OCD Therapy in San Diego
A Bit More About Me
Anxiety levels among kids are on the rise, and plenty of teens and adults are carrying the same weight. Whether it's a child who struggles to name what they're feeling, a teen facing pressure at school, or an adult who's dealt with anxiety or OCD for years without the right support, I'm here to help. As a neurodiversity-affirming therapist, I specialize in neurodevelopmental differences, but that's one part of a practice that welcomes clients of every age.
For younger clients, I lean on child-centered and play-based methods to help them regulate emotions and build healthier thought patterns. For teens and adults, that same foundation shows up as structured CBT and ERP work. Across every age, I also draw on DIR-Floortime and CBIT, tailoring the mix to what's actually going on for you, whether that's anxiety, OCD, Tourette's and Tics, BFRBs, BDD, autism, behavioral challenges, or school refusal.
Neurodiversity-Affirming OCD Therapy, Anxiety & Tic Care in San Diego
Specialties & Areas of Support
Therapeutic Approaches
Who I Work With
A Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice for All Ages
Neurodevelopmental differences show up at every stage of life, so my practice isn't limited to just kids. I also work with teens navigating school and social pressure, and adults who've often gone years without the right kind of support for how their brain actually works.
Being neurodiversity-affirming means I'm not trying to make anyone act more "typical." The goal is helping you or your child build skills and confidence while being exactly who you are.
OCD Therapy in San Diego for Neurodivergent Kids, Teens & Adults
As a neurodiversity-affirming therapist, I provide OCD therapy in San Diego for children, teens, and adults, including clients who are autistic or neurodivergent. Whether OCD shows up as visible rituals or a quieter kind of intrusive thinking, the goal isn’t to make anyone act more “typical.” It’s to help you or your child feel less controlled by OCD while staying exactly who you are.
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. With teens and adults, I use structured CBT and ERP, and with younger clients I lean on child-centered, play-based methods. You can read more in the IOCDF’s guide to OCD treatment.
OCD Therapy in San Diego: How ERP Works, Step by Step
What is ERP for OCD?
ERP is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy. We work out a gradual plan, called an exposure hierarchy, for facing the thoughts or situations that set off your OCD while practicing not doing the compulsion. I build that plan with you, so it never feels like something being done to you.
How long does OCD therapy take?
It depends on the person, so there isn’t one timeline. At Resilience Counseling, many clients begin to see improvement after about 12 to 20 sessions of ERP, though it varies widely.
What does ERP look like for younger kids?
For younger clients, I use child-centered and play-based methods to help them practice new responses to OCD in a way that feels doable. We follow your child’s pace and interests, and we make sure parents know what to expect.
Signs Your Child, Teen, or You May 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 used to relieve that distress. Common themes include contamination, harm, perfectionism, religious or moral worries, and relationship doubts. It may be time to reach out if:
- Unwanted thoughts or urges keep returning, even when they don’t make sense.
- Rituals, checking, counting, or reassurance-seeking feel hard to stop.
- Avoiding situations is shrinking daily life, including school or social activities.
- OCD takes up a lot of time or gets in the way of daily routines.
You don’t need a diagnosis to ask for help, and OCD is treatable. Book a free 15-minute call and we can talk through what you’re seeing.
OCD Therapy & Other Concerns I Treat in San Diego
OCD
ERP remains the most effective tool we have for OCD, whether that shows up as visible rituals or a quieter kind of intrusive thinking. I build the exposure hierarchy collaboratively so it never feels like something being done to you.
Anxiety
For a lot of clients, anxiety and school refusal go hand in hand, a kid dreading the school gate, or a teen who's stopped going altogether. I work on both the underlying anxiety and the practical steps back toward daily life.
Tourette's & Tic Disorders
CBIT is a specialized, evidence-based approach for Tourette's and tics. It's not about suppressing tics through willpower, it's about building competing responses that actually reduce their frequency over time.
BFRBs & BDD
Hair pulling, skin picking, and body dysmorphia often get dismissed as habits or vanity. They're neither. I take them seriously and work on the actual mechanisms driving them, not just the visible behavior.
Autism & Behavioral Support
Using DIR-Floortime and play-based methods, I meet autistic clients on their own terms, following their interests and communication style rather than imposing a fixed script or set of milestones.
Before You Reach Out About OCD Therapy in San Diego
What is ERP, and is it right for OCD?
ERP, or exposure and response prevention, is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy and the most effective tool we have for OCD. We build a gradual plan together for facing triggers while practicing not doing the compulsion.
How long does OCD therapy take in San Diego?
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.
Do you provide OCD therapy for autistic or neurodivergent clients?
Yes. I’m a neurodiversity-affirming therapist who specializes in neurodevelopmental differences, and I tailor ERP and other approaches to what’s actually going on for you or your child.
Is in-person therapy an option?
It is, at the Resilience Counseling office in San Diego. For clients who need flexibility, telehealth sessions are available anywhere in California too.
Will my insurance cover this?
Not directly. This is a private pay practice, but a superbill is available after each session if you'd like to seek reimbursement from your insurance provider on your own.
My child was just diagnosed with something and I don't know where to start.
That's an incredibly common feeling, and a great reason to book a consultation call. We can talk through the diagnosis, what you're seeing at home, and whether my approach fits what your family needs right now.
What's the first session like?
Low-key. I want to hear the full picture, what's going on, what's already been tried, and what a good outcome would even look like for you. From there we map out next steps together.
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
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