Hi, I'm Katherine!
A Bit More About Me
Are you feeling stuck and overwhelmed? You're not alone—and there is help available.
With over 19 years of experience, I specialize in treating OCD, BFRBs, trauma, and anxiety using evidence-based methods, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Habit Reversal Training (HRT), and the Comprehensive Behavioral Model (ComB).
OCD is one of my primary areas of focus, and compassionate, client-centered care is at the heart of how I treat it. I have extensive training and experience treating OCD across the lifespan, and I work closely with clients to reduce compulsions, avoidance, and mental habits like rumination—always meeting people where they are, without shame or judgment. I also support families using SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), a parent-based approach that helps reduce accommodation and build resilience at home. I currently serve as a board member and Director of Training for OCD SoCal, an IOCDF affiliate. I'm committed to providing therapy that is both evidence-based and genuinely compassionate, because healing happens fastest when clients feel safe, understood, and never pushed faster than they're ready to go. There is so much hope for healing—and you don't have to go through it alone.
As the founder and Clinical Director of Resilience Counseling, I also oversee and support all of the therapists on our team, including our OCD therapists. I'm closely involved in their training and case consultation, which means every client who walks through our doors—whether they see me or one of our other clinicians—receives the same high standard of evidence-based, compassionate care. You can learn more about our full team here.
My Approach to Treating OCD, BFRBs & Anxiety
Specialties & Areas of Support
Therapeutic Approaches
Clients I Work With
Treating OCD Across the Lifespan
Over nearly two decades in practice, I've worked with young children, teens, and adults, and I've seen how differently OCD, anxiety, and BFRBs can show up depending on age and stage of life. My training reflects that range, and so does my approach: the goal is always treatment that fits the person in front of me, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Families are a big part of that picture. When a child or teen is struggling, I bring parents into the work using SPACE, helping them respond in ways that support recovery instead of unintentionally reinforcing the OCD cycle.
A Closer Look at How I Treat OCD, BFRBs & Trauma
OCD & Compulsions
OCD can look like visible rituals, or it can be a quieter pattern of mental compulsions and rumination that's harder for others to see. ERP remains the most effective, evidence-based way to treat it, and I draw on nearly two decades of specialized training to help clients reduce compulsions and avoidance at a pace that actually works for them.
BFRBs: Hair Pulling & Skin Picking
I'm trained in Habit Reversal Training and the Comprehensive Behavioral Model (ComB) for treating hair pulling, skin picking, and related BFRBs. We work together to understand the specific triggers and sensations driving the behavior, then build a plan around what's actually maintaining it for you.
Trauma & EMDR
For clients carrying the weight of past experiences, I use EMDR to help process what happened without needing to relive it in detail. Healing is possible, and we move through it together at whatever pace feels safe.
Anxiety
Anxiety often shows up alongside OCD, as constant worry, physical tension, or a nervous system that won't settle. I use CBT and other evidence-based tools to help clients build coping skills they can actually use in the moments that matter, not just talk about anxiety in the abstract.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder involves a fixation on perceived flaws in appearance that can take over a person's daily life. I use ERP and CBT to help clients reduce the checking, reassurance-seeking, and avoidance that keep BDD going, so appearance concerns stop running the show.
Supporting Parents with SPACE
When a child's OCD or anxiety has the whole family adjusting around it, SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) gives parents a concrete way to reduce accommodation and respond with more confidence, without the child needing to be in the room.
Common Questions
Do you offer in-office sessions in San Diego?
Yes, I see clients in person at Resilience Counseling's San Diego office, and I also work with clients anywhere in California over telehealth.
Is Resilience Counseling in network with insurance?
Resilience Counseling is a private pay practice and does not bill insurance directly. I can provide a superbill that you're welcome to submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
How do I know if ERP is the right fit for OCD treatment?
ERP is the gold-standard, evidence-based treatment for OCD, and it's the approach I rely on most. A free 15-minute consultation is a great way to talk through your specific symptoms and find out whether it's the right starting point for you or your child.
What can I expect in our first session together?
Our first session is focused on getting a full picture of what you're experiencing, what you've already tried, and what hasn't worked. From there, we build a treatment plan together, grounded in evidence-based care and paced to what actually feels doable for you.
Starting therapy can feel like a big first step, and I want you to feel genuinely comfortable before we begin. If you're ready to talk about what you're facing, I'd welcome the chance to connect.
Request an Appointment
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