OCD Center of Los Angeles

Serving the community since 1999

In-Person and Online Therapy
Individual & Group Therapy

My Journey to Becoming an OCD Specialist

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
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).

Like many people with OCD, my first efforts to get treatment for my eating disorder were not successful. I was not emaciated or overweight, and so I didn’t “look” like I had an eating disorder. My experience was not unlike so many people with OCD who do not excessively wash their hands or check doors and locks, and thus are often misdiagnosed by untrained mental health treatment professionals.

My entryway to learning about OCD came unexpectedly from a long-term client I had been treating for anorexia nervosa. I had come to know Sara* and most of her family over the course of the three years that I worked with her. I knew Sara well and she was a wonderful person. One day towards the end of treatment, Sara looked very uncomfortable and anxious during our therapy session together. She told me she needed to tell me something she had never told anyone – not even her mother with whom she was very close. I could see that Sara feared my judgment, and so I told her nothing she could tell me would change the way I saw or felt about her.

Sara proceeded to tell me that since the age of five, she had been experiencing horrible images of herself harming her mother whom she dearly loved. I told her I was sorry she had been going through this all alone for so many years (she was 22 at the time), and that I didn’t know what these images meant. I let her know she was not “crazy” as was her fear, and wondered to myself, “Why don’t I know about this?”

Sara intuitively knew the images and thoughts were not a reflection of who she was or ever wanted to be. She had no history of violence or harming anyone in any way in her life. But she didn’t understand why she repeatedly experienced these mental images, and was deeply ashamed of them and of herself. At the time she was nearly fully recovered from her eating disorder, and worked in a demanding career that was her passion.

I asked Sara if she would allow her mom to join us in our next session so I could support her in telling her mother about what she had been dealing with alone for so many years. Sara agreed, and when she told her mother about the unwanted images, her mother hugged her and told her she was not afraid that Sara was going to hurt her in any way.

After that session, I contacted a local therapist who specialized in anxiety disorders. In discussing Sara with this specialized treatment provider I learned that OCD comes in many forms, and that it was treatable using some very specific techniques. I referred Sara to the OCD specialist for treatment, while I continued to work with her in support of her eating disorder recovery.

That experience of recognizing my limited knowledge of OCD led me to become very interested in learning more about the condition. I made a point of reading numerous books about OCD treatment, and over time began to identify its symptoms in many of the clients I was treating for eating disorders. One of the many things I learned was that a 2004 study had found that 64% of individuals with eating disorders have at least one anxiety disorder and that 41% of these people have OCD [1].

I began to research how I could competently and effectively be trained to treat OCD. I discovered the website of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), where I learned about their Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI). This is a specialized training program that the IOCDF offers periodically across the country. The next training was scheduled in Pasadena, California, about a two-hour drive from where I lived. I was told by an IOCDF representative that getting into the training was competitive, and that there was a designated time to call and reserve a spot in the program. I planned ahead, called at the time given, and was excited to be accepted into their training program.

The two and a half day training was an immersion into all things OCD. It was during that weekend program that I learned about treating OCD with a specific type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Experts took turns presenting, and to be honest, I was overwhelmed with all of the information that was so new to me. At the end of the weekend I was assigned to continue my training by working with a local licensed psychologist who specialized in treating OCD as my clinical supervisor.

Soon thereafter, I went to the 2014 IOCDF Conference in Los Angeles. This was another excellent learning experience, as I attended numerous seminars and workshops on OCD and its treatment. The many books I had read about OCD, combined with the BTTI training, had laid a strong foundation upon which the conference would build. In addition, I took an online certification course focused specifically on the treatment of OCD and Anxiety.

