OCD Center of Los Angeles
September 29, 2021
6:16 pm
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OCD Center of Los Angeles therapists Kelley Franke, Lauren McMeikan Rosen, Elena Fasan, and Mary Sponaugle.
We are happy to announce that four staff therapists from the OCD Center of Los Angeles will be giving presentations at the upcoming Online OCD Conference being offered by the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF).
This year’s Online OCD Conference is being held Friday, October 8, 2021 through Sunday, October 10, 2021. The conference will feature 70 presentations and 36 discussion groups on OCD and related conditions.
Three of this year’s presentations will feature OCD Center of Los Angeles staff therapists, including:
What To Do When Obsessions Overlap With Genuine Interests
Kelley Franke, LMFT, Lauren McMeikan Rosen, LMFT, and Kevin Foss, LMFT
Friday, October 8, 2021 11:00 am to 12:15 pm (Eastern time)
Navigating OCD In the World of 12 Step SUD Recovery
Lauren McMeikan Rosen, LMFT and Stacey Conroy, LICSW
Sunday, October 10, 2021 12:45 pm to 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Thinking the Unthinkable: Living with Stigma and Shame-filled Obsessions
Kelley Franke, LMFT, Lauren McMeikan Rosen, LMFT, Elena Fasan, LCSW, and Mary Sponaugle, LMFT
Sunday, October 10, 2021 2:30 pm to 3:45 pm (Eastern time)
OCD Center of Los Angeles
January 4, 2021
1:39 pm
22 Comments
Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder) can be effectively treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
“This time, I will stop doing it for real”, I would tell myself time and time again, as I convinced myself that some new strategy I came up with was going to get me to stop pulling out my eyelashes. I believed I had come up with a genius plan after I scheduled an appointment to get eyelash extensions, a lengthy process that consisted of a professional gluing individual pieces of hair onto my existing eyelashes to create fuller, longer lashes. I had always wished that I had more eyelashes, and I thought that if I spent my hard-earned money on lashes that I love, I obviously wouldn’t pull them out, right?
Wrong.
Sadly, I repeated this mistake more than once. Despite my perfect consistency, I always found myself saying “next time will be different” as I convinced myself that if I lost enough money, the punishment would deter me from pulling out my eyelashes ever again. Many lost eyelashes later, I reached a point where I finally realized that no amount of punishment, reward, or compliments on my appearance would magically reverse my hair pulling.
My desire to have long, beautiful eyelashes was no competition for the satisfying relief I felt each time a hair came out. With each hair I pulled, I felt I was removing a massive amount of anxiety from my body as I released the hair into the world, flying away from me. Of course, this relief was short-lived, and usually left me feeling ashamed and embarrassed to face the world. Unfortunately, whenever an irresistible urge crept up on me, I never cared about the emotional and physical consequences until after it was too late.
OCD Center of Los Angeles
December 7, 2020
5:10 pm
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Elena Fasan, LCSW, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses how parents can teach their children concrete skills to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these same skills offer the added benefit of helping kids to cope more effectively with OCD.
Skills used in coping with COVID-19 can also help kids to manage OCD more effectively.
In so many ways, COVID-19 reminds me of OCD. The virus is an invisible enemy that triggers anxiety, much like OCD. Dread lurks beneath the anxiety. This underlying dread, an intense feeling that something terrible will happen, is the crux of OCD. Regardless of the content of the intrusive thoughts, those diagnosed with OCD fear a disaster is waiting to occur if they do not mitigate danger by excessively engaging in ritualistic behaviors, known as compulsions. OCD leads one to over-think, to be extra careful, and to be hyper responsible and hyper vigilant, as does the threat of COVID-19. OCD disrupts one’s life, well being, feeling of safety, and daily routine. So does COVID-19. Engaging in OCD compulsions sucks up time, energy, and attention. The same can be said of COVID-19. Experiencing OCD symptoms can be isolating. COVID-19 safety guidelines, including stay at home orders, wearing a mask in public, and social distancing are also isolating. As of yet, there is no cure for COVID, nor is there currently a cure for OCD. Whether one’s anxiety is caused by OCD, by COVID-19, or by both, a panoply of triggers await when venturing out into the world, away from the safe cocoon of one’s controlled home environment.
