Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) Therapists in Pittsburgh, PA

Ellie Mental Health in Pittsburgh-Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania isn’t your average therapy clinic. We’ve created a comfy, judgment-free zone where you can be authentic, get real about where you’re at in your mental health, and receive the compassionate care you deserve. We strive to break down treatment barriers and provide you with customized counseling services that meet your therapy needs. Whether you are 99 or 5 years of age we will meet your needs in a comfy space with excellent therapists.

My approach is primarily cognitive behavioral and I have over thirty years of experience. I work mostly with adults with depression and anxiety disorders. OCD is a special interest, and I use exposure and response prevention. I believe that with patience, a positive outlook and good rapport, much is possible.

I am a helper at heart and take pride in being an advocate for mental health, well-being and self-care. Outside of my experience in outpatient therapy, my background includes work in child protective services and higher levels of mental health-care. My goal is to support clients in cultivating a healthier headspace by prioritizing their mental wellbeing and aiming for progress over perfection. I help my clients begin to heal and grow while working to combat the stigma that surrounds mental health and treatment.

August 2024: I have a waitlist for individual therapy, but I'm currently accepting clients for my groups! Please see more info about group offerings at the bottom of my profile or on my website. I work with individuals who struggle with OCD, eating disorders, or both. I can empower clients who are looking to change patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that lead to life dissatisfaction. I am interested in working with people who need help breaking the cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Additionally, I work well with individuals who are looking to heal their relationship with food, exercise, and their body.

Are you looking to free yourself from anxiety? Are you avoiding places, things, or situations because you might have a panic attack? Are obsessive thoughts and compulsions pulling you further and further away from enjoining your life? Anxiety seems to have a way of creating rules that people need to follow just to keep it all together. The problem is, the more we follow anxiety's rules, the more powerful it becomes. It can start to feel like your life has gotten smaller, more rigid, even less fun as the anxiety continues to grow. If you have found my page, then you are likely hoping to take your life back.

I am a graduate from The Chicago School and received my Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I also have a Master's Degree in education that I received from Slippery Rock University. I interned at the Center of OCD and Anxiety which furthered my skills in ERP and ACT.

I have provided counseling and therapy services in various capacities for over 25 years. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, attachment issues, parenting, and grief. I have experience working with individuals, couples, families and children. I have worked in both agency and private practice settings with a diverse range of individuals. Specific areas of specialization: Trauma, Anxiety, Obsessive compulsive thoughts (OCD), and Grief .

I am an LSW clinician with experience working with adults with a variety of mental health concerns. Common areas of focus in my sessions include symptoms of OCD, phobias, panic disorder and other anxiety disorders, PTSD, and depression. I am also passionate about working with clients experiencing relationship conflict, communication issues, and destabilizing life transitions. I am allied with the trans and nonbinary communities. I enjoy working with clients to explore social and medical transitions, and can write surgery referral letters for gender affirming surgeries.

I am a psychologist at Anxiety Solutions of Denver, where I specialize in treating individuals with anxiety disorders and OCD. I chose to dedicate my career to treating individuals with these disorders because I greatly value helping people live fuller, more meaningful lives. Through this work, I have developed a deep respect for the courage to willingness of my clients. I am dedicated to helping them accomplish their goals and enjoy establishing a genuine connection in the process.

Accepting new clients! Let's be real, change and life transitions can be terrifying. Especially if they come about suddenly or unwillingly. Struggling with relentless panic, racing anxious thoughts, or paralyzing fear can impact your ability to show up in your life even in the most basic way. Whether your obsessions deal with contamination, checking, intrusive thoughts of harm, moral/religious scrupulosity, or anything else, OCD can often leave a person feeling isolated, trapped, and sometimes terrified of themselves. It can be incredibly overwhelming trying to navigate this all alone.

I believe that meaningful change begins by creating a strong and authentic connection. I work in a collaborative manner with clients to help them grow and heal. I welcome clients from all walks of life and backgrounds. I am a trained generalist, which means I see most presenting concerns. I work with adults & teens presenting with a variety of concerns, including but not limited to: trauma/PTSD, depression, anxiety, OCD, eating disorders, low self-esteem, depression and anxiety. I teach healthy coping skills, increase insight, and help resolve difficult feelings and make peace with hardship.

Fred Rogers says, "Anything that's human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary." I would love to work with you if you are ready to make your problems mentionable, and together we can work towards making them manageable.

Is anxiety taking over your life and you are not sure what to do? Do obsessive thoughts and compulsions get in the way of you living your best life? Have you noticed yourself procrastinating, avoiding or coping by using substances? Then you are in the right place. As a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in Anxiety, OCD and Addiction, I partner with clients to address their issues head-on to identify their core concerns and solutions. We will create a comfortable and productive space while using effective, evidence-based treatments to meet your individual needs.

I have 10 years of experience specializing in OCD and anxiety spectrum disorders. I began at the UPMC Pediatric OCD Intensive Program, where I served as a group clinician, working with moderate to severe OCD, and as a family therapist. I honed my expertise in Exposure Response Prevention treatment and addressed systemic family dynamics influenced by OCD. Later, I assumed the Director of Education and Development role at The Center for OCD and Anxiety, dedicating 5 years to crafting a comprehensive curriculum for training and onboarding employees, nurturing their confidence and proficiency in OCD treatment.

Working with children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety and OCD is where my primary focus and expertise lies. I provide evidence-based treatment with a focus on cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), incorporating elements of mindfulness and positive psychology. If you, your child, or someone you love suffers from excessive worries or struggles with habits that get in the way of living life to its fullest, I am here to help. I specialize in OCD, anxiety, Tourette's and tic disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, hair pulling and skin picking.

I use 14+ years of experience to connect with your struggle, build a foundation of skills, then help you make the changes that will be sustainable. My time as a husband, father, college soccer coach, and brief drifter (LOL) allows me to empathize with many situations, difficulties and strengths.

Accepting new clients! Your neurodivergence makes you feel "other" and "on the outside" in a world that is set up for neutrotypicals. The consistent pressure to function as if your brain is not different makes day-to-day life so exhausting you could burst. You are starting to come to terms with the fact that your intrusive thoughts and compulsions may actually be OCD, but you have no idea where to start with something that feels so big. You are tired of pretending that your partners aren't your partners when discussing... well, everything. You want to discuss the complexities and nuances of your relationships. ALL of them.

I work with folks anywhere in PA and have 15+ years of experience in treating OCD, trauma, and stressors around pregnancy, birth, and parenting, especially birth trauma and postpartum intrusive thoughts. I utilize Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence-based approach that emphasizes compassion, connection, and flexibility and harnesses what matters most to us to guide our goals and actions amidst the hard stuff of life. As a Licensed Professional Counselor and Behavior Analyst, I also support parents supporting their children across development, OCD, anxiety, neurodivergence, and other needs.

Clients often describe me as authentic, determined, and insightful. I can offer you direct solutions founded on evidence-based techniques that will help you solve your problems. I can also dive deeper with you to explore the roots behind your troubles and true self. Clients find my combination of solution-focused and insight-oriented therapy to be highly effective as it offers both practical utility and depth. For OCD, I specifically use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).