Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a condition that involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that are done in an attempt to reduce distress or prevent something bad from happening. OCD can show up in many different ways and often targets the things that matter most to a person such as health, safety, morality, relationships, or loved ones. In children, OCD can sometimes look like excessive reassurance-seeking, avoidance, rituals, or difficulty tolerating uncertainty, while adults may experience similar patterns internally or behaviorally.

OCD is not about personality, willpower, or insight, and it is not something people can simply “talk themselves out of.” The most effective treatment for OCD is evidence-based therapy, particularly Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), along with other CBT-based approaches such as Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT). These treatments help children and adults learn how to respond differently to obsessive thoughts, reduce compulsions over time, and build trust in their own experience. Treatment is always tailored to the individual or family, paced thoughtfully, and focused on helping life feel more flexible, manageable, and less dominated by fear.

I provide specialized, evidence-based treatment for OCD in both children and adults, and I work closely with parents when appropriate to support long-term progress and confidence.

Anxiety is a natural response to stress or uncertainty, but it can become a problem when worry, fear, or physical symptoms begin to take over daily life. Anxiety can show up in many forms, including persistent worry, panic attacks, avoidance, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, or physical sensations such as a racing heart, stomach discomfort, or shortness of breath. In children, anxiety may look like frequent reassurance-seeking, difficulty separating from caregivers, irritability, or avoidance of school or activities, while adults often experience anxiety internally alongside ongoing mental “what if” scenarios.

Anxiety is not a sign of weakness, and it does not mean something is actually wrong or dangerous. It is a pattern that develops when the nervous system becomes overprotective. Evidence-based therapy helps children and adults understand how anxiety operates, reduce avoidance and reassurance patterns, and build tolerance for uncertainty and discomfort in a gradual, supportive way.

I treat anxiety using well-researched approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), exposure-based strategies, and skills for regulating the nervous system. Treatment is done with the goal of helping anxiety take up less space so life can feel more flexible, steady, and manageable over time.

Panic involves sudden waves of intense fear or physical sensations that can feel overwhelming or even dangerous in the moment. People often describe panic attacks as feeling like something is seriously wrong , such as having a heart attack, passing out, or losing control. This happens even though the body is not actually in danger. Panic can happen unexpectedly or become linked to certain places, situations, or physical sensations. Over time, many people begin to avoid situations or monitor their bodies closely in an effort to prevent another episode.

Panic is not harmful, but it is understandably frightening. It is a response of the nervous system rather than a medical emergency. Evidence-based therapy helps people learn how panic works, reduce fear of the sensations themselves, and gradually return to activities that may have been avoided. In children and teens, panic may show up as sudden distress, frequent visits to the nurse, or fear of being away from caregivers, and treatment often includes parent support as well.

I treat panic using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and exposure-based approaches that are carefully paced for each individual. The goal is not to eliminate sensations, but to change the relationship with them so they feel less threatening and no longer run the show. With the right support, panic becomes something that can be understood, managed, and eventually lose its grip.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (often referred to as ADHD) is not a “deficit” in the sense of something missing or broken. This diagnosis reflects a different way of thinking, attending, and responding to the world. Research in neurodiversity and clinical science shows that many traits associated with ADHD, such as rapid idea generation, curiosity, pattern recognition, and passion for special interests, are strengths in the right contexts. At the same time, people with ADHD often struggle with skills like sustained focus, organization, time management, and emotional regulation. This is not because they are unwilling, but because their brains are wired to work differently.

In children, ADHD may show up as difficulty staying on task, impulsivity, a fast or scattered thinking style, or frequent frustration. In adults, it can be experienced as chronic lateness, mental and emotional overload, difficulty initiating or completing tasks, or being pulled in multiple directions at once. These patterns aren’t personal failures. They’re part of how your nervous system functions.

In therapy, I draw from neurodiversity-affirming and evidence-based practices that honor strengths while building skills where support is helpful. Our work together focuses on:

• Understanding how your attention and energy naturally operate

• Identifying contexts that support success versus overwhelm

• Building practical strategies for planning, follow-through, and emotional regulation

• Supporting flexibility rather than forcing conformity to a single “right” way of functioning

This approach doesn’t pathologize creativity or drive, but does help you learn where skills are still needed to reach your goals. Together, we create a plan that respects who you are while increasing confidence, clarity, and everyday functioning.

Tourette Syndrome and other tic disorders are neurological conditions that involve involuntary movements or sounds called tics. These might include blinking, throat clearing, facial movements, or vocalizations. Tics often wax and wane over time and can increase with stress, excitement, fatigue, or transitions. Many children and adults describe a build-up of physical tension or an “urge” before a tic occurs, followed by a sense of relief afterward.

