Specialties

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a disorder in which people experience recurrent, unwanted thoughts, images, urges, or ideas (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

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I specialize in using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to help clients learn how to manage their OCD symptoms and associated anxiety.

Anxiety disorders, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, Phobias, and Separation Anxiety, impact people of all ages, regardless of their background.

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Generalized anxiety is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry, more days than not, and the anxiety and worry are difficult to control.

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Social anxiety is characterized by significant fear or anxiety about social situations in which one will be exposed to potential scrutiny or judgment by others. The individual may worry that they will do or say something that others will perceive as humiliating or embarrassing.

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Phobias are characterized by intense fear or anxiety about specific objects or situations. These objects or situations are actively avoided or endured with intense fear and anxiety.

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Separation Anxiety is characterized by significant fear or anxiety related to separation from an individual that the person feels attached to. When expected to separate from the attached individual, a person with separation anxiety may experience difficult emotions, they may feel extremely worried or anxious, or they may refuse to separate.

Tics and Tourette's Disorder impact people of all ages, and symptoms first present in childhood or adolescence.

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Persistent (chronic) tic disorder is characterized by one, or multiple, motor or vocal tics that have been present during the duration of the disorder. The motor or vocal tic(s) have persisted for more than 1 year since first tic onset.

Tourette's Disorder is characterized by both multiple motor, and one or more vocal, tics . The tics persist for more than 1 year since first tic onset.

Trichotillomania/hair-pulling is characterized by repeated hair-pulling, resulting in hair loss. The hair that is pulled can be anywhere on the body (e.g., head, eyelashes, eyebrows), and the individual has tried repeatedly to decrease or stop hair-pulling.

Excoriation/skin-picking is characterized by recurrent skin picking that results in skin lesions, broken skin, and/or open wounds. The individual has also made repeated attempts to decrease or stop skin-picking.

Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) is a clinical diagnosis given to children who have a dramatic onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Symptoms can include:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Obsessions and/or compulsions

• Irritability

• Aggression

• Motor difficulties

• Restrictive eating

• Poor school performance

• Physical symptoms, such as sleep difficulties, bed-wetting, and frequent urination

Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) describes a group of symptoms thought to affect certain children who have had streptococcal infections, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. Symptoms can include:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Bed-wetting

• Changes in mood or personality (e.g., sudden rage or irritability)

• Sleep difficulties

• Disinterest in food

• Fidgeting and symptoms similar to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder/OCD-like symptoms

• Tics

Depression is a common disorder that impacts millions of people worldwide. Depression is characterized by low mood, and symptoms may include:

• Loss of interest in things previously enjoyed

• Feeling sad, low, or empty

• Hopelessness

• Significant changes in weight without intentional effort (e.g., significant weight loss without dieting, notable decrease in appetite)

• Sleep difficulties

• Motor difficulties

• Fatigue or loss of energy

• Difficulties concentrating