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MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT IN VENTURA

Intensive Therapy

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) was designed and empirically validated as a twice per week therapy for OCD.

While it may not be feasible or clinically necessary for everyone to receive twice per week therapy, it can be beneficial to treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with a more intensive approach than the typical once per week therapy hour and location.

Meeting twice per week may be indicated if you have significant depression or if your functioning at school, work, home, and socially is more than minimally compromised.

For some sufferers the once per week 50 minute therapy cadence feels too fragmented and greater momentum is desired. I recommend intensive therapy for these clients. Clients who live with parents or a spouse are also good candidates for occasional or regular family sessions in addition to individual sessions.

Although recovery speed varies and is based on many individual factors, such as co-occurring mental health disorders, in my practice I have witnessed faster gains with twice per week sessions. I find meeting more frequently increases clients’ motivation, accountability, commitment to the process, and trust, which translates into expanding the therapy’s potency.

“Amazing how we can light tomorrow with today.”

— Elizabeth Barrett Browning

INTENSIVE THERAPY OPTIONS

Deepen Treatment

Focused Therapy in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties

I offer several options for people looking to intensify their mental health healing work. Intensive therapy can be in person, virtual, or out in the community with intentionally chosen locations.

Opportunities to amplify growth:

  • Twice per week, individual, 50 minute sessions

  • Once per week, individual, 90 minute session

  • One individual session + one family session per week

  • One 90 minute family session or parent meeting with flexible scheduling for working parents

  • On location exposures at a setting within 15 miles of Ventura, California

Amplify Exposure Practice

Practicing ERP in the real world may generalize the skills developed in the therapy office and homework. Engaging in exposures with response prevention in diverse settings helps the brain integrate new learning better and faster. Ventura offers numerous opportunities for community-based exposures relevant to your OCD themes and phobias.

Picture of horses in Ventura County

  • Exposure and Response Prevention therapy can take place in person in the office, over Zoom, and outside in the broader community. We can visit relevant locations to practice exposures based on your particular obsessions. For example, we can confront contamination obsessions at a local beach or farm while encouraging openness to new experiences and tolerance of uncertainty. This type of psychological flexibility promotes recovery.

    We can approach your triggers with courage and creativity so you take your life back from OCD and specific phobias.

Beach in Ventura California with image of lifeguard tower, blue skies, and sand.


  • Ventura and Santa Barbara County beaches offer many opportunities to practice exposure and response prevention related to your particular OCD themes and goals for recovery. Exposures are planned collaboratively with consideration for privacy. Beaches are great places for social exposures and for contamination obsessions. Beaches are ideal locations to practice not ruminating on your obsessions and returning to the present moment.

Intensive Therapy FAQs

Do I have to do exposures outside of your office?

Therapy is completely voluntary and we don’t have to do community-based exposures together, however, you will need to practice exposures outside of therapy in order for ERP to be effective. Home practice looks different for everyone and is based on your individual OCD presentation or themes.

Can I pay for intensive treatment with my insurance?

Gold Coast Health Plan/Carelon may authorize twice per week sessions if there is a clear clinical need. I don’t work with other insurance plans but I can provide a superbill for you to submit for potential reimbursement. Information on rates can be found here.

Do you offer in person and online intensive therapy?

Yes, I have in person availability in Ventura, near Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Ojai, Oxnard, Camarillo, Newbury Park, and Thousand Oaks. Online therapy intensives are also available

What factors determine if I can schedule intensive treatment?

  • Clinical appropriateness

  • Scheduling availability

  • Ability to invest the time and resources for higher level treatment

Where are some of the places we can meet for community-based exposure therapy?

Exposures out in the community are a great way to generalize in office learning and expand your capacity to tolerate triggers without engaging in physical compulsions or rumination. Locations are chosen based on your clinical needs and appropriateness of setting. Below are a few ideas of places for ERP practice.

  • Ventura Harbor Village

  • Downtown Ventura

  • The Collection in Oxnard

  • Ventura County farms

  • Ventura, Oxnard, or Carpinteria beaches

  • Ventura College campus

  • Starbucks or local restaurants