OCD & Anxiety Specialist
Not all therapy is created equal, especially when it comes to treating OCD and anxiety disorders. While generalized talk therapy, also known as supportive counseling, can provide valuable support, empathy, and space to explore your past, it often lacks the structured, evidence-based techniques necessary to bring about lasting relief from OCD and anxiety symptoms. In fact, research has shown that talk therapy often exacerbates these conditions by encouraging rumination and engagement with distressing thoughts that are not relevant to recovery.
In contrast, evidence-based treatments like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Exposure Therapy are highly focused and effective. These structured approaches directly target the root causes of OCD and anxiety, ensuring that each session works toward measurable progress. On average, evidence-based treatment lasts only 10–14 sessions, shortening the overall time in therapy and saving you valuable time and money. This approach is designed to help you achieve meaningful recovery quickly and efficiently, so you can get back to living the life you want. You deserve treatment that delivers results, not just a listening ear.
Why Choose Specialized OCD and Anxiety Therapy Over General Talk Therapy?
Josh Kaplan, LCSW
Hi, I’m Josh Kaplan, LCSW, and I’m glad you’re here. Over the past 14 years, I’ve dedicated my career to studying, treating, and training others in the most effective ways to overcome OCD and anxiety disorders. Having personally experienced the struggles of anxiety, I understand how overwhelming it can feel, and this has fueled my purpose to help others navigate their way to recovery. My passion lies in helping individuals break free from the grip of anxiety and reclaim the life they want to live.
I use only the gold standard in evidence-based anxiety and OCD treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), ensuring each client receives the most effective care available. My approach is warm, supportive, and collaborative, creating a safe space where healing can happen. I also believe that a touch of humor can make the recovery process feel more approachable and less overwhelming.
Every client is unique, and I take the time to develop a personalized anxiety or OCD treatment plan that addresses all aspects of their symptoms. Together, we’ll work side by side to create lasting change—helping you to not only manage and recover from current anxiety but also build the skills, resilience, and confidence to face life’s challenges with strength for years to come.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) that cause significant anxiety. To alleviate this distress, individuals may engage in repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions).
Pure OCD, or Purely Obsessional OCD, is a subtype of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder where individuals experience distressing, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) without outwardly visible compulsions. These obsessions often revolve around taboo or unsettling themes, such as harm, sexuality, religion, or morality. While physical compulsions may not be evident, individuals often engage in mental rituals, such as excessive analysis, reassurance-seeking, or avoidance, to reduce their anxiety.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) involves persistent and excessive worry about everyday events or activities, such as work, health, relationships, or finances. This worry often feels uncontrollable and is accompanied by physical symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances.
Panic Disorder is characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks—intense episodes of fear or discomfort that peak within minutes and include symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a fear of losing control or dying. Over time, the fear of having another attack can lead to avoidance behaviors, which may develop into Agoraphobia. Individuals with agoraphobia often avoid places or situations where they feel escape might be difficult or help unavailable during an attack.
Health Anxiety, also known as illness anxiety disorder, is characterized by excessive worry about having or developing a serious medical condition. Individuals with health anxiety often misinterpret normal body sensations or minor symptoms as signs of a severe illness, leading to frequent doctor visits, reassurance-seeking, or avoidance of medical care altogether.
Co-occurring Depression often accompanies conditions like OCD, anxiety disorders, or other mental health challenges, intensifying feelings of sadness, hopelessness, fatigue, and a lack of motivation. This combination can make it even harder to manage daily responsibilities or engage in enjoyable activities.
Co-occurring Depression
Conditions Treated
Specialized Therapy for OCD and Anxiety Disorders
The Evidence-based Difference
ERP is the gold standard treatment for OCD. ERP helps individuals gradually confront feared thoughts and situations (triggers) while resisting compulsive behaviors, reassurance seeking, and avoidance.
Studies Show up to 80% of Individuals with OCD will Experience a Clinically Significant Reduction in Symptoms with Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Therapy are highly effective in treating anxiety disorders. CBT and Exposure Therapy help individuals identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns while gradually confronting feared situations or sensations.