OCD Center of Los Angeles
July 8, 2020
1:02 pm
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Laura Yocum, Lauren McMeikan, and Kelley Franke of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discuss Relationship OCD (ROCD) at the Online OCD Conference on August 2, 2020.
OCD Center of Los Angeles
April 16, 2020
10:28 am
12 Comments
An interview with Tom Corboy, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, about online, webcam-based therapy for the treatment of OCD, anxiety, and related conditions.
Online Therapy is an effective and convenient option for the treatment of OCD, anxiety & related conditions
What is online therapy and how is it done?
Online therapy is just therapy conducted over the internet via webcam. It is exactly the same as face-to-face treatment that occurs in a therapist’s office, with the only significant difference being that the therapy occurs over the internet.
Our online treatment program focuses on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which has consistently and repeatedly been found by researchers to be the most effective treatment for all forms of OCD and for most related conditions.
CBT is particularly well-suited to being conducted online because it uses a structured treatment protocol that is easily adapted to online treatment. Our program uses two structured treatment manuals that every client receives, and which are central to therapy. Conversely, psychoanalysis and other forms of traditional talk therapy focus on largely unstructured treatment approaches that are not conducive to online treatment.
Besides OCD, what other conditions does the OCD Center treat with online therapy?
We treat a number of conditions that are related to, or similar to OCD. These conditions have obsessive-compulsive qualities that are quite similar to OCD, and are frequently described as Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders. Some of the other conditions we treat include Phobias, Social Anxiety, Health Anxiety, and Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) such as Dermatillomania (compulsive skin picking) and Trichotillomania (compulsive Hair pulling).
Is online CBT effective for OCD and these other conditions?
There have been scores of studies on online therapy, and they have consistently found this approach to treatment to be just as effective as in-person treatment. One study even found online treatment to be more effective, mostly because the treatment was viewed by study participants as being easier to access than in-person treatment, and so they were less likely to discontinue treatment.
OCD Center of Los Angeles
April 6, 2020
3:13 pm
23 Comments
How can we use what we know about uncertainty and anxiety to support those who find themselves understandably anxious about COVID-19 and all of the fallout surrounding it?
We can’t eliminate uncertainty, but we can learn to relate to it in a more productive manner.
I cannot count how many times over the last few weeks I have either said or heard the phrase “These are unprecedented times” – and they are. Granted I’ve only spent 34 years on this globe, but in that time my government has never before instructed me to limit time outside of my home or weighed in at all with regard to my proximity to strangers. I’ve never purposefully distanced myself from my parents over concerns for their safety. I’ve never seen so many empty shelves in stores, and if you’d told me on New Year’s Day I’d be wearing a mask on a routine shopping trip, I would have been perplexed to say the least. We each have our own lists of news and firsts, ranging from the strange to the devastating. This novel coronavirus brings with it a great many novel experiences.
What seems to be at the forefront during this strange moment are predictions. Some of these predictions are necessary – how many people will be infected and will we have hospital space to care for them all? How can we prevent the spread of this disease? How many jobs have been, and will continue to be, impacted? How can we support those who are without income?
We have some ideas and some answers, all of which are important as we attempt to save lives, maintain our medical system and support those who’ve lost income. All this said, the common thread that binds us all in this uncharted territory is uncertainty. We can’t know the answers. As each day unfolds it is increasingly clear just how uncertain the world is.
OCD Center of Los Angeles
September 30, 2019
12:55 pm
10 Comments
Debra Dalton Stein, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles describes her journey as a psychotherapist from working primarily with eating disorders, to becoming an OCD specialist.
Debra Dalton Stein, MFT, of the Santa Barbara branch of the OCD Center of Los Angeles
One of the greatest barriers to effective therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is the lack of mental health treatment providers trained in the treatment of this condition. Most graduate school programs provide a broad overview of the counseling process, without offering much in the way of specialized training for specific conditions such as OCD. As a result, most psychotherapists have a limited understanding of OCD and its appropriate treatment.
