Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD can feel like a bully with a clipboard—bossy, persistent, and always demanding perfection. It shows up in the lives of kids, teens, and young adults in sneaky ways: intrusive thoughts that won’t let go, compulsions that hijack their time, and routines that feel more like traps than safety nets. At first, these behaviors can seem harmless or even helpful—but when OCD takes the wheel, it drives life into overwhelm.
Here’s a Peek Into the Kind of Situations Where I’ve Been Helpful
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Picture a bright 10-year-old who can’t go to bed without completing a long list of rituals—handwashing, door-checking, and rechecking homework again and again. These routines are supposed to “make sure everything’s okay,” but they’re stealing hours from her day and leaving her exhausted and frustrated.
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Then there’s the perfectionist middle schooler who erases and rewrites every word of his homework, terrified of making a mistake. What looks like procrastination is really a battle with an invisible fear of "getting it wrong."
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Or the teen who’s haunted by “what if” thoughts—What if I said something wrong? What if I hurt someone by accident? To quiet the fear, they might confess repeatedly, seek reassurance non-stop, or avoid situations altogether.
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Finally, there’s the college student who’s mentally reviewing every interaction, every test answer, every decision, trapped in an endless loop of doubt and guilt.
OCD doesn’t just take up time—it takes up space in one’s mind, relationships, and confidence.
My Approach
I'm a board-certified Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychologist with a specialty in treating OCD in gifted, sensitive, and high-achieving young people. I use evidence-based tools like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)—the gold standard for OCD treatment—alongside elements of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based strategies that help young people stand up to OCD and avoid falling into the compulsive trap.
Together, we’ll take OCD off its pedestal. You’ll learn how to spot its tricks, challenge its demands, and build a life that's not dictated by fear. Step by step, you’ll create your personalized "Freedom Plan"—a toolbox of courage, flexibility, and self-trust that empowers you to live life on your terms.
