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.  […]
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• 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. […]
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• OCD: 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 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 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: 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. […]
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• Mindfulness-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
• 2021 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. […]
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• Trichotillomania: 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
• How 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. […]
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• When 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. […]
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• Q&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 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
• 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. […]
  10 Comments
• OCD 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 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 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
  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 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 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 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
  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 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 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 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: 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
• OCD 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
• Dermatillomania / 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
• The 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. […]
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• 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. […]
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• 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. […]
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• 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. […]
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• 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. […]
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• 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. […]
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• 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. […]
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• 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. […]
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• 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 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. […]
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• Cy Young, Zack Greinke, and Social Anxiety
  Zack Greinke has overcome his Social Anxiety to become a superstar in major league baseball. […]
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• Exposure 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. […]
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• OCD Awareness Week
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• CBT and Evidence Based Psychotherapy
  Unfortunately, many psychotherapists dismiss evidence-based treatments such as CBT, instead choosing to do what feels comfortable for them. […]
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• 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. […]
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• 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. […]
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• OCD and the Swine Flu – Part 2
  Panic about the Swine Flu continues, despite facts that suggest there is no cause for increased concern. […]
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• 2009 Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation Conference
  A review of the 2009 Obsessive Compulsive Foundation conference. […]
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• New Trichotillomania Research
  A look at recent research related to Trichotillomania. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
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• 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. […]
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• Social Anxiety in Baseball
  A look at the recent rash of pro baseball players struggling with Social Anxiety Disorder. […]
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• Michael Jackson and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
  A look at the sad tale of Michael Jackson and his mental health issues. […]
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• 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. […]
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• Welcome to the OCD Center of Los Angeles Blog
  Welcome to the OCD Center of Los Angeles Blog […]
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