OCD

Defined by a pattern of obsessions (unwanted & recurring thoughts) and compulsions (rituals or mental acts)

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Formerly known as “hypochondriasis” and defined by monitoring bodily sensations & “checking” one’s health

Emetophobia

“Emetophobia” means the fear of vomiting. Characterized by avoidance and hypervigilance & may co-occur with OCD.

Panic

Panic is defined as an episode of intense & overwhelming symptoms like racing heart, dizziness, sensations of choking, and more.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Defined by out-of-proportion and difficult-to-control worry surrounding a variety of topics. 

ICBT

ICBT (Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is an evidenced-based treatment approach to OCD and related disorders that does not use exposure.

Rather than targeting exposure to anxiety & disengagement from compulsions directly, ICBT targets the problematic reasoning process that occurs when OCD is activated.

ICBT may be a good fit for you if:

• You have already tried exposure-based treatment (ERP) and are still experiencing symptoms

• The idea of engaging in exposure (intentionally experiencing the anxiety associated with your triggers) creates a barrier to you seeking care

• You are interested in learning about how OCD works - how you become convinced your obsessional thinking is true & that your compulsions are necessary

• You experience certain themes or compulsions for which it is difficult to create exposures (e.g., you engage in primarily mental compulsions or you experience taboo or distressing themes)

ERP

ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is a treatment for OCD, phobias, and other anxiety-related problems. ERP is often called a “gold-standard” treatment due to its extensive research support.

ERP involves the gradual approaching of your triggers & experiencing of the associated anxiety. When I use ERP, I will never force, coerce, or deceive a client into facing a trigger they do not feel ready to approach. Every exposure will be chosen collaboratively.

ERP may be a good fit for you if:

• You have a phobia, anxiety disorder, or panic disorder and engage in avoidance or safety behaviors to manage

• You have OCD and are open to engaging in exposure work

• It sounds nice to accomplish small behavioral changes each week and to be able to clearly measure your progress

• You like the structure of moving up a hierarchy of anxiety and distress over time

• You want a treatment approach that gives very concrete plans for what you will do between sessions to progress in treatment

ACT

In ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), you will learn a lot of skills in mindfulness and acceptance.

This involves learning to accept and handle anxious distress rather than engaging in cycles of avoidance.

 You will also work towards your values (what is most important to you) as anxiety often leads to missing out on what matters most.

ACT may be used as a standalone therapy or may be used alongside other treatments like ERP.

ACT may be a particularly good fit for you if:

• You find yourself missing out on things you previously enjoyed and found meaningful because you feel too anxious

• You have a lot of anxiety about life decisions and your future (e.g., where you will go to college)

• Your anxiety is associated with chronic health concerns like POTS, migraine, etc.

SPACE

Charlotte is trained in SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions). SPACE is unique as it is a parent-based treatment.

While parents participate, the target is the child’s anxiety or OCD. Parents work together with the therapist to make specific plans for how they will handle situations where their child feels very anxious.

SPACE may be a good fit for you if:

• Your child involves you in safety behaviors or rituals

• You notice changes in your family dynamic as a result of your child’s anxiety (e.g., not traveling, having specific rules around the house)

• You are interested in learning about childhood anxiety & motivated to implement concrete plans