LPCC, 4 years of experience
New to Grow
I'm a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with four years of experience specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders. While I use ERP as my primary treatment approach, I also integrate traditional CBT, ACT, and IFS to tailor therapy to each person's unique needs. I have additional experience working with trauma and addiction. My philosophy is simple: I may be the OCD expert, but you're the expert on you. I believe in a collaborative approach where we work together to help you reclaim your life from anxiety and intrusive thoughts.
In our first session, we'll start by getting to know each other and building rapport. I'll ask about what brought you to therapy and what you're hoping to achieve. We'll discuss your symptoms in detail so I can understand how OCD or anxiety is showing up in your life. I'll explain how these disorders work—often this alone brings relief when people realize their experiences make sense. We'll also talk about what evidence-based treatment looks like, including ERP and how we'll work together collaboratively. My goal is for you to leave feeling heard, understood, and hopeful that change is possible. There's no pressure to dive into exposure work right away; we'll move at a pace that works for you while still making meaningful progress.
My greatest strength is my specialized training and experience in OCD's nuances—I know how to distinguish between different subtypes and understand that what works for generalized anxiety often backfires with OCD. I've worked with many clients who spent years in therapy that inadvertently reinforced their compulsions, and I know how to help them break free from those patterns. I bring both expertise in evidence-based treatments and genuine compassion for how exhausting it is to live with intrusive thoughts. I'm direct and will challenge you when needed, but always with respect for your autonomy and pace. I also have personal experience with anxiety, which helps me understand the fear involved in facing what scares you most. My collaborative approach means we're partners in this work—I provide the roadmap, but you're always in the driver's seat.
You're someone who feels stuck in their head—maybe you've been working with practitioners who didn't understand OCD's nuances or the specific treatments that actually work. Perhaps you've been told your obsessions are "just anxiety" or given strategies that only made things worse. You're ready to address your obsessions and compulsions head-on, willing to be challenged, and motivated to do the hard work between sessions. You want a therapist who understands the complexity of OCD and anxiety disorders and can guide you through evidence-based treatment while respecting that you know yourself best.
I integrate Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help adolescents and adults work through anxiety, OCD, and related challenges. With ERP, I guide clients through gradual exposure to their fears while preventing compulsive responses, helping them build tolerance for uncertainty and discomfort. I incorporate ACT principles to help clients develop psychological flexibility, defuse from unhelpful thoughts, and connect with their values as motivation during the exposure process. Additionally, I use IFS to help clients understand and work compassionately with the protective parts of themselves that drive avoidance behaviors. This integrative approach allows me to tailor treatment to each client's unique needs, whether they're a teenager struggling with social anxiety or an adult managing intrusive thoughts, creating a comprehensive path toward lasting change.