Online Therapy for OCD and Phobias in Philadelphia and Beyond
Break free from the thoughts and fears that control you.
People tell you it's irrational or that you're overreacting. But you already know that - knowing doesn't make it stop. Your brain latches onto thoughts that feel urgent and threatening, thoughts you can't simply dismiss no matter how much you want to. You find yourself performing rituals or avoiding situations because it's the only way to quiet the panic, even when part of you knows it doesn't make logical sense. It's not that you choose this; it's that the alternative - not doing the ritual, facing the fear - feels impossible. So you keep going, trying to function normally, but the compulsions and avoidance are always there in the background, demanding attention. Sometimes the fear spikes unexpectedly, flooding you with panic when you're supposed to be focused on something else - at work, with your family, or when you're just trying to get through an ordinary day. But the real problem runs deeper than the anxiety itself. At some point you step back and see how much space this has taken up. There are places you don't go anymore, things you won't touch, experiences you've written off as impossible. You're missing out on a life that exists just beyond the walls your fears have built.
After treatment for OCD or a phobia:
Understand how OCD or phobias actually work in your brain, which can be incredibly empowering when you've been feeling confused or ashamed about your symptoms. Learning the mechanics behind intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and avoidance helps you see that what you're experiencing isn't a reflection of who you are as a person, and this knowledge becomes a foundation for effective treatment.
Learn to recognize the difference between real danger and perceived threat, so you can respond appropriately instead of letting anxiety make all your decisions. We'll work on distinguishing between when your mind is trying to protect you from actual harm versus when OCD or phobias are creating false alarms that keep you stuck in unhelpful patterns.
Build tolerance for uncertainty and discomfort, which is often the key to breaking free from compulsions and avoidance. You'll discover that you can handle "not knowing for sure" or feeling anxious without having to immediately fix it through rituals, and that these uncomfortable feelings actually pass on their own when you stop fighting them.
Learn new ways to interact with your thoughts that actually help, rather than getting caught in cycles of reassurance-seeking, mental rituals, or trying to suppress what's going through your mind. You'll develop skills to observe thoughts without being controlled by them and recognize when engaging with certain thoughts only makes them stronger.
Practice shifting emotions with coping skills and form strong habits for self-care that support your mental health. This includes learning grounding techniques, mindfulness practices, and strategies to manage anxiety in the moment, as well as building routines that help you feel more stable and resilient over time.
Challenge specific fears with support and encouragement through gradual exposure, moving at a pace that feels manageable for you. You won't be pushed to face everything at once - instead, we'll work together to help you build confidence and prove to yourself that you're capable of more than your anxiety wants you to believe.
Identify what's meaningful to you and set goals to work toward those values, so that your life isn't dictated by fear or compulsions. We'll clarify what matters most to you - whether that's relationships, career, hobbies, or personal growth - and create concrete steps to reclaim the parts of your life that OCD or phobias have taken away.
With OCD or a phobia:
You're spending hours each day on rituals like checking locks, arranging things in a specific order, or repeating actions until they feel "right," and while your partner has been patient, you can tell they're getting frustrated. They just don't understand that you're not choosing to do this, and the compulsions are putting a wedge in your relationship.
Your hands are dry and cracked from washing them so many times every day. Everyone seems to notice; you caught the cashier staring at your hands while you were paying for your groceries, and your mom keeps giving you hand lotion. Not only is it physically painful, but it’s also emotionally embarrassing.
You’ve nearly passed out while getting blood drawn and you can’t watch medical shows on tv — too much blood. Just the thought of a needle makes you feel faint, and you’ve skipped your annual vaccines and lab work. But what if a medical emergency happens and you can’t avoid it? It’s terrifying to think you might have no choice.
You feel guilty because your sister is upset when you won’t come to your nephew’s school play. But all of those kids in one place? You know you’ll get sick and throwing up is truly your worst nightmare. You just hope your sister will get over it, but with every missed event, she reaches out to you less and less.
You really want to drive to work like everyone else, but the fear of being on highways or bridges keeps you trapped in complicated commute workarounds. Sometimes even thinking about getting behind the wheel makes your heart race, and you wonder if you'll ever feel normal enough to do something so basic.
You've stopped letting anyone into your home because the compulsion to clean and organize everything perfectly before guests arrive has become so exhausting that it's easier to just isolate yourself. What kind of life is this when even having a friend over for coffee requires days of preparation?
The same disturbing image keeps forcing its way into your mind, no matter how hard you try to push it away. It's so upsetting that you can't imagine telling anyone - they would think something is seriously wrong with you. And honestly, you're starting to wonder the same thing about yourself.
How therapy for OCD and phobias works
Picture yourself going through an entire day without being hijacked by rituals or paralyzed by fear. You step out the door in the morning without triple-checking anything. You touch a doorknob and keep walking. You make plans and actually follow through with them. You scan your schedule for the day - and none of it feels impossible anymore. You're not spending hours preparing, avoiding, or recovering from these normal activities. The background noise of "what if" thoughts is still there sometimes, but it doesn't run your life. You notice yourself laughing at something funny instead of scanning for danger. You're present in conversations instead of lost in your head. This kind of freedom is absolutely within reach. Together, we'll dismantle the patterns that have kept you stuck, help you stop feeding the cycle of fear and compulsion, and guide you toward reclaiming the life you want. The goal isn't to never feel anxious - it's to stop letting OCD and phobias make your decisions for you. When you shift your energy toward living according to your values instead of according to your fears, something shifts. The grip loosens. You get yourself back.