Prior to 2013, like so many other therapists, I didn’t know a lot about OCD or its treatment. I was aware that people with OCD had compulsions such as excessive hand washing, and checking doors and stove knobs, but that was about it. Up until that point, I had spent much of my career – over 20 years – working at various treatment programs that focused on other diagnoses, and specializing in the treatment of eating disorders in my private practice. I’d had an eating disorder myself in my 20s, and like all eating disorders, it was a nightmare. And just like so many people struggling with OCD, I found it extremely difficult to find appropriate help (that is, once I finally gave up trying to do it myself). (more…)
OCD Center of Los Angeles
July 10, 2019
12:44 pm
28 Comments
OCD and GAD both thrive on our over-attention to unwanted thoughts.
People struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are often misdiagnosed as having other psychological conditions. One of the most common misdiagnoses for this population is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This diagnostic problem arises for two reasons. First, the distinction between OCD and GAD is somewhat vague. And second, many treatment providers have only a limited understanding of the varying ways in which OCD can manifest. While this issue may seem like an esoteric concern to some, making a proper diagnosis is important for those struggling with either condition, as the primary treatment for OCD is different than the treatment for GAD.
OCD Center of Los Angeles
May 30, 2019
7:26 pm
86 Comments
Everybody experiences unwanted thoughts from time to time, but people with Pure Obsessional OCD (aka, “Pure O”) often feel completely overwhelmed by intrusive, distressing thoughts. Tom Corboy, MFT of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses Pure O and its many permutations.
People with Pure O struggle with a seemingly endless litany of unwanted thoughts.
When most people think of OCD (if they think of OCD at all), they think of obvious compulsive behaviors such as repeated hand washing or door checking. This is likely because they have seen television news reports about OCD that focus on these sorts of overt compulsive behaviors. Or perhaps they’ve seen films like The Aviator or As Good As It Gets or Matchstick Men that showcase characters doing these or similar compulsive behaviors.
But these obvious compulsions are really just the tip of the OCD iceberg. Many people with OCD exhibit few, if any, of these outwardly observable compulsions. Based on my 25 years of experience specializing in the treatment of OCD, I posit that the great majority of people with this condition actually struggle with what is colloquially known as Pure Obsessional OCD, or “Pure O”, in which their behavioral symptoms are more subtle, and often unrecognized as “compulsions” by anyone, including themselves. In fact, the great majority of calls we receive at the OCD Center of Los Angeles are from people who are struggling with Pure O. Which begs the question…just what exactly is Pure O? (more…)
OCD Center of Los Angeles
April 6, 2018
2:07 pm
78 Comments
Excoriation (Skin Picking) Disorder is an obsessive-compulsive spectrum condition in which sufferers repeatedly pick at their skin. Crystal Quater, MMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses her personal experience with, and recovery from, Excoriation Disorder, and how she treats clients struggling with this condition.
Excoriation (Skin Picking) Disorder, also known as Dermatillomania, can be effectively treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
“I’m not going to do it, I’m not going to do it”, I repeatedly thought on my way home from work. Yet, once again, I found myself in front of my bathroom mirror, picking at those pesky bumps that wouldn’t seem to go away. When something came out, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and accomplishment.
Next, I grabbed a needle that I had carefully hidden in a small bathroom drawer and went to town on the stubborn bumps that didn’t respond to mere picking. I thought I was being clever by creating smaller incisions and doing what I imagined my facialist did when my eyes were closed. But when I finished, all I saw were raw wounds and a face that looked worse than it did before. I was left wondering how I would ever face the outside world with my unmistakable marks of humiliation.
