Treatment for OCD

Has OCD Taken Over Your Life?

It tells you what you can and cannot do, with whom and when. You follow its directions, rules, and rituals. And you do these things to help you find temporary relief from the anxiety and fear.

But, OCD has given you false direction. It always brings you back to square one, needing you to do it all over again. And sometimes with new rules and rituals.

Who Benefits Most from Treatment for OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often a long-lasting mental disorder in which a person has intrusive, unwanted, and reoccurring thoughts, images, or sensations (obsessions). Often, they engage in repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) to reduce the anxiety caused by these thoughts.

OCD affects 2.2 million adults or 1% of the U.S. population at some point in their lives. Moreover, OCD is equally common among men and women. And it typically first appears in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood.

Treatment for OCD can Help if You Are Experiencing Unwanted Thoughts and Anxiety About

• Contracting an illness or contaminating others
• Losing control and harming yourself or others
• Religious or moral ideas, such as fear that you may have done something spiritually or morally wrong, or offend God
• Not living in accordance with your true sexual orientation, that you might be with the wrong romantic partner, or you may not be faithful to your partner
• Unwanted sexual thoughts about children
• Uncertainty of intimate relationships

OCD Treatment Can Help if You are Experiencing Behaviors or Mental Acts That Include

• Excessive double-checking of things, such as locks, appliances, and switches
• Repeatedly checking in on loved ones to make sure they’re safe
• Counting, tapping, repeating certain words
• Spending a lot of time washing or cleaning
• Praying excessively or engaging in rituals triggered by religious fear
• Seeking reassurances from others or the internet, such as google search
• Avoiding people, places, or things
• Making mental lists or reviewing thoughts, conversations, or actions

It is Time to Break the Cycle of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

When you schedule a session with Dr. Menije, you will work together to tolerate the discomfort, the unknown, and the uncertainty.

It’s likely that ever since you were young, you’ve had unpleasant thoughts that have distracted you from living your life. No matter what you were doing or who you were with, your mind would create scenarios you couldn’t ignore. And as each one came up, you started to doubt who you are. In fact, you lost the ability to be adventurous and curious about life altogether.

Now here you are as an adult. And you are afraid you’re never going to get control. A lot of the time, you feel defeated and you’re not sure what your next steps are. Other times, it seems like you’re broken.

You’ve grown used to being on edge and unsettled, but the feeling like something bad is going to happen keeps growing. You know if you don’t address it, your life will always feel limited.

Treatment for OCD in Los Angeles Can Help

After working through treatment for OCD with Dr. Menije, you will…

• Gain freedom from the limitations of OCD and build a more loving relationship with yourself
• Have the right tools in your toolbox to better respond to your obsessions and compulsions
• Feel confident to get out of your comfort zone so you can reach the new potential you hadn’t considered before
• Experience ease in living a life that will help you be more present in the special moments
• Stop attaching meaning to your thoughts so you can stop blaming yourself for having intrusive thoughts
• Live your life based on your values, not on your fears

How Treatment for OCD Works

OCD treatment is intended to help you increase your tolerance for anxiety,  your acceptance of uncertainty, and reduce your need to repeat certain patterns in your life. The goal of treatment is to give you better and healthier tools to manage your OCD and get back in charge.

In your work together, Dr. Menije will teach you about different elements of OCD. This will help you work toward redefining the path you are on. Further, you will meet weekly for 50-minute sessions. And it’s likely that you will start to feel more clear and hopeful within a few weeks.

Furthermore, seeking treatment for OCD can be a short or long-term treatment option that depends on multiple factors. For example, the severity of symptoms, history of treatment, one’s insight into OCD, other medical conditions, and individual circumstances can all impact the length of treatment.

What to Expect From OCD Treatment

The treatment process starts with a free 20-minute consultation. Over the phone, you will have the opportunity to share the experiences that you wish to address in therapy. You will also learn more about Dr. Menije’s approach to treating OCD. Additionally, you will get information about the cost of treatment for OCD.

Intake Process

During the first few sessions, you will go through the intake process. This is the time in which Dr. Menije will gather all the information she needs to create a treatment plan for you. After the first session, you will fill out a few forms to better evaluate the severity of your presenting problems. This comprehensive intake evaluation will help Dr. Menije identify the specific triggers and get a clear picture of your anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, it will help her identify other components that may influence the treatment outcome. This process is necessary to create an individualized treatment plan that will be successful in helping you overcome OCD.

OCD Treatment Sessions

Ongoing sessions are designed to help you redefine your life with OCD. The goal of therapy is not to remove or cure OCD. Instead, it is to give you tools and insights that will help you break free from the limitations caused by OCD symptoms. Dr. Menije utilizes Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to treat OCD. These are both evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders. Each of these modalities has unique qualities and focuses while complimenting each other for an effective outcome.

In sessions, you will learn to uncover underlying thoughts, attitudes, and belief systems you may have that are unhealthy, negative, or rigid. Once you identify these unhealthy thought patterns, our goal is to find ways to challenge and reframe them. In addition