Tics are not purposeful or behavioral problems, and they are not something a person can simply stop through willpower. In fact, trying hard to suppress them often makes them stronger or more uncomfortable. Because tics are so visible, they can sometimes lead to frustration, self-consciousness, or worry about how others might respond, which can be just as challenging as the tics themselves.

Treatment focuses on building awareness, understanding patterns and triggers, and learning practical strategies to reduce the impact tics have on daily life. I use behavioral approaches such as Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT), which is supported by research and is considered the gold standard treatment for tics. This work helps children and adults develop tools for managing urges, increasing confidence, and participating more fully in school, work, and social settings. I also support parents in understanding how to respond in ways that are calm, supportive, and not inadvertently reinforcing stress around symptoms.

Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) include things like skin picking (excoriation), hair pulling (trichotillomania), nail or cuticle biting, cheek chewing, and similar repetitive behaviors. These experiences are more common than many people realize and are not simply “bad habits” or problems with willpower. For many people, the behaviors happen automatically or outside of awareness, often during times of stress, boredom, concentration, or sensory discomfort.

Some people notice a strong physical urge or tension that builds until they pick or pull, while others find themselves doing it almost absently while reading, watching TV, or working. Over time, the behavior can feel difficult to interrupt, even when it leads to frustration or embarrassment. Many people have spent years trying to stop on their own and feeling discouraged when willpower alone doesn’t work.

Treatment focuses on understanding your specific patterns and gently building new skills rather than relying on pressure or self-control. I use evidence-based behavioral approaches for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors, including the Comprehensive Behavioral (ComB) model, which looks at the sensory, emotional, cognitive, motor, and environmental factors that keep the behavior going. This allows us to create practical, personalized strategies that address the whole picture and make change feel more doable and sustainable.

Therapy offers a space to talk about these behaviors openly and without shame, while developing tools that help you feel more comfortable and confident in your own skin.

Trauma can affect us in ways that aren’t always obvious at first. Sometimes it’s connected to a single overwhelming event, and other times it comes from ongoing experiences like difficult relationships, medical issues, bullying, loss, or chronic stress. You might notice feeling on edge, easily triggered, emotionally numb, stuck in painful memories, or blaming yourself for things that weren’t your fault. Sleep can be hard, trust can feel harder, and it may seem like your nervous system is always bracing for something bad to happen.

These responses aren’t signs that something is wrong with you. They’re signs that your brain and body did their best to protect you. Trauma changes how we store memories and interpret safety, so even when life looks “okay” on the outside, your system may still feel stuck in survival mode. Many people feel frustrated that they can’t just move on or “think their way out of it,” but trauma healing usually requires more than insight alone.

In therapy, we work gently and at your pace to help your brain process what happened so it no longer feels so present or overwhelming. I’m trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), an evidence-based treatment that helps people understand how trauma has shaped their beliefs about themselves, others, and the world, and learn new, more balanced ways of thinking and responding. As the memories begin to feel less charged, many people notice they feel lighter, steadier, and more like themselves again. We’ll also use grounding and calming skills to help your body feel safer and steadier, because real healing happens when both your mind and nervous system are on board.

My approach is steady, compassionate, and grounded. You won’t be pushed to share anything before you’re ready. Together, we create a space where you can make sense of your experiences, rebuild trust in yourself, and move forward with more freedom and confidence.

Depression can feel heavy, draining, and isolating. It’s more than just feeling sad. It can show up as low energy, loss of motivation, irritability, numbness, trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, or feeling disconnected from things that used to matter to you. Even small tasks can start to feel overwhelming. Many people blame themselves or think they “should be able to snap out of it,” which often makes the weight feel even worse.

What we know from research is that depression tends to shrink our world. When you’re exhausted or discouraged, it makes sense to pull back and do less, but over time, that withdrawal actually deepens depression and keeps you stuck. It becomes a cycle that’s hard to break alone. This isn’t about laziness or lack of willpower; it’s how our brains respond when they’re overwhelmed.

In therapy, we use practical, evidence-based strategies to gently interrupt that cycle and help you build momentum again. One of the main approaches I use is Behavioral Activation, which focuses on slowly re-engaging with meaningful, manageable activities that improve mood and restore a sense of accomplishment and connection. Rather than waiting to “feel motivated,” we take small, supported steps that help motivation grow naturally. We also draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to clarify your values and what really matters to you, so that your energy is going toward a life that feels purposeful, not just getting through the day.

My approach is collaborative, steady, and compassionate. We move at a pace that feels doable, celebrate small wins, and focus on real-life changes that help you feel more like yourself again. Over time, many people notice more energy, more clarity, and a greater sense of hope and direction.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is one of the most effective and well-researched approaches to therapy. It focuses on the connection between our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and daily habits, and how shifts in these areas can create meaningful change. Rather than just talking through problems, CBT is active, practical, and focused on helping you build real-life skills you can use outside of sessions.

