Break Free from Intrusive Thoughts & the Anxiety-Compulsion Cycle
If intrusive thoughts, persistent doubts, or repetitive behaviors are taking up too much space in your life, specialized OCD treatment can help you respond differently. I provide evidence-based OCD therapy in Santa Monica and Los Angeles, with in-person sessions at my Santa Monica office and telehealth throughout California.
Specialized, evidence-based therapy for adults experiencing intrusive thoughts, compulsions, persistent doubt, and OCD—using ERP, ACT, and CBT.
Beyond Hand-Washing: Specialized Care for All Types of OCD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is often misunderstood. While traditional depictions center on cleanliness or organization, OCD can manifest in many subtle, internal, and agonizing ways.
You may be experiencing obsessions—unwanted, repetitive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger severe anxiety—followed by compulsions, which are physical or mental behaviors done to relieve that distress or prevent something bad from happening.
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Mental compulsions, rumination, and internal checking without obvious physical behaviors.
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Persistent, distressing doubts about your partner, attraction, or the stability of your relationship.
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Fear of accidentally or intentionally harming yourself or others.
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Hyper-fixation on bodily processes (breathing, blinking, swallowing).
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Unanswerable questions about reality, purpose, or identity.
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Excessive fears of illness, chemical exposure, or spreading germs.
Evidence-Based Treatment: ERP and ACT for OCD in Santa Monica
Traditional talk therapy can sometimes inadvertently reinforce OCD by analyzing intrusive thoughts. Instead, effective OCD treatment relies on targeted, evidence-based modalities designed to rewire how your brain responds to uncertainty and anxiety.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a first-line, evidence-based treatment for OCD. ERP isn't about “getting rid” of intrusive thoughts. Instead, we practice approaching feared thoughts, sensations, situations, or uncertainty while reducing the compulsive responses that keep the OCD cycle going.
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
OCD has a way of making your life feel very small, revolving entirely around your fears. ACT is about learning to unhook from them so they no longer run the show. We focus on mindfulness and your core values—helping you take action toward the life you want to live.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
CBT helps identify the patterns of thinking and behavior that can maintain the OCD cycle. Then you can keep the examples about overestimating threat and inflated responsibility. CBT helps us pull back the curtain on how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. By identifying the cognitive distortions—like overestimating threats or feeling overly responsible for things out of your control—we can build a practical roadmap to change your reactions and weaken the OCD cycle.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
What Does OCD Therapy Actually Look Like?
OCD therapy is active and collaborative. Early sessions typically focus on understanding your particular OCD cycle, including intrusive thoughts, triggers, avoidance, reassurance seeking, and both visible and mental compulsions.
From there, we work together to identify opportunities to practice responding differently. Using ERP and ACT, treatment focuses less on proving whether a feared thought is true or false and more on building your ability to tolerate uncertainty without relying on compulsions for relief.
In-Person OCD Therapy in Santa Monica & Telehealth Across California
Whether you prefer the comfort of in-person sessions at my Santa Monica office or the convenience of virtual therapy from anywhere in California, I provide a calm, judgment-free space tailored to your needs.
Office Location: 1150 Yale St, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Session Formats: In-Person (Santa Monica) & Telehealth (California)
You’re tired of feeling caught in this cycle:
The "What-If" Loop: Living in a future catastrophe instead of the present moment.
The Reassurance Hunger: Needing to ask, "Is this okay?" over and over again.
The Exhaustion: Being physically and mentally drained by a brain that won't hit the "off" switch.
“We aren’t aiming for the total absence of doubt—we’re aiming for the ability to live a big, beautiful life even when doubt is in the room.”