably nervous when they first hear the word "exposure," but ERP is a collaborative process that is tailored to your individual needs and completed at a pace that feels both manageable and purposeful. Together, we'll identify the situations, thoughts, images, or sensations that trigger anxiety and the behaviors or mental rituals you use to reduce that distress. These responses, such as avoidance, reassurance seeking, checking, mental reviewing, or compulsions, often provide temporary relief but unintentionally keep the cycle going. Through ERP, you'll gradually learn to face these fears while reducing the compulsive behaviors that maintain them. My role is to guide, support, and coach you throughout the process. We'll work together to build confidence, increase your tolerance for uncertainty and discomfort, and help you discover that anxiety naturally decreases over time without relying on compulsions. The goal of ERP is not to eliminate unwanted thoughts but to help you respond to them differently so they no longer control your life.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy
Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy is one of the most effective, evidence-based treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). After experiencing a traumatic event, it's common to avoid thoughts, memories, feelings, people, or places that remind you of what happened. While avoidance may provide temporary relief, it often prevents the brain from fully processing the trauma and can keep PTSD symptoms going. In Prolonged Exposure Therapy, we'll work together to gradually and safely approach trauma-related memories and situations you've been avoiding. Treatment is always collaborative and tailored to your individual experiences, and you'll never be asked to do anything before you feel prepared. Throughout the process, I'll provide education, guidance, and support while teaching skills to help you manage distress and build confidence. The goal of PE is not to erase your memories but to reduce the fear, distress, and avoidance associated with them. Over time, many clients find that trauma memories become less overwhelming, they regain a sense of control, and they're able to reconnect with the people, activities, and life they value most.
Psychoeducation
I believe that understanding your symptoms is an important part of recovery. Psychoeducation is integrated throughout treatment to help you better understand OCD, anxiety disorders, or PTSD, how these conditions develop and are maintained, and why certain evidence-based treatments are effective. Together, we'll explore the connection between your thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviors so you can recognize the patterns that may be keeping you stuck. I'll explain treatment concepts in a clear, practical way and ensure you understand the purpose behind the strategies and skills we use in therapy. My goal is to empower you with knowledge so you feel informed, confident, and actively involved in your treatment. As you gain a deeper understanding of your symptoms and learn how to apply evidence-based skills outside of sessions, you'll be better equipped to make lasting progress and maintain your gains long after therapy has ended.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, client-centered approach that helps strengthen motivation for change, especially when you're feeling uncertain, stuck, or conflicted about taking the next step. Change can be difficult, and it's normal to experience mixed feelings about facing fears, breaking old patterns, or trying something new. I use Motivational Interviewing to help you explore your personal values, goals, and reasons for seeking change in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment. Rather than telling you what to do, we'll work together to identify what matters most to you, address barriers to change, and build confidence in your ability to move forward. Motivational Interviewing is often integrated with evidence-based treatments such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Prolonged Exposure (PE). By strengthening your motivation and commitment to the therapeutic process, this approach can help you stay engaged in treatment and make meaningful, lasting progress toward the life you want to live.
Trauma Informed Care
Trauma-informed care is the foundation of how I approach therapy. I recognize that past experiences can influence how you view yourself, others, and the world, and I strive to create a safe, respectful, and collaborative environment where you feel heard, supported, and empowered throughout the therapeutic process. Being trauma-informed means I consider the impact of trauma in every aspect of treatment while respecting your pace, values, and readiness for change. We'll work together to build trust, identify your strengths, and develop a treatment plan that feels both supportive and effective. When treating PTSD, I use evidence-based therapies, including Prolonged Exposure (PE), while ensuring you understand the purpose of treatment and feel prepared for each step. My goal is to help you process traumatic experiences in a way that reduces distress, restores a sense of safety and control, and supports long-term recovery without losing sight of your resilience and capacity for healing.