Unfortunately, it was often difficult to remind myself of these painful episodes the next time I had the urge to pick. That’s because I always thought “I can resist the urge this time”. (more…)
Natalie Najera, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team as our Social Media Manager, as well as her own personal experience and recovery from OCD. […]
Brandi Roberts, MS, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, shares her personal experience and recovery from religious scrupulosity OCD and spiritual bypassing, as well as discusses the dynamics and treatment of this common OCD subtype. […]
Mikayla Rodin, MA, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses a subtype of OCD called Contamination OCD, as well as sharing what the symptoms and treatment may look like for someone experiencing this condition. […]
Erica Russell, LMFT, LPCC, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses the symptoms and treatment of Postpartum OCD and reflects on her own personal experience with the postpartum anxiety journey as she returns from maternity leave. […]
Mikayla Rodin, MA, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses the connection between VasoVagal Syncope and Anxiety, as well as sharing what the symptoms and treatment may look like for someone with this condition. […]
Daniel Safavi, MA, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses the sometimes sensitive and extremely powerful use of disclosure of one's OCD, as well as some helpful guidelines when determining to self-disclose. […]
Brandi Roberts MS, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, shares her personal experience and recovery from relationship OCD (ROCD), as well as discusses the dynamics and treatment of this very common OCD subtype. […]
Kristen Taylor-Ladd, MA, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses the differences between, and often co-occurring, afflictions of OCD and GAD, as well as shares her personal experience with and way to recovery from both of these conditions. […]
Chanel Taghdis, LMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses the efficacy of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and related conditions when conducted via teletherapy. […]
Chris Cincotta, LMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses how to implement an effective mindfulness-based response prevention approach for the treatment of OCD and anxiety, and how to prevent mindfulness from becoming just another compulsion. […]
Kelley Franke, Lauren McMeikan Rosen, Elena Fasan, and Mary Sponaugle of the OCD Center of Los Angeles will be giving three presentations at the Online OCD Conference being held October 8-10, 2021. […]
Trichotillomania is a condition in which sufferers repeatedly pull out their hair. Chanel Taghdis, MA, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses her personal experience with, and recovery from, Trichotillomania, and how she treats clients struggling with this condition. […]
Laura Yocum, Lauren McMeikan, and Kelley Franke of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discuss Relationship OCD (ROCD) at the Online OCD Conference on August 2, 2020. […]
An interview with Tom Corboy, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, about the use of online therapy for the treatment of OCD and related conditions. […]
Debra Dalton Stein, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles describes her journey as a psychotherapist from working primarily with eating disorders, to becoming an OCD specialist. […]
OCD is often misdiagnosed as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The OCD Center of L.A. reviews diagnostic & treatment differences between these conditions. […]
People with Pure Obsessional OCD ("Pure O") often feel overwhelmed by intrusive, distressing thoughts. Tom Corboy, MFT of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses Pure O and its many permutations. […]
Excoriation (Skin Picking) Disorder is an obsessive-compulsive spectrum condition in which sufferers repeatedly pick at their skin. Crystal Quater, MMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses her personal experience with, and recovery from, Excoriation Disorder, and how she treats clients struggling with this condition. […]
OCD obsessions are just fake news that your brain makes up. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. Helping clients in California and around the world since 1999. […]
HOCD is a type of OCD in which the individual obsesses about their sexual orientation. Here are 30 things you should know about HOCD. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
A discussion of "The Denial Obsession" in OCD, in which sufferers obsess that they don't really have OCD, but are merely "in denial". By Lauren McMeikan, MA, and Tom Corboy, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
A review of cognitive distortions seen in Moral Scrupulosity OCD, and a discussion of how to effectively challenge them. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
One mom's story of her son's battle with OCD and its profound impact on their family, as told to Elizabeth Kassel, MSW, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
Diagnostic similarities and differences between OCD and eating disorders are discussed by Kimberley Quinlan, MFT, Clinical Director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
Harm OCD treatment using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is discussed by Tom Corboy, MFT, Executive Director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles . […]
The impact of OCD and related anxiety based disorders on the family is often overlooked. In this multi-part series, we present first-hand accounts of the ongoing impact of OCD, BDD, and Bipolar Disorder on one man and his family, as told to Elizabeth Kassel, MSW, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