In the first few meetings, we take time to understand the full picture, including your history, what’s feeling most challenging right now, and what you’d like to see change. Together, we create a clear list of goals and decide where to start. As we move forward, we learn specific tools and ways of responding that you can begin practicing right away. Therapy becomes a place to try things out, problem-solve, and build confidence step by step.

I often describe this process like strengthening a muscle. We’re not just identifying what isn’t working...we’re actively practicing what to do instead. Over time, those new responses start to feel more natural and automatic. Many clients tell me they appreciate that therapy feels structured, collaborative, and useful, and that they leave sessions knowing exactly what they’re working on and how to keep moving forward.

Exposure and Response Prevention, or ERP, is the gold standard treatment for OCD and many anxiety related concerns. It’s one of the most researched and effective therapies we have, and it helps break the cycle of fear, avoidance, and rituals that can keep people feeling stuck.

OCD and anxiety tend to demand certainty and safety. They tell you to avoid situations, seek reassurance, or repeat behaviors to feel “just right” or prevent something bad from happening. Those strategies make sense in the moment as they reduce anxiety briefly, but over time they actually teach your brain that the fear was dangerous in the first place. The cycle gets bigger, and life can start to feel restricted and exhausting.

ERP works to change that pattern and stop fueling this cycle. Together, we practice facing fears in small, manageable steps while learning how to resist the rituals or compulsions that usually follow. This might look like touching something that feels contaminated and not washing (in steps that we both agree on ahead of time), sending an email without rereading it ten times, leaving the house without checking repeatedly, or allowing an uncomfortable thought to be there without trying to “fix” it. While this might seem difficult if you are just learning about exposure therapy, we go at your pace and make sure it feels doable for you. I often tell clients that they are the driver of therapy, where they get to decide when to push the gas pedal or the brake, and I'm the one holding the map and providing guidance along the way. With repetition, your brain learns something new: I can handle this, and nothing terrible happens. Anxiety rises, peaks, and falls on its own, and your world gets bigger again.

My approach to ERP is steady, collaborative, and supportive. We plan exposures together, move at a pace that feels challenging but doable, and I’m right there with you the whole time, sometimes even practicing in real-life settings when helpful. Clients often tell me they’re surprised by how empowering the process feels. Instead of organizing your life around fear, you learn that you’re capable of handling discomfort and making choices based on what matters to you. 

Inference-Based CBT, or I-CBT, is a research-supported approach for treating OCD that focuses on something a little different than most therapies: how doubt gets created in the first place. Rather than starting with fear or anxiety, I-CBT looks at the reasoning patterns that lead you to question what you already know and trust.

Many people with OCD describe this experience as “going down a mental rabbit hole.” You might logically know something is safe or unlikely, but your mind starts generating what ifs and worst-case scenarios that feel vivid and convincing. Before you know it, you’re second guessing your memory, your senses, or your judgment. The doubt feels so real that you feel driven to check, research, ask for reassurance, or mentally analyze things over and over. It can be exhausting.

I-CBT helps you step out of that spiral by strengthening your trust in your direct experience and learning to recognize when OCD is pulling you into imagined possibilities rather than present-moment reality. Instead of trying to argue with every scary thought, we work on changing the reasoning process that gives those thoughts so much power in the first place. Many clients find this approach feels clarifying and freeing. They feel like they are finally understanding how OCD has been “tricking” their mind.

Together we slow things down, map out your specific doubt patterns, and practice responding in ways that help you feel more grounded and certain in yourself. I often find ways to integrate I-CBT alongside ERP and other evidence-based tools so we’re addressing both the thinking patterns and the behavioral cycles that keep OCD stuck.

SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is an evidence-based treatment designed specifically for parents of children and teens with anxiety or OCD. What makes SPACE unique is that it works primarily with parents. This is not because the parent is the problem, but because parents are actually the most powerful part of the solution.

When a child is anxious or stuck in OCD patterns, families naturally adapt to help things go more smoothly. You might offer extra reassurance, answer repeated questions, change routines, sleep next to your child, speak for them in stressful situations, or help them avoid things that feel overwhelming. These responses come from love and protection and they make complete sense. But over time, they can accidentally teach a child’s brain that they really can’t handle those situations on their own.

SPACE helps parents gently shift those patterns in a supportive, structured way. Together, we identify where anxiety may be running the show at home and create small, manageable changes that build your child’s confidence and independence. You’ll learn how to respond calmly and consistently, set limits with warmth, and communicate belief in your child’s ability to cope. As parents change their responses, we find that children improve, even when they aren’t in therapy themselves.

