(she/her)
If you've tried therapy and still feel stuck, the approach may be the problem. Most people who find me have already done "the work" and it hasn't been enough. That's not a failure. It usually means they needed a more targeted method from the start. I specialize in OCD, anxiety disorders, and compulsive behaviors using ERP, CBT, and Habit Reversal Training. These are structured, evidence-based protocols with strong track records for the exact patterns that feel impossible to break on your own. I work with adults experiencing obsessive compulsive disorder, intrusive thoughts, panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, health anxiety, body-focused repetitive behaviors including skin picking (excoriation disorder) and hair pulling (trichotillomania), hoarding disorder, and treatment-resistant depression. I'm warm and direct. I'll be honest with you about what treatment involves, what progress looks like, and whether I'm the right fit. If I'm not, I'll point you somewhere better. The people who do well with me are done managing symptoms and ready to actually change them. If that's where you are, reach out and we'll figure out together if we're a good match.
In our first session I'll ask about your specific symptoms and how they're affecting your daily life: intrusive thoughts, panic attacks, avoidance, compulsive behaviors, rituals. Because I only work with obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, and body-focused repetitive behaviors like excoriation disorder and trichotillomania, I recognize these patterns quickly. You won't spend sessions explaining yourself to someone who has never seen it before. I'll tell you what I think is happening, what approach we'll use and why, and what the process actually looks like. You'll leave session one with clarity on what we're treating, how we'll tackle it, and what's expected of you. That last part matters. This is collaborative but it's not passive. I bring the specialized expertise, you bring the willingness to do uncomfortable work. If you're ready for that, you'll have a clear path forward by the end of our first session.
My specialty is treating conditions most general therapists don't handle well: obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, health anxiety, excoriation disorder, trichotillomania, hoarding disorder, and treatment-resistant depression. I use ERP, CBT, and Habit Reversal Training because that's what the evidence supports for these specific conditions. When you describe what you're experiencing I'll recognize it immediately. You won't be explaining yourself to someone who's guessing. Treatment with me is clear and direct. You'll know what we're targeting, why we're using a specific approach, and what's coming next. Every session includes practical tools for managing anxiety, resisting compulsions, and handling triggers. I'll also be honest with you about what the process requires. The clients who get the most out of working with me come in ready to engage, not just hoping things will shift on their own. I'm warm and I genuinely care about your progress, but I'll push you when you need it and I'll hold you accountable to the goals you set. That combination is what actually moves the needle.
My ideal client is an adult who is done managing symptoms and ready to actually address them. They may have been struggling for years or are early in their experience but already know that avoiding the problem is making it worse. They've probably done some research, they understand this won't be easy, and they're showing up because they genuinely want things to be different. ERP and the other methods I use only work when you're willing to lean into discomfort rather than around it. I don't need you to be fearless. I need you to be motivated. If you're tired of your OCD, anxiety, or compulsive behaviors running your life and you're ready to do something about it, we're probably a good fit.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have been using CBT for more than 20 years with adults dealing with a wide range of anxiety disorders, OCD, compulsive behaviors, and depression. CBT is the foundation of how I work. It focuses on the relationship between your thoughts, behaviors, and feelings, and it gives us practical tools to interrupt the cycles keeping you stuck. Rather than spending sessions rehashing the past, we identify what's maintaining the problem right now and target that directly. I tailor CBT to your specific condition and presentation, whether that means addressing the beliefs driving hoarding behavior, using behavioral activation to break the cycle of depression and withdrawal, or restructuring the thinking patterns fueling anxiety. After 20 years I've used it with enough people to know what works, what doesn't, and how to adjust when something isn't moving fast enough. It's not one-size-fits-all and it's never just talking. I also use Habit Reversal Training for body-focused repetitive behaviors like skin picking and hair pulling. HRT works by building awareness of the urges and triggers driving the behavior and replacing the response with something that breaks the cycle. It is structured and practical and it gives clients a level of control over these behaviors that most have never experienced before.
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
ERP is the gold standard treatment for OCD and anxiety disorders and it is what I use most. I have been doing this long enough to know that it works when other approaches don't, and I also know it requires a therapist who understands it deeply and a client who is willing to engage with discomfort rather than avoid it. The premise is straightforward. We gradually expose you to the thoughts, situations, or triggers driving your anxiety or compulsions while resisting the urge to neutralize, avoid, or ritualize. Over time your nervous system learns that the threat isn't real and the compulsion isn't necessary. It is not comfortable but it is effective, and the results are lasting in a way that coping strategies alone never are. I use ERP with OCD, panic disorder, social anxiety, agoraphobia, health anxiety, and phobias. I will be honest with you about what the process involves, move at a pace that is challenging but manageable, and help you build real confidence rather than just temporary relief.
2 ratings with written reviews
June 23, 2025
Heather is amazing! Highly recommend if you need a therapist for OCD.
February 7, 2025
I felt that Heather really listened to me. She made me feel very comfortable and offered practical advice.