What I treat.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
OCD is characterized by intrusive and unwanted thoughts and obsessions. Unwanted thoughts may involve fear related to harming self or others, germs or contamination, morality, etc. Obsessions may look like repetitive hand washing, symmetry and ordering, checking, etc. Treatment for OCD involves learning to gradually tolerate the unwanted thoughts and preventing the completion of compulsions through Exposure Response Prevention (ERP). Kelly will work with you to develop a treatment plan that feels attainable.
Anxiety disorders.
Worry and stress are a normal part of everyday life. However, these feelings can become chronic and pervasive, taking over every aspect of an individual’s life. When this happens, an anxiety disorder may be to blame. Anxiety can take many forms including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, and panic. Cognitive Behaviorial Therapy (CBT) is considered the treatment of choice for addressing anxiety disorders. Through CBT, an individual learns to identify unhelpful thoughts and discover how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected. This is done through a structured and interactive format.
Tics & Tourette Disorder.
Individuals with tics and Tourette Disorder engage in uncontrollable and often repetitive vocal or motor movements. These can be debilitating for those who experience them, impacting the ability to socialize, work, and freely enjoy life. Treatment using Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) involves learning to identify the internal feeling right before the tic occurs (premonitory urge) and developing habit reversal techniques to prevent the tic from occurring. Relaxation training and environmental modifications will also be addressed to support the individual with reducing the frequency of tics.
Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs).
BFRBs involve repetitive behaviors towards one’s own body, such as skin picking, hair pulling, and nail biting, that causes physical damage to the body despite attempts to stop the behavior. Comprehensive Behavioral (ComB) treatment helps clients to develop an individualized plan to combat the repetitive behavior. An in-depth assessment will be conducted to determine the sensory, cognitive, affective, motor, and environmental (place) variables maintaining the behavior. This information is then used to collaboratively develop interventions to reduce and diminish the repetitive behavior.