My approach is collaborative and practical. I offer clear guidance, troubleshooting, and step-by-step planning so you feel supported and confident, not blamed or overwhelmed. Many parents tell me they feel relieved to finally have a roadmap and concrete tools that make everyday life feel calmer and more manageable.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, is an evidence-based approach that helps people build a fuller, more meaningful life, even when difficult thoughts or feelings show up along the way. Instead of trying to eliminate anxiety, sadness, or self-doubt completely (which often isn’t realistic), ACT focuses on changing your relationship to those experiences so they don’t run the show.

Many of us get stuck waiting to feel better before we live our lives. We might think, “Once I’m less anxious, then I’ll try,” or “When I feel more motivated, then I’ll start.” ACT gently flips that idea. Rather than waiting for perfect internal conditions, we learn skills to handle uncomfortable thoughts and emotions while still moving toward the things that matter most.

In our work together, we practice noticing thoughts without getting pulled into them, making space for feelings instead of fighting them, and clarifying your values, such as the kind of parent, partner, friend, or person you want to be. Those values then become a compass for action. Even small steps in a meaningful direction can create real momentum and a stronger sense of purpose. Many clients find this approach helps them feel less stuck and more empowered, even when life is still imperfect.

My style with ACT is very practical and down-to-earth. We focus on everyday tools you can use right away, not abstract ideas. The goal isn’t to feel good all the time, it’s to feel capable, flexible, and able to keep moving forward in a way that feels true to you.

Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics, or CBIT, is the gold-standard, evidence-based treatment for children, teens, and adults with chronic tics or Tourette Syndrome. It’s a practical, skills-based approach that helps people better understand their tics and learn tools to reduce how often they happen and how disruptive they feel in daily life.

Tics aren’t intentional or something someone can simply “stop.” Most people experience a strong physical urge or buildup of tension right before a tic occurs, almost like a sneeze you’re trying to hold in. CBIT starts by helping you notice those early signals more clearly. Once you can spot the urge sooner, we practice specific strategies that make the tic less likely to happen or help the urge pass more comfortably.

Treatment often includes learning a “competing response”, which is a small, purposeful movement or action that uses the same muscles in a way that blocks the tic, along with environmental supports and problem solving around situations where tics show up most. We also focus on reducing stress and building confidence, since pressure and self-consciousness can sometimes make tics worse. Over time, many people feel more in control of their bodies and less worried about their tics running the day.

move step by step, practice skills together, and keep things practical and encouraging. The goal isn’t perfection. This work is about helping you or your child feel more comfortable, capable, and able to focus on life rather than constantly managing tics.

Skin picking and hair pulling (sometimes called BFRBs, or body-focused repetitive behaviors) are more common than many people realize. These behaviors often show up as automatic habits, such as picking or pulling without fully noticing. They can also show up as ways to cope with stress, boredom, or uncomfortable sensations. Many people feel frustrated or ashamed, wondering why they “can’t just stop,” but these patterns aren’t about willpower. They’re learned brain–body habits that can be changed with the right tools and support.

Comprehensive Behavioral Treatment, or ComB, is the leading evidence-based approach for these concerns. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all plan, ComB helps us get curious about your specific pattern. Together, we look at the different factors that keep the behavior going such as sensory triggers, thoughts and emotions, environments, and motor habits. Through a monitoring process we identify what’s driving it for you. Once we understand the pattern, we build targeted strategies that address each piece.

Treatment might include increasing awareness of early urges, adjusting routines or environments, learning competing responses that keep your hands busy, and developing alternative ways to regulate stress or tension. We focus on adding helpful skills rather than just telling you to “stop.” Over time, those new habits start to replace the old ones, and many people notice they feel more in control and less preoccupied.

These behaviors can feel vulnerable to talk about, and I’ll meet you with understanding and a clear path forward. We focus on practical problem-solving, steady support, and tools that actually work. The goal is to help you feel calmer in your body and more confident in your day-to-day life.

Cognitive Processing Therapy, or CPT, is an evidence-based treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress. It’s designed to help people process difficult experiences in a way that reduces their emotional intensity and helps them feel less stuck in the past. Many people find that even long after something has happened, their mind and body still react as if the danger is happening right now. CPT helps your brain update those old “alarm signals” so you can feel safer and more grounded in the present.

After trauma, it’s common to develop strong beliefs about yourself, others, or the world. We might have thoughts such as “It was my fault,” “I can’t trust anyone,” “I’m not safe,” or “something bad could happen at any moment.” These beliefs often form as a way to make sense of what happened, but over time they can keep you feeling stuck, guarded, or disconnected. CPT gently helps you examine these patterns and develop more balanced, accurate ways of understanding your experiences.

In our work together, we move step by step. We identify the places where your thinking feels tangled or self-blaming, learn skills to evaluate those thoughts, and practice new ways of responding that feel more grounded and compassionate. The goal isn’t to erase what happened or force positivity. The goal is to help the memories feel less overwhelming and to give you back a sense of choice, confidence, and control.