OCD Therapy in San Diego
A Bit More About Me
Are you feeling overwhelmed, stuck in a cycle of relentless thoughts and uncertainty? Are you afraid your child is stuck, overthinking, and taken over by fear? Have you tried to navigate their anxiety, or tried therapy before with no success? There is so much hope for recovery, and you are not alone in this journey.
I work with kids, teens, and adults, offering compassionate, evidence-based therapy for anxiety, OCD, trauma, and addiction. As a mother myself, I understand the struggles of parenting and how much a child's mental health matters to their overall well-being. I use a custom approach, drawing from ERP, ACT, CBT, DBT, EMDR, Narrative Therapy, and mindfulness skills to meet each client where they are.
My passion is helping people find the right tools, skills, and treatments to live a more fulfilling life. You can overcome the obstacles holding you back and realize your true potential. I would be honored to walk alongside you on that path.
The Work Behind My OCD Therapy in San Diego
Specialties & Areas of Support
Therapeutic Approaches
Who I Work With
Kids, Teens, Adults & Parents in San Diego
I see clients across a wide age range in my San Diego practice, from young children through adults, and I tailor my approach to fit where each person is developmentally. With kids, I lean on play-based and parent-inclusive strategies. With teens, I focus on building trust and giving them real tools they'll actually use. With adults, I bring the same warmth alongside structured, evidence-based work.
I also work closely with parents navigating a child's OCD, anxiety, or a BFRB like hair pulling or skin picking. As a mother myself, I understand how frightening and isolating it can feel to watch your child struggle, and I make space for parents in the treatment process, not just the child.
OCD Therapy in San Diego with Micha
OCD can look very different from person to person. For some it’s checking, washing, or rituals you can see. For others it’s a hidden loop of intrusive thoughts and mental rituals that took years to even put a name to. In my San Diego practice I provide OCD therapy for kids, teens, and adults, and I work with parents too, because a child’s OCD affects the whole family.
The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) describes exposure and response prevention (ERP) as the most effective first-line therapy for OCD in adults, children, and adolescents, and it’s the treatment I use most. I draw on ACT, CBT, and mindfulness skills alongside it, so treatment fits you or your child instead of following a script. You can learn more in the IOCDF’s guide to OCD treatment.
What to Expect from ERP and OCD Therapy in San Diego
What is ERP therapy for OCD?
ERP is a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Instead of fighting intrusive thoughts or giving in to compulsions, you gradually practice facing the things that trigger your fear while resisting the urge to do the ritual. Done with a trained therapist, it helps the fear lose its hold. We build the steps together, and nothing happens without you knowing what is coming.
How long does OCD treatment take?
Every person is different, so there is no single timeline. At Resilience Counseling, we find that many clients begin to notice improvement after about 12 to 20 sessions of ERP, though this varies widely depending on the person and their symptoms. We go at a pace that feels doable for you, and we check in regularly on how it’s going.
OCD treatment for kids and teens: how parents are involved
When your child has OCD, you are part of the treatment. I help parents understand what OCD is, how to support their child without feeding the cycle, and what to expect along the way. As a mother myself, I know how hard it is to watch your child struggle, and I make space for you in the process, not just for your child.
Signs You or Your Teen Might Need OCD Therapy in San Diego
OCD involves obsessions, which are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that cause intense distress, and compulsions, which are repeated behaviors or mental acts meant to relieve that distress. Common themes include contamination, harm, perfectionism, religious or moral worries (sometimes called scrupulosity), and relationship doubts. It may be time to reach out if:
- Unwanted thoughts keep coming back, even when you know they don’t make sense.
- You or your child feel driven to repeat checking, washing, counting, asking for reassurance, or mental rituals.
- Avoiding certain places, people, or situations is shrinking daily life.
- The thoughts and rituals take up a lot of time or get in the way of school, work, or relationships.
OCD is treatable, and you don’t need a diagnosis to ask for help. Not sure whether it’s OCD? Book a free 15-minute call and we can talk it through.
Going Deeper on OCD Therapy, Anxiety & Trauma in San Diego
When Intrusive Thoughts Take Over: OCD Therapy
ERP is what I use most for OCD therapy, and it's still the treatment that works best for it. Some clients come in with obvious checking or contamination fears. Others have a quieter version of OCD that took years to even name. Either way, we go at whatever pace actually feels doable for you, not some standard timeline.
When Anxiety Won't Let Up: Anxiety Therapy
Sometimes anxiety looks like worrying about everything. Other times it's panic or symptoms that come out of nowhere, or a body that just won't relax even though there's nothing wrong. We will work together to learn coping skills that help you move through real moments in life, not just talk about anxiety. Actual, tangible skills.
Healing at Your Own Pace: Trauma Therapy & EMDR
I use EMDR for clients who are working through trauma. You don't have to keep living with what happened to you. No matter what's keeping your body and mind feeling stuck, we can work through it together.
Breaking the Cycle: Hair Pulling, Skin Picking & BFRBs
Hair pulling and skin picking come with a lot of shame that most people carry alone for years before ever bringing it up to anyone. I help clients figure out their own specific patterns and triggers, then build other options in, without making it a bigger source of shame than it already is.
Questions I Get Asked Most About OCD Therapy in San Diego
What is ERP therapy for OCD?
ERP, or exposure and response prevention, is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy and the main treatment I use for OCD. You gradually face the situations or thoughts that trigger fear while practicing not doing the compulsion, at a pace we set together.
How long does OCD treatment take?
It varies from person to person. At Resilience Counseling, many clients begin to see improvement after about 12 to 20 sessions of ERP, though it can take more or less time depending on the person.
Do you treat OCD in children and teens?
Yes. I work with kids, teens, and adults, and I include parents in treatment when a child has OCD so the whole family understands how to support recovery.
Do you offer in-person therapy?
Yes, we offer in-person therapy here at Resilience Counseling. We can also see clients anywhere in California over video visits.
Do you accept insurance?
Resilience Counseling is a private pay practice and does not directly bill insurance. We can give you a superbill, which is like an insurance reimbursement receipt that you can send to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
How do I know if ERP is right for my child or myself?
If you or your child is struggling with OCD, ERP is the evidence-based approach to treating it. If you haven't tried it before, we'd encourage you to give it a shot. Book a free 15-minute call and we can talk through whether it sounds like the right fit.
What happens in a first session with you?
The first session is really about getting to know you. I want to hear what you're struggling with, what you've already tried, and then we build a plan together to work on the things that will get you back to living the life you want.
It can be difficult to reach out for help, and it's important that you feel comfortable. We offer a free 15 minute consultation to answer any questions you may have.
Request an Appointment
Fill out the form below and we'll follow up to find a time that works for you.