OCD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder traps people in exhausting cycles where disturbing or frightening thoughts demand attention, and the only relief seems to come from performing specific actions or mental rituals. These compulsions might involve checking, cleaning, counting, arranging, seeking reassurance, or countless other behaviors that temporarily quiet the anxiety but ultimately strengthen its grip.
Freedom from OCD is absolutely achievable. Treatment focuses on helping you understand the mechanics of the disorder - how avoidance and rituals actually fuel the problem rather than solve it - and then gradually building your capacity to sit with uncertainty and discomfort without reacting. You'll learn that anxiety decreases on its own when you stop feeding it, and that you're far more resilient than OCD wants you to believe. Recovery requires courage and persistence, but people do get their lives back.
Hoarding
Hoarding involves persistent difficulty parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value, leading to accumulation that clutters living spaces and interferes with their intended use. For people who struggle with hoarding, items often carry intense emotional significance or represent potential future need, making discarding feel impossible or deeply distressing. The resulting clutter can create safety hazards, strain relationships, and lead to isolation as people feel too ashamed to let others into their homes.
Recovery from hoarding is possible with compassionate, specialized support. Treatment focuses on understanding the emotional attachments and beliefs driving the need to acquire and save, developing decision-making skills around possessions, and gradually practicing letting go in a way that feels manageable. We'll work on addressing the underlying anxiety, trauma, or other factors that often accompany hoarding, and build strategies for organizing and maintaining your living space. Progress may feel slow at first, but with patience and consistent effort, many people successfully reduce clutter, reclaim their homes, and experience relief from the shame and isolation that hoarding creates.
Specific Phobia
Specific phobias involve intense, overwhelming fear of particular objects, situations, or experiences - things like heights, flying, needles, animals, enclosed spaces, or vomiting. The fear is disproportionate to the actual danger and can trigger panic symptoms like rapid heartbeat, sweating, or difficulty breathing. What makes phobias so limiting is how much life gets rearranged around avoiding the feared thing.
Recovery from phobias is entirely possible. Treatment helps you understand why your brain has learned to react this way and then systematically retrains it through gradual, supported exposure to what you've been avoiding. You'll move at your own pace, building confidence as you discover that the catastrophic outcomes you've feared don't actually happen, and that you can tolerate more discomfort than you realized. With time and practice, many people overcome phobias that once felt insurmountable, regaining access to experiences they thought were lost forever.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia involves intense fear and avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult or help might not be available if panic symptoms occur. This often includes places like crowded stores, public transportation, open spaces like bridges, or enclosed spaces like elevators. This can gradually expand until someone's world becomes smaller and smaller, sometimes to the point where they won’t leave home. The fear isn't really about the places themselves - it's about feeling trapped if panic strikes, and the shame of having others see it.
Recovery from agoraphobia is absolutely achievable. Treatment helps you understand the connection between avoidance and fear - how staying away from situations actually reinforces the belief that they're dangerous. We'll work together to gradually expand your comfort zone through supported exposure, moving at a pace that challenges you without overwhelming you. You'll learn skills to manage panic symptoms and discover that the catastrophic outcomes you've feared either don't happen or are manageable when they do. We'll also address any underlying panic disorder or other anxiety that may be contributing. With commitment and practice, many people who once couldn't leave their homes reclaim their freedom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does therapy for OCD really work?
Yes! In fact, research has shown that cognitive behavioral and exposure-based therapies are highly effective treatments for OCD, phobias, anxiety, and trauma. I combine these interventions with a supportive and compassionate approach to help you feel better and see results.
Can you do exposure therapy via telehealth or does it need to be in-person?
Exposure therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) work very well via telehealth and do not need to be conducted in-person. In fact, telehealth can actually offer some advantages - I can support you through exposures in real-world settings like your home, car, grocery store, or other locations where your fears show up, rather than being limited to what we can simulate in an office. This means we can work on the situations that matter most to you, right where they happen.
What if my phobia developed due to a traumatic event? Can you treat that too?
Treating your phobia can include treating any underlying trauma. I have years of experience and specialized training in treating trauma, including certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Please know that I will only ask you to discuss things that I believe are critical to your healing, and my goal is to create a safe space for you to approach difficult topics. That being said, you never have to talk about anything you don’t want to in therapy. You can always say no.
I refuse to get anywhere near a (insert most feared thing here). This isn’t even a question; this is a statement.
That’s ok! I meet you where you’re at. I won’t ask you to do anything that feels way too scary. I take things at your pace and give you the skills and confidence to gradually work toward your goals.
How do I know if I need medication in addition to therapy?
If it feels like you’re always pushing a boulder uphill, medication can sometimes help to level the ground. You’re still pushing the boulder and it’s hard work, but at least it’s now doable. If I believe that medication might be a helpful and appropriate treatment for you, I will recommend connecting with a prescribing physician to discuss the option. If you do start a medication or are already on one, I will work in collaboration with your provider to help assess the medication’s efficacy and monitor for side effects.