Through several of the conference workshops that I had attended, I had learned how to structure OCD treatment focusing on three core techniques:

  • Cognitive Restructuring – This is the “C” part of CBT, and it focuses on helping clients learn how to more effectively respond to their intrusive OCD thoughts. By learning how to “restructure” their thoughts, clients with OCD learn to challenge their irrational thinking patterns with more realistic thoughts that are based on objective reality rather than fear.
  • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) – This is the “B” part of CBT, and it focuses on helping the client directly face their fears. This is done via specific behavioral “exposures” that are done in session and as take-home assignments. These exposures target the client’s behavioral symptoms in a structured, systematic, and concrete way through which the client becomes less anxious in response to their unwanted thoughts. CBT with an emphasis on ERP is the evidence-based treatment for OCD. Simply put, ERP works, and there are literally scores of research studies that prove that it is the most effective treatment for OCD.
  • Mindfulness Training – The goal of mindfulness training is to learn how to change our relationship to our unwanted thoughts, feelings, sensations and urges, and to respond to them in a different way. Mindfulness teaches us to allow and accept these uncomfortable internal experiences without judgment, and to instead let them move through our minds without engaging with them. We can then more effectively use ERP to practice tolerating them. When integrating mindfulness with ERP, we learn that these experiences are bearable, and will often go away on their own eventually.

After the IOCDF conference, and after completing the online certification, I felt much more confident in my ability to treat OCD. But there was one small problem: I still needed a client with OCD! So I posted on a local therapist email list that I was looking to treat an individual with OCD using CBT/ERP. I offered to work for a low fee or, if necessary, for free. I also became a professional member of the IOCDF and posted my bio on the website.

Within a few weeks, I received a call from a newly graduated high-school student who had also attended the same conference. She was just as excited as I was to commence treatment, and we worked together for a couple of months before she had to leave for college. She was highly motivated, did her exposure homework, and made steady progress. She would need follow-up care, but she now had a better understanding of her OCD and knew how to effectively do ERP on her own. Happily, she felt much better and I was really proud of her hard work.

After being supervised with this client I was formally certified as a BTTI graduate. I continued to build experience working with OCD, and after a few months I gained employment at the OCD Center of Los Angeles. There, I received more training before I began seeing clients at their Santa Barbara office location, where I continue to work today.

Like treating eating disorders, working with OCD is an extremely rewarding experience. Helping clients understand their symptoms and supporting them through the hard work of ERP is a privilege. I have worked for the OCD Center of Los Angeles since 2015 and remain thankful to Sara, who may never know that her courage to be vulnerable with me in one session could help so many others.

• Debra Dalton Stein, MFT, is a psychotherapist at the Santa Barbara branch of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, a private, outpatient clinic specializing in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of OCD and related anxiety-based conditions. In addition to individual therapy, the center offers five weekly therapy groups, as well as online therapy, telephone therapy, home visits, and intensive outpatient treatment. To contact the OCD Center of Los Angeles, click here.


* Names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

[1] Kaye, et. Al. Relationship between Anorexia Nervosa and Obsessive and Compulsive Behaviors. Psychiatric Annals, 1993. (23):365-373.

10 Comments

  • Thank you for sharing your journey. I loved how you discovered your passion in such a unique way.

    This also made me realise an important point that if it wasn’t for the bravery of a few people like Sara in sharing these thoughts which cause them so much shame, not as much attention would be given to this disease and perhaps that would mean less research and treatments. Thankful for those people!

    Reply
    • Lubna,

      Thank you for your kind words.

      I agree that sharing difficult thoughts and feelings with one’s therapist can be an act of bravery, especially when it comes to OCD. It also speaks to the importance of specialized training for therapists so when clients do share these thoughts, the therapist is able to recognize what it is and treat it effectively.

      Reply
  • Hi,
    I have suffered with HOCD for many years and at times it was crippling. I had CBT and my therapist was not aware of my anxiety disorder. I searched the internet and eventually found others who had the same symptoms as myself and I cried with relief. It is something that people do not like to talk about but I urge you to become a specialist in this particular form of OCD as it is the most debilitating condition imaginable. Please help others like myself.
    I have this condition under control with the help of medication.
    I applaud you for the work you are doing and urge you to continue supporting others like me!

