OCD therapy

When trauma shows up as obsessions and compulsions

Alongside my core work in trauma and C-PTSD, I'm also trained in ERP and I-CBT, two of the most effective, research-backed approaches for OCD, especially when it's rooted in or intensified by trauma.

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In short

Trauma-induced OCD happens when a nervous system shaped by trauma starts using obsessions and compulsions as a way to feel in control of danger it can no longer clearly locate. ERP and I-CBT are two of the most effective, research-backed treatments for OCD, and I integrate both with trauma-informed care.

Does this sound like you?

When OCD is doing trauma's job

Your compulsions ramp up most when you feel unsafe or out of control.

Checking or reassurance-seeking started after a frightening or destabilizing experience.

Intrusive thoughts often center on harm, danger, or losing control.

Rituals feel like the only way to keep something bad from happening again.

Your body stays on high alert, and OCD gives that alertness somewhere to go.

Anxiety doesn't respond to logic, it just finds a new question to obsess over.

OCD can be its own condition, and it can also be how a traumatized nervous system tries to create certainty. Both deserve real treatment.

What it is

Two proven approaches to OCD

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is considered the gold-standard treatment for OCD. It involves gradually facing the thoughts, images, or situations that trigger obsessions, while resisting the urge to perform compulsions, so your brain slowly learns the anxiety can rise and fall on its own, without needing a ritual to bring it down.

Inference-based CBT (I-CBT) takes a different angle, it focuses on the flawed reasoning that fuels obsessional doubt in the first place ("but what if...?"), helping you trust your own senses and judgment again rather than the story OCD is telling you.

When OCD is intertwined with trauma, I weave in trauma-informed pacing and nervous system work alongside ERP and I-CBT, so we're addressing both the compulsions and what's fueling the underlying hypervigilance.

A note on fit

My core specialty is trauma, C-PTSD, and complex trauma. If OCD is your primary concern and it doesn't overlap with a trauma history, a dedicated OCD specialist may be a better first stop. If your OCD is intertwined with anxiety, trauma, or a harsh inner critic, this integrated approach can be a strong fit.

What to expect

How treatment unfolds

We build a plan around how your OCD actually shows up, at a pace you can sustain.

1

Understanding your patterns

We map out the specific obsessions, compulsions, and reasoning patterns driving your distress, without judgment.

2

Building a plan together

We choose the right mix of ERP and I-CBT, and set a pace that challenges you without overwhelming you.

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Common questions

OCD therapy, answered

What is ERP therapy for OCD?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is considered the gold-standard treatment for OCD. It involves gradually facing the thoughts or situations that trigger obsessions while resisting compulsions, so your brain learns anxiety can rise and fall on its own.
What is I-CBT for OCD?
Inference-based CBT (I-CBT) focuses on the flawed reasoning that fuels obsessional doubt, helping you trust your own senses and judgment again rather than the story OCD is telling you.
Is OCD your main specialty?
My core specialty is trauma, C-PTSD, and complex trauma. I'm also trained in ERP and I-CBT for OCD, which works especially well when OCD overlaps with anxiety, trauma, or a harsh inner critic.
Can OCD and trauma be connected?
Yes. Obsessive-compulsive patterns often intensify after a frightening or destabilizing event, as a way for a traumatized nervous system to seek certainty and control. Trauma-induced OCD often responds best to an integrated, trauma-informed approach rather than ERP or I-CBT alone.
When you're ready

Let's start with a conversation.

A free 15-minute consultation is a good way to figure out, together, whether this is the right fit for what you're facing.

A steady space is here whenever you are.