COMPASSIONATE THERAPY

Specialized Help for OCD in Ventura and Online

Are You Suffering From Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that individuals feel driven to perform. These obsessions and compulsions can significantly interfere with daily functioning and lead to psychosocial distress. Obsessions and compulsions are driven by anxiety and an atypical difficulty with uncertainty. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is maintained by ritualistic behavior, mental rumination, and avoidance.

The Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum

OCD has several related disorders that can be thought of as part of an OCD spectrum. Although the disorder was formally given it’s own category and removed from the Anxiety Disorders section of the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) in 2013, many experts consider anxiety disorders as existing along the OCD spectrum due to the prevalence of intense worries and fears often combined with compulsive reassurance seeking, difficulty with uncertainty, and avoidance behavior.

Some of OCD’s related conditions don’t necessarily include magical thoughts, anxious distress, or fears something bad may happen, but instead involve repetitive or ritualistic behavior on its own. Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB), such as Trichotillomania and Excoriation Disorder fall into this category, as does compulsive overconsumption of digital media or what some call “internet addiction,” although not a formal diagnosis recognized in the DSM at this time.

Common Ways OCD Manifests

Common obsessions include fears of contamination, fears of harming oneself or others, fears of losing control or losing something of great importance, or worries about symmetry, orderliness, and bodily functions. Compulsions often manifest as repeated hand washing, checking behaviors, arranging items in a particular manner, avoidance, and mental rituals such as rumination, counting or praying in an excessive manner outside of a religion’s generally accepted norms.

What Causes OCD?

The exact cause of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is not fully understood, but at this time it is believed to be a combination of genetic, neurological, and environmental factors. Individuals may have a history of other mental health conditions like depression, which can exacerbate symptoms.

Effective Treatment for OCD

Treatment for OCD typically involves a combination of therapy and, in some cases, medication. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy, is considered the gold standard for treating OCD. ERP helps individuals confront their fears in a controlled and therapeutic manner, decreasing the anxiety triggered by obsessions and reducing the need to engage in compulsive behaviors.

Recovery With Professional Help

If anxiety and compulsions cause distress and decrease your quality of life, it may be time for professional help. Obsessions and compulsions have a way of making our lives small and robbing us of deeper social relationships and experiences. Compulsive rituals and avoidance are short term solutions and over time serve to maintain and increase the discomfort we’re trying to avoid.

You might fear your loved ones will be harmed or you’ll lose something of deep importance to you. You might fear you’ll accidentally do something awful or that you’re a horrible, immoral person. You might try to get things just right, but it’s never enough. No matter how many times you do the ritual or avoid the thing or the place, the peace doesn’t last.

I (Teva) offer highly effective exposure-baed treatment tailored to meet the unique needs of each person struggling with OCD. I see clients in person primarily in Ventura, CA or via Telehealth for online therapy throughout the state. My compassionate approach helps you feel supported and understood as you work towards starting a new chapter.

Therapy can help with a range of common OCD presentations

  • Contamination

  • Religious scrupulosity and secular morals

  • Just right, perfectionism, symmetry

  • Sensorimotor, somatically-focused

  • Harm and taboo

  • Fear of going crazy

  • Health anxiety

  • Perinatal, postpartum

  • Relationships

“Do not be afraid to face your difficulty. Turn toward it. Lean into the wind. Hold your ground.”

— Jack Kornfield

FAQs

Do you have in person availability for therapy?

Yes, I have in person in availability in the beach town of Ventura, California, near Camarillo, Santa Barbara, Ojai, and Thousand Oaks. Online therapy is provided via HIPAA compliant Zoom and I see clients all over the state of California, including Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

What is your approach to treating OCD?

I use exposure and values-based modalities that have strong empirical support for recovery from OCD and specific phobia anxiety disorders. My approach centers client’s culture and sense of agency. I primarily utilize:

  • Exposure and Response/Ritual Prevention (ERP), a form of Exposure-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Motivational Interviewing

  • Existential, meaning, and values-based principles combined with ERP

  • SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions)

Is exposure therapy trauma-informed?

Yes, the consent-based, gradual, and flexible nature of ERP where exposure pacing is determined by the client’s comfort level, may be suitable for clients with a trauma history. Current studies suggest OCD and PTSD may be treated concurrently using ERP and Prolonged Exposure (PE). Comorbid mental health disorders may also be treated sequentially. The American Psychological Association (APA) has designated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure-based therapy as the first line treatment for trauma.

Will I have to engage in exposures that are against my religious beliefs?

No. As an ERP therapist who strives to practice cultural humility and cultural competence, I would not intentionally ask you to do anything that was against your religion or deeply held beliefs. Since treatment planning is collaborative, you will help design exposures aligned with your values. I work with many people of faith and respect the diverse beliefs and practices of my clients.

Can I keep my other therapist to process my childhood adversity or weekly challenges while in treatment with you for OCD?

Yes. You can keep your existing therapist to talk through weekly difficulties and to process other issues like developmental trauma and adverse childhood experiences, if you prefer. I can also work with you on cooccuring mental health issues like depression and/or trauma history. Please note, if you are using insurance to pay for therapy, you will need to check their policy on having two therapists. To provide the best care, I may request to consult with your other therapist about your treatment (with an appropriate release).

How many therapy sessions will I need for OCD recovery?

Recovery is a highly individualized process, so it’s not possible to quote an exact number of sessions. The length of time for a successful course of ERP treatment depends on variables like severity of symptoms, cooccurring mental health conditions, life stressors, commitment to change, how frequent you come to therapy, how much home practice you do outside of therapy, and our working alliance. Outside of research settings, ERP is generally 20-35 once or twice per week sessions. The number of sessions varies based on your needs and personal circumstances.

Do you see children and adults for treatment?

Yes. I treat child and teen anxiety, obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, and compulsive screen with evidence-based therapeutic modalities. I treat children and teens whose parents are able to commit to collaborative treatment.