Daniel Safavi, MA, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses how social stigmas and misconceptions can pose unique challenges to interpersonal connection for someone with OCD. Also included are some helpful guidelines to consider when determining whether to self-disclose. OCD and the Basic Human Need for Connection Social connection is a basic human need, and a big part of connecting with others is being vulnerable from time to time. Being vulnerable produces some distress. This is true for all of us. However, those with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), have the add ..read more

Brandi Roberts, MS, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, shares her personal experience and recovery from relationship OCD (ROCD), as well as discusses the dynamics and treatment of this very common OCD subtype. Three months into my first romantic relationship, I was on a date with my boyfriend, and suddenly I was hit with a tightness in my chest that felt unbearable, and a suffocating desire to end the relationship. I had no idea why I felt this sudden anxiety, because he was a sweet guy who treated me well. After a lot of tears and confusion I broke up with him. The only ex ..read more

Kristen Taylor-Ladd, MA, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses the differences between, and often co-occurring, afflictions of OCD and GAD, as well as shares her personal experience with and way to recovery from both of these conditions. Both Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can often exist together simultaneously. It is also common for individuals struggling with OCD to be diagnosed with or assume they have Generalized Anxiety Disorder instead, which can be a frequent misdiagnosis. When this misdiagnosis happened to me, I felt ..read more

Chanel Taghdis, LMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses the efficacy of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and related conditions when conducted via teletherapy. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) conducted via teletherapy is effective for OCD and related conditions. The year of 2020 presented challenges that no one anticipated. A new and misunderstood virus created a world-wide pandemic resulting in shutdowns across the globe. Schools were closed. Restaurants and businesses were closed. Offices were closed. With social distancing becoming the new standard, emplo ..read more

Chris Cincotta, LMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses how to implement an effective mindfulness-based response prevention approach for the treatment of OCD and anxiety, and how to prevent mindfulness from becoming just another compulsion Mindfulness-Based Response Prevention is a valuable approach in managing OCD and anxiety. One of the defining characteristics of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related anxiety based conditions is the experience of having unwanted thoughts and feelings that cause great distress. And while it is quite natural to want to do something to con ..read more

OCD Center of Los Angeles therapists Kelley Franke, Lauren McMeikan Rosen, Elena Fasan, and Mary Sponaugle. We are happy to announce that four staff therapists from the OCD Center of Los Angeles will be giving presentations at the upcoming Online OCD Conference being offered by the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). This year’s Online OCD Conference is being held Friday, October 8, 2021 through Sunday, October 10, 2021. The conference will feature 70 presentations and 36 discussion groups on OCD and related conditions. Three of this year’s presentations will feature OCD Center of Los Ange ..read more

Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder) can be effectively treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). “This time, I will stop doing it for real”, I would tell myself time and time again, as I convinced myself that some new strategy I came up with was going to get me to stop pulling out my eyelashes. I believed I had come up with a genius plan after I scheduled an appointment to get eyelash extensions, a lengthy process that consisted of a professional gluing individual pieces of hair onto my existing eyelashes to create fuller, longer lashes. I had always wished that I had more eyelas ..read more

Elena Fasan, LCSW, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses how parents can teach their children concrete skills to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these same skills offer the added benefit of helping kids to cope more effectively with OCD. Skills used in coping with COVID-19 can also help kids to manage OCD more effectively. In so many ways, COVID-19 reminds me of OCD. The virus is an invisible enemy that triggers anxiety, much like OCD. Dread lurks beneath the anxiety. This underlying dread, an intense feeling that something terrible will happen, is the crux of OCD. Regardless of ..read more

Laura Yocum, Lauren McMeikan, and Kelley Franke of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discuss Relationship OCD (ROCD) at the Online OCD Conference on August 2, 2020. The OCD Center of Los Angeles is happy to announce that three of our staff therapists will be presenting a panel discussion at the upcoming Online OCD Conference being offered by the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). Our panel discussion is titled “When OCD Comes Between Us: Relationship OCD and Recovery”, and will take place on the internet at the following time: Sunday, August 2, 2020 11:00 am – 12:15 pm Eastern time (8:00 am ..read more

An interview with Tom Corboy, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, about online, webcam-based therapy for the treatment of OCD, anxiety, and related conditions. Online Therapy is an effective and convenient option for the treatment of OCD, anxiety & related conditions What is online therapy and how is it done? Online therapy is just therapy conducted over the internet via webcam. It is exactly the same as face-to-face treatment that occurs in a therapist’s office, with the only significant difference being that the therapy occurs over the internet. Our online treatment program focuses ..read more