OCD and Anxiety Therapy
in Boston, MA & Los Angeles, CA
You can live differently.
What if it’s OCD and something else?
OCD rarely shows up alone. It often tags along with things like phobias, body-focused habits (like skin picking or hair pulling—called body-focused repetitive behaviors), other kinds of anxiety, or struggles in relationships. That’s very common—and you’re not alone if it feels like more than just OCD.
While I can help with those co-occurring challenges, I focus on working with people who are trying to sort through OCD, social anxiety, and relationship or dating anxiety. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s what—like, is this an obsessive thought or just relationship anxiety? Is it social anxiety or something else? We can untangle this together. Whether you're dealing with thoughts stuck on repeat about your relationship, fear of judgment, or anxiety that gets in the way of connection, we’ll work through it in a way that’s compassionate, clear, and totally tailored to you.
Below, you’ll find a quick breakdown of common relationship patterns and struggles that often show up alongside OCD. The good news? Some of the things that make relationships feel confusing or uncomfortable can improve with the same kinds of therapy used to treat OCD. Click the link below to learn more about how it all connects.
Does it ever feel like your mind is turning against you?
That might sound dramatic, but if you’re living with OCD and anxiety, you probably know exactly what I mean. OCD can feel like an unwanted passenger that hijacks your thoughts and decisions. Maybe you’ve had stretches of time where things felt manageable, when the thoughts weren’t as loud, but when OCD flares up, it can be all-consuming.
Over time, anxiety, shame, guilt, or feelings of disgust can grow stronger. It’s hard to think about anything else but your OCD fears. The rules OCD demands you follow become more rigid. And all of it is exhausting—endless mental loops, Googling for reassurance, talking with others about your fears, hoping they will tell you they won’t come true, checking and rechecking, trying to feel just right through rituals that never seem to actually bring relief.
It can feel like everyone else is existing in a different world from you as you become more consumed by your worries. Connecting with others feels nearly impossible. Hobbies stop being fun. Work feels overwhelming. And somewhere in all of that, it can start to feel like you’re losing touch with who you really are.
You don’t have to be trapped in this OCD cycle- I can help you find your way forward with specialized OCD therapy services. Click the button below to book an intro call.
I thought OCD was just about hand-washing—so why is mine so different?
OCD looks different for everyone. That’s because people are nuanced, complicated, and have different life experiences and cultural backgrounds. How your OCD presents is also going to be unique to you. There are so many different OCD themes, and they can change over time. It would be impossible to list every single one—but I’ve listed a few of the more common types on the Common OCD Themes page.
More FAQs
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OCD stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is not about just being neat or liking things a certain way (although that can be part of it) — it’s a mental health condition that can feel all-consuming.
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The main symptoms of OCD are actually right there in the name:
It stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which means it involves two key parts — obsessions and compulsions.
Obsessions are thoughts that get “stuck” in your mind. They’re usually unwanted, intrusive, and can feel really distressing — like thoughts you don’t want to be having, but can’t seem to shake. Even if you know they don’t make sense, they still cause a lot of anxiety, guilt, or even disgust. Sometimes it feels like they take over your whole mind.
To try and feel better or more in control, your brain might come up with things to do — and that’s where compulsions come in. Compulsions (sometimes called rituals) are anything you do to try to quiet the anxiety or "undo" the thought. That might look like asking for reassurance, checking something over and over, or doing things in a certain way until it feels “just right.”
But compulsions aren’t always visible. A lot of them happen in your head — like mentally reviewing memories, silently repeating words, overthinking, or trying to “neutralize” a thought with another thought.
Everyone’s experience with OCD is unique, and there’s no single list of symptoms that covers it all. But what’s common is how exhausting and real it feels. If any of this resonates with you, you’re not alone — and therapy can be a helpful space to explore what’s going on. I offer support for people navigating OCD and related struggles, and we can work together to find tools that feel right for you.