Using mindfulness to enhance traditional CBT for OCD and anxiety is discussed by Kimberley Quinlan, MFT, Clinical Director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
Harm OCD is often misunderstood, but it can be effectively treated using an integrated treatment plan that includes Cognitive Restructuring. Part three of our ongoing series that explores "Harm OCD" and its treatment . […]
Learn the five common mistakes that interfere with successful treatment of OCD and anxiety. By Kimberley Quinlan, MFT, Clinical Director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
Harm OCD is an often misunderstood condition that can be effectively treated using Mindfulness integrated with CBT. Part two of a multi-part series from the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
This is the first installment in a series of articles in which The OCD Center of Los Angeles demystifies both the symptoms and the treatment of Harm OCD. […]
Kimberley Quinlan, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness for the treatment of Orthorexia. Part two of a two-part series. […]
Orthorexia is an eating disorder in which people obsess about eating only "pure" and "healthy" foods. By Kimberley Quinlan, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
Many people mistakenly think of Social Anxiety as nothing more than shyness. In this two-part series, the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses Social Anxiety and its treatment with CBT. […]
Binge Eating Disorder, also known as ‘”compulsive overeating”, can perhaps best be described as a condition in which one periodically consumes extremely large amounts of food. Kimberley Quinlan, MFT, Clinical Director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses Binge Eating Disorder and its treatment with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). […]
Increasing numbers of teens are having elective cosmetic surgeries to address body image issues, without fully considering the physical and psychological risks involved. […]
A discussion of BDD and recent news reports about the condition. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. Serving clients in California and internationally. […]
Many people with OCD engage in 'memory hoarding', a mental compulsion to over-attend to the details of an event, person, or object. Memory hoarding is done with the belief that the event, person, or object carries a special significance, and may be important to recall exactly as-is at a later date. […]
An Australian pro boxer assaults a 70-year old man on a ferry boat and claims his OCD made him do it. Last of a three part series on OCD and the law. […]
A Kentucky man murdered his wife and then tried to claim that his OCD led him to kill her. Part 2 of a 3 part series. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
Mental health has long been shrouded in secrecy and shame. So when public figures like professional athletes actively seek help for anxiety, it is a sign of cultural progress. Here are some who have gone public with their struggles. […]
This past week marked the arrival of the 2010 Major League baseball season. And as with last year, this season already has three developing stories of athletes dealing with Social Anxiety. […]
Sex addiction is misconstrued by many to be a type of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This article reviews various factors relevant to determining what diagnosis might be more appropriate. Second of a two part series. […]
Many people, including professional psychotherapists, incorrectly think of sex addiction as a type of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This article reviews the essential differences between these two conditions and, how therapeutic strategies used for the treatment of OCD are unlikely to be successful when treating sex addiction. First of a two part series. […]
The drug Latisse is prescribed to lengthen eyelashes, but it has significant, under-reported side effects. This raises two questions - is Latisse safe, and does its marketing exploit women's body image concerns? […]
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has proposed significant revisions to its "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition" (DSM-IV). Tom Corboy of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses changes planned for the new DSM-5, specifically those relevant to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related anxiety-based conditions. […]
Those with OCD and other anxiety based conditions often seek reassurance that their unwanted thoughts and feelings are not a threat. The OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses the problem of using reassurance seeking as an anxiety management strategy. […]
Many with Body Dysmorphic Disorder turn to cosmetic surgery in an attempt to alleviate their insecurities. Unfortunately, there are plenty of cosmetic surgeons who are more than willing to cash in on those with this serious psychiatric condition. […]
OCD and anxiety were in the news throughout 2009. Here are our votes for the top stories of the year about OCD and related anxiety based conditions. […]
Emetophobia is the fear of vomit and/or vomiting. Tom Corboy, MFT, Executive Director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses Emetophobia and its treatment. […]
The twin explosions of television and the internet have spawned a sharp increase in Hypochondria, and spawned a new mental health issue - 'Cyberchondria'. […]
A discussion of compulsive overeating (aka binge eating) and how it differs from OCD. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. Serving clients internationally. […]