    Reply
    • Katherine,

      Thank you for your kind words. I am glad to know you were able to identify what was going on for you. I have heard many clients report how getting the correct diagnosis was a huge relief and made them feel they were not alone.

      All of the therapists at the OCD Center of Los Angeles specialize in treating all forms of OCD, including HOCD. It is actually a very common subtype of OCD and like all forms of OCD can be treated effectively with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), with an emphasis on a specific CBT technique called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).

      Reply
  • I’ve struggled with OCD for over 50 years. During the past two decades I was fortunate to receive excellent psychiatric counseling and the meds I was prescribed substantially reduced my symptoms, but the OCD persisted in the background with periodic flares that were overwhelming. Over time I often found myself increasingly in a state of high alert/anxiety, obsessively scanning my thoughts and feelings for signs of the next crushing outbreak- a toxic vigilance.

    About a year ago I began exploring with Debra new ways of working with this disorder. Through practice of the techniques outlined in this article and with Debra’s guidance and support, I’ve come to a new relationship with OCD. The OCD is not gone. Rather my response has shifted from reflexive avoidance and fear to an acknowledgement and compassion that provides the space to choose my actions- an empowerment that builds upon itself.

    The work isn’t over. For me, I doubt it ever will be. But I am no longer stuck being a victim of OCD. I’m getting better at creatively engaging with the world- noting my OCD but no longer enslaved by it, I’m thankful for the freedom to choose actions consistent with my values.

    Reply
    • Steve,

      It is heartening to hear how well you are doing and your continued willingness to apply the tools to manage OCD effectively and live your valued life. Thank you for sharing your experience!

      Reply
  • I found this article very interesting and quite informative at the same time. The world needs more people like you!

    Reply
  • I have OCD, I am 33 years old and was diagnosed with this at 15. I found this article interesting and yet at the same time found that it lacked some information and explanation when it came to the 3rd to last paragraph about the newly graduated student and her OCD. As I read it, it seemed to be all great and grand with her experience with OCD. That she had done her exposure homework, and had some follow up appointments and it was all great. I am glad though that you pursued the field of OCD. I live in a small town and there are few people who work with people with OCD. Thank you for your service.

    Reply
    • Lacey,

      Due to reasons of confidentiality, I purposely did not provide many details about the client I referred to in the article. Like most, this client had a number of therapy sessions to complete her treatment. Once in treatment, most clients feel better when they understand the disorder, how it works, and how doing ERP improves their symptoms.

      I understand it can be difficult finding OCD specialists in a small town. Depending on where you live, we may be able to provide you with online therapy.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Note: Comments are limited to a maximum of 750 characters. Your email address will not be published.