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Yes! Overthinking — what we often call rumination in therapy — is super common in OCD and anxiety. It’s that mental loop where you keep going over the same thing again and again, even when you really want to let it go. It can feel like you’re stuck in an ongoing debate with your anxiety, and no matter how much you argue, there’s never a clear answer or sense of relief.
The thing is, rumination isn’t just something that “happens” to you — it’s actually a mental habit. And the good news is: habits can be changed. A big part of the work I do in therapy is helping people recognize when they’re stuck in that loop and learn tools to break out of rumination.
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You may already have a sense of what Relationship OCD (ROCD) is—and yes, it’s just what it sounds like: OCD that attaches to your relationships. While most people think of romantic relationships when they hear ROCD, it can actually show up in any kind of relationship—whether with family, friends, coworkers, or others.
ROCD often shows up as intrusive doubts or worries, like:
Do I really care about this person?
Do they really care about me?
Is something wrong with this relationship?
Am I truly attracted to my partner?
Did I genuinely enjoy that time with my friend?
These kinds of thoughts can feel incredibly distressing. And in response to the anxiety, many people try to find relief by doing things like:
Researching relationship advice or signs of a "healthy" relationship
Asking others for reassurance
Checking their feelings to see if they feel "enough" love, attraction, or connection
Comparing their relationships to other people’s
Feeling the need to confess thoughts or doubts to make sure they're being honest or good partners/friends
I often work with people navigating ROCD, and at its core, it’s really just another form of OCD. That means the therapeutic work remains the same: helping you learn to trust yourself, make space for uncertainty, and step away from the urge to get certainty or relief through compulsions.
You're not alone in this—and healing is absolutely possible.
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Virtual therapy for OCD works really well and makes getting help easier than ever. The types of therapy I use—Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Inference based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT_—are all great for online sessions, so you can get support without the hassle of going anywhere.
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It’s different for everyone, depending on how intense your symptoms are, how motivated you are to practice skills outside of sessions, and how much insight you have. But usually, people start noticing real progress around 4 to 6 months.
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Yes, yes, and yes. People usually come to therapy because OCD starts messing with the things that matter most to them—like work, school, and relationships. That’s how OCD works: it attaches to what you care about. One area I really focus on is how OCD impacts relationships, especially relationship anxiety and relationship OCD, since that can be really challenging. If it’s left untreated, OCD can affect every part of your life, even every moment of your day. The important thing to know is, OCD is totally treatable. I’ve seen so many clients make real progress and get their lives back. Recovery is definitely possible.
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The two main evidence-based treatments for OCD are Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT). I'm trained in both approaches and can work with you to figure out which one best fits your needs, your symptoms, and your personal style.
ERP stands for Exposure and Response Prevention. It helps you face the thoughts, situations, or feelings that trigger your anxiety (the exposure), while learning how not to respond with compulsions or mental rituals (that’s the response prevention part). You’re not just thrown into it—you’ll learn practical, step-by-step skills to help you sit with uncertainty, ride out anxiety, and resist the urge to do the thing OCD is demanding. Over time, your brain starts to realize those thoughts don’t need to be feared or controlled, and the anxiety starts to lose its power.
ICBT is a type of therapy that helps you understand how OCD pulls you into doubt and false beliefs. Instead of doing exposures, ICBT looks at the stories OCD tells you—those 'what ifs' that feel so real—and helps you spot when you’ve been pulled into OCD thinking. It teaches you how to reconnect with your own senses, values, and lived reality, rather than getting lost in OCD’s made-up scenarios. It can be especially helpful for folks dealing with more internal, mental obsessions—like relationship OCD or harm OCD—where the anxiety lives mostly in your thoughts, not your actions.
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Not at all. You don’t need a formal diagnosis to get started. Part of what I do is help you figure out whether what you’re experiencing is OCD or something related—like Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety, or a Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior (like skin picking or hair pulling). These are all treatable using approaches I’m trained in, including ERP, CBT, ACT, and mindfulness. I also incorporate attachment-based therapy, especially for folks navigating relationship or dating anxiety, so we can get to the root of what’s going on and help you feel more secure in yourself.
