Practice Makes Perfect

The idea of practicing something over and over again can be a stumbling block for someone trying to develop new habits. In CBT for anxiety and OCD we

Read More

Feel Shame about Anxiety or OCD? There is Hope!

Amy is a 35-year-old client who has agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder and is making tremendous progress getting well. When I first started working with Amy, she was

Read More

The Importance of Psychoeducation in CBT

A key part of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is psychoeducation. And, it begins during my first session with clients. After the initial evaluation, I use the last 15

Read More

Therapists can help the parents of kids with OCD

“My son says he loves me 100 times a day. It’s not cute any more.” “My daughter won’t let us take the trash to the curb to be

Read More

Mental Health Awareness Month — what clinicians can do to help

October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in recognition Clinton United Methodist Church asked me to come speak to the congregation about anxiety and depression. I treasure every

Read More

The hardest part of being a CBT therapist

Usually in the first session with a new client I am able to end with the client having a notebook with a diagnosis, a brief outline of how

Read More

The Power of a Diagnosis

The first session that you see see a client can change that person’s life.  As therapists, we are on the front line providing diagnosis and treatment.  When we

Read More

Helping Our Clients Get To Sleep

How often do you have an anxious client who has difficulty getting to sleep because they can’t stop the worrying or ruminating when they lay their head down

Read More

Managing the Noise In Your Head

Here is a fun, free six part video series from Reid Wilson, Ph.D., that demonstrates the self-talk necessary to get well from anxiety and OCD. “The Noise in

Read More