Recent Articles

  • Seeking a Spiritual Escape: Spiritual Bypass and Scrupulosity 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. […]
    1 Comment
  • What Is Contamination OCD? There’s More to It Than Meets the Eye…
    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.  […]
    1 Comment
  • Navigating Postpartum OCD: Making Space for Scary Thoughts
    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. […]
    2 Comments
  • Connecting Vasovagal Syncope to Anxiety Reactions
    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. […]
    1 Comment
  • The Invisible DisorderOCD: The Invisible Disorder
    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. […]
    6 Comments
  • Relationship OCD: Accepting the Unknown in RelationshipsRelationship OCD: Accepting the Unknown in Relationships
    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. […]
    13 Comments
  • Go Big or Go Home: The Difference Between OCD and GADGo Big or Go Home: The Difference Between OCD and GAD (and My Experience with Both)
    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. […]
    8 Comments
  • Exposure and Response Prevention via TeletherapyExposure and Response Prevention: Is It Effective Via Telehealth?
    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. […]
    No Comments
  • Response Prevention for OCD and Anxiety-300Mindfulness-Based Response Prevention for OCD and Anxiety
    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. […]
    14 Comments
  • OCD Center of Los Angeles - 2021 Online OCD Conference2021 Online OCD Conference
    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. […]
    No Comments
  • Trichotillomania: My Journey to Treatment and RecoveryTrichotillomania: My Journey to Treatment and Recovery
    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. […]
    22 Comments
  • Skills for managing COVID-19 and OCDHow Learning to Live with COVID-19 Can Help Kids Manage OCD
    Parents can teach kids skills to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic that have the added benefit of helping them cope more effectively with OCD. […]
    No Comments
  • When OCD Comes Between Us: Relationship OCD and RecoveryWhen OCD Comes Between Us: Relationship OCD and Recovery
    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. […]
    No Comments
  • Online therapy for OCD and anxietyQ&A: Online Therapy for OCD, Anxiety and Related Conditions
    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. […]
    12 Comments
  • Making Peace with Uncertainty: Living in the Midst of a PandemicMaking Peace with Uncertainty: Living in the Midst of a Pandemic
    When it comes to uncertainty and anxiety related to COVID-19, most of us don’t want to feel it. But resistance just makes things worse. […]
    23 Comments
  • OCD vs. GADOCD vs. GAD and How to Tell the Difference
    OCD is often misdiagnosed as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The OCD Center of L.A. reviews diagnostic & treatment differences between these conditions. […]
    28 Comments
  • Pure OPure O 101
    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. […]
    86 Comments
  • Excoriation (Skin Picking) Disorder, aka DermatillomaniaExcoriation (Skin Picking) Disorder, aka Dermatillomania
    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. […]
    78 Comments
  • OCD is Fake News: The brain is a machine for jumping to conclusionsOCD is Fake News
    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. […]
    65 Comments
  • HOCD - 30 Things You Need To KnowHOCD: 30 Things You Need To Know
    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. […]
    516 Comments
  • Doubt, Denial, and OCDDoubt, Denial and OCD
    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. […]
    166 Comments
  • Dermatillomania: A Skin Picker's Guide to the DermatologistDermatillomania: A Skin Picker’s Guide to the Dermatologist
    How one woman with Dermatillomania finally opened up to her dermatologist about her longtime struggle with skin picking. […]
    44 Comments
  • Imaginal Exposure for OCD and Anxiety - OCD Center of Los AngelesImaginal Exposure for OCD and Anxiety
    Imaginal exposure for the treatment of OCD and anxiety is discussed by Tom Corboy, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    234 Comments
  • ROCD - Relationship OCDROCD: Relationship OCD and The Myth of “The One”
    ROCD (Relationship OCD) is an often misunderstood variant of OCD. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    696 Comments
  • Moral Scrupulosity in OCDMoral Scrupulosity in OCD: Cognitive Distortions
    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. […]
    68 Comments
  • OCD in the Family
    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. […]
    5 Comments
  • Scrupulosity in OCD: Cognitive Distortions
    A discussion of cognitive distortions in the religious Scrupulosity subtype of OCD. Part two of a multi-part series. […]
    40 Comments
  • OCD and Eating Disorders
    Diagnostic similarities and differences between OCD and eating disorders are discussed by Kimberley Quinlan, MFT, Clinical Director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    6 Comments
  • Harm OCD treatment with ERPHarm OCD Treatment With ERP
    Harm OCD treatment using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is discussed by Tom Corboy, MFT, Executive Director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles . […]
    186 Comments
  • My Life with OCD
    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. […]
    18 Comments
  • Scrupulosity OCDScrupulosity: Where OCD Meets Religion, Faith, and Belief