I’m nervous about starting therapy—what will it actually be like?
It’s understandable if you’re nervous about starting therapy, especially if it’s your first time or if past experiences didn’t feel helpful. In our first session, we’ll just have a conversation. I’ll ask about your day-to-day life—things like your job, living situation, routines, and what your typical week looks like. We’ll also go over any past experiences with mental health, therapy, current medications, and whether you’re working with a prescriber. Most importantly, you can share anything you feel I should know.
Then we’ll start to focus on what OCD or anxiety looks like for you. Everyone’s experience is different, so it’s important we take time to really understand how it shows up in your life, moment to moment.
Once we have that foundation, we’ll talk through the therapy approaches that are most likely to help based on your symptoms and goals. This all usually happens within the first two sessions, so we can start working with a clear, personalized plan.
Starting therapy can feel like a big step, so I work hard to make the process feel safe, transparent, and collaborative. We’ll have a plan and strategy guiding our work, making sure we’re challenging things and making changes in a way that’s effective but not too much to handle.
Can I talk about other things besides anxiety and OCD?
Absolutely. I know anxiety and OCD aren’t your whole story. You're a full person, and sometimes other things—like stress, feelings of sadness, or life changes—need attention too. Even though I use evidence-based approaches, I stay flexible so we can focus on what matters most to you each session. I don’t think therapy should feel like you’re being boxed in by a diagnosis or a rigid method.
As an OCD therapist, I aim to create a relationship that’s built on mutual respect, honesty, and authenticity—so you can show up as yourself and feel genuinely supported.
Through this work, many people find that their relationship with fear, doubt, and difficult thoughts starts to shift. They begin to trust themselves more, feel free to do the things they care about, and show up more fully in their relationships. I often see clients return to activities they love but have been avoiding because of anxiety, build genuine confidence, and handle uncertainty without feeling overwhelmed.
Real change can happen — and I’ll be here to support you along the way.
Let’s talk details.
I work with adults in Massachusetts and California through secure, confidential video sessions (yep, all from the comfort of your couch). Sessions are typically 50 minutes long. My cat is usually curled up on my lap during sessions — she’s a quiet presence, but I like to think of her as my unofficial co-therapist.
OCD Therapy in MA & CA
In my work with clients, OCD therapy focuses on breaking free from the constant cycle of doubt and fear. Together, we practice loosening rigid control, accepting the uncertainties that naturally come with relationships, letting go of perfectionism, and developing deeper self-trust. If you recognize these challenges in your own life, know that help is available. I provide online OCD and anxiety therapy for adults across Massachusetts and California, so starting doesn’t require you to live in Boston or Los Angeles. Wherever you are, OCD therapy can bring clarity, tools, and relief to your daily life.
Begin OCD Therapy in Boston, MA, or Los Angeles, CA
Living with OCD and anxiety can feel exhausting, but you don’t have to manage it on your own. As a dedicated therapist offering OCD therapy in Boston, MA, and Los Angeles, CA, I provide individualized, evidence-based care to help you quiet intrusive thoughts, reduce compulsions, and feel more at ease in your daily life. Together, we’ll create a treatment plan that reflects your unique needs and goals.
Here’s how to get started:
Book a free, 15-minute consultation to connect with me directly and ask any questions.
Schedule your first OCD and anxiety therapy session in Boston, MA, or Los Angeles, CA.
Begin moving toward greater calm, clarity, and balance with supportive, one-on-one care.
Other Services Offered
Alongside one-on-one OCD therapy, I also offer additional support designed to meet the specific challenges many clients face. On the Common OCD Themes page, I explore recurring thought patterns and behaviors that often appear with OCD, helping you better understand and normalize your experience. I also provide resources on OCD and Social Life, offering guidance for navigating relationships, friendships, and dating while managing OCD and anxiety. These services are meant to complement therapy, giving you deeper insight and practical tools that support healing both inside and outside of sessions.