    The Scrupulosity sub-type of OCD is discussed by Kevin Foss, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles. Part one of a four part series. […]
    222 Comments
  • Mindfulness for OCD and Anxiety
    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. […]
    21 Comments
  • Hoarding, Cluttering, and Compulsive Shopping: My Childhood Story
    One woman's story of her life as the child of multiple generations of hoarders. […]
    12 Comments
  • Thought Action FusionOCD and Thought-Action Fusion
    Thought-Action Fusion is a frequent problem for those with OCD. This issue is discussed by Laura Yocum, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    27 Comments
  • OCD, Anxiety, and Resistance
    Resistance and acceptance in OCD and related disorders is discussed by the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    21 Comments
  • Harm OCD Treatment: Cognitive Restructuring
    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 . […]
    102 Comments
  • OCD & Anxiety: Five Common Roadblocks to 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. […]
    26 Comments
  • Harm OCD Treatment: Mindfulness Based CBT
    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. […]
    100 Comments
  • Skin Picking Disorder / Dermatillomania TreatmentDermatillomania / Skin Picking Disorder Treatment
    Treatment of Dermatillomania (Skin Picking Disorder) with CBT. Part two of a series from the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    164 Comments
  • Harm OCD: Symptoms and Treatment
    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. […]
    461 Comments
  • Orthorexia: Where Eating Disorders Meet OCD – Part 2
    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. […]
    18 Comments
  • Casey Anthony, Reasonable Doubt, and OCD
    Harm OCD and 'reasonable doubt' are discussed in relation to the Casey Anthony murder trial. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles.unbearable. […]
    10 Comments
  • ABCs of DermatillomaniaThe ABC’s of Dermatillomania / Skin Picking Disorder
    Symptoms and treatment of Skin Picking Disorder, also known as Dermatillomania. From The OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    208 Comments
  • HOCD / Gay OCD: Challenges to Treatment
    Common challenges seen in the treatment of HOCD / Gay OCD are discussed by the OCD Center of Los Angeles. Part four of a four-part series. […]
    441 Comments
  • Orthorexia: Where Eating Disorders Meet OCD
    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. […]
    12 Comments
  • Thought Suppression and OCD
    Thought suppression is a common feature of OCD, especially for those with Pure Obsessional OCD (sometimes called "Pure O"). […]
    23 Comments
  • HOCD / Gay OCD: Common Subtypes
    Common subtypes of HOCD / Gay OCD are discussed. Part three of a four part series. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    413 Comments
  • Social Anxiety / Social Phobia: Alone With Witnesses – Part 2
    Treatment of Social Anxiety is discussed, along with its relationship with other OC spectrum disorders. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    10 Comments
  • Social Anxiety / Social Phobia: Alone With Witnesses – Part 1
    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. […]
    9 Comments
  • Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Research – Year in Review
    Tom Corboy, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles reviews research studies published in 2010 related to Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). […]
    4 Comments
  • Binge Eating Disorder / Compulsive Overeating and Its Treatment
    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). […]
    7 Comments
  • Gay OCD / HOCD Treatment
    Treatment of Gay OCD / HOCD / Sexual Orientation OCD using CBT and Mindfulness is discussed by the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    196 Comments
  • Gay OCD / HOCD / Sexual Orientation OCD
    Symptoms & treatment of Gay OCD, also known as HOCD, or Sexual Orientation OCD. From The OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    752 Comments
  • Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Teens
    Increasing numbers of teens are having elective cosmetic surgeries to address body image issues, without fully considering the physical and psychological risks involved. […]
    No Comments
  • Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Body Image in the News
    A discussion of BDD and recent news reports about the condition. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. Serving clients in California and internationally. […]
    1 Comment
  • Treatment of OCD and OC Spectrum Disorders in Children
    The OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of OCD and anxiety in children and adolescents. […]
    No Comments
  • Trichotillomania, Skin Picking Disorder, and the Resistor’s High
    The OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses treatment of Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder) and Dermatillomania (Skin Picking Disorder). […]
    8 Comments
  • Memory Hoarding in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
    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. […]
    266 Comments
  • OCD and the Law – Part 3
    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. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD and the Law – Part 2
    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. […]
    4 Comments
  • OCD and the Law – Part 1
    A Scottish man claims his massive child pornography collection is due to OCD. Part 1 of a 3 part series from the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    1 Comment
  • OCD Stockholm Syndrome
    Something akin to the Stockholm Syndrome occurs in some people who struggle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ( OCD ). […]
    2 Comments
  • Athletes With Anxiety
    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. […]
    1 Comment
  • Social Anxiety in Baseball Revisted
    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. […]
    No Comments
  • Treatment of OCD and Anxiety: A Brief History
    A look at how the treatment of OCD and related anxiety disorders has changed over time, especially the development of CBT and mindfulness for OCD. […]
    3 Comments
  • Tiger Woods, Sex Addiction, and OCD – Part 2
    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. […]
    4 Comments
  • Tiger Woods, Sex Addiction, and OCD
    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. […]
    18 Comments
  • Latisse and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
    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? […]
    2 Comments
  • Proposed DSM-5 Changes for OCD and Anxiety Disorders
    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. […]
    7 Comments
  • Reassurance Seeking in OCD and Anxiety
    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. […]
    92 Comments
  • Phobia Treatment in Unconventional Settings
    Traditionally, phobias have been treated in a therapist's office. But effective help for phobias can now be found in some very unexpected places. […]
    No Comments
  • Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Cosmetic Surgery
    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. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD & Anxiety: The Year 2009 in Review
    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. […]
    2 Comments
  • Bizarre, Disturbing, Weird, and Unwanted Thoughts in OCD
    Everybody has bizarre thoughts. But people with OCD respond differently to these thoughts. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    26 Comments
  • Emetophobia treatment at the OCD Center of Los Angeles with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emetophobia and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
    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. […]
    85 Comments
  • OCD and Mental Checking
    People with OCD often struggle with 'mental compulsions'. The OCD Center of Los Angeles explores how to manage this sometimes baffling problem. […]
    186 Comments
  • Cyberchondria: Health Anxiety in the 21st Century
    The twin explosions of television and the internet have spawned a sharp increase in Hypochondria, and spawned a new mental health issue - 'Cyberchondria'. […]
    8 Comments
  • Is Compulsive Overeating OCD?
    A discussion of compulsive overeating (aka binge eating) and how it differs from OCD. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. Serving clients internationally. […]
    No Comments
  • Cy Young, Zack Greinke, and Social Anxiety
    Zack Greinke has overcome his Social Anxiety to become a superstar in major league baseball. […]
    No Comments
  • Exposure Therapy for OCD and AnxietyExposure Therapy for OCD and Anxiety
    Exposure therapy for OCD and other anxiety conditions is discussed by Tom Corboy, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    46 Comments
  • Social Anxiety Research
    Recent Social Anxiety research is discussed by Tom Corboy, MFT, executive director of the CD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD Awareness Week
         […]
    No Comments
  • CBT and Evidence Based Psychotherapy
    Unfortunately, many psychotherapists dismiss evidence-based treatments such as CBT, instead choosing to do what feels comfortable for them. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD, Mental Health, and the National Health Care Debate
    A look at the national health care debate, especially as it pertains to OCD and related anxiety based conditions. […]
    No Comments
  • Childhood OCD, Strep Infections, and PANDAS
    There is a growing body of research that indicates strep infections are related to rapid-onset OCD in children. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD and the Swine Flu – Part 2
    Panic about the Swine Flu continues, despite facts that suggest there is no cause for increased concern. […]
    No Comments
  • 2009 Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation Conference
    A review of the 2009 Obsessive Compulsive Foundation conference. […]
    No Comments
  • New Trichotillomania Research
    A look at recent research related to Trichotillomania. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    No Comments
  • Parenting a Child With OCD
    Parenting any child is a full-time job. But parenting a child with OCD can be particularly challenging. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    No Comments
  • Social Anxiety in Baseball
    A look at the recent rash of pro baseball players struggling with Social Anxiety Disorder. […]
    No Comments
  • Michael Jackson and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
    A look at the sad tale of Michael Jackson and his mental health issues. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD and the Swine Flu
    The past few months have seen an avalanche of news stories on the Swine Flu, despite its relatively low impact in the US. […]
    No Comments
  • Meet the OCD Center of Los Angeles Staff
    Meet the OCD Center of Los Angeles Staff […]
    No Comments
  • Welcome to the OCD Center of Los Angeles Blog
    Welcome to the OCD Center of Los Angeles Blog […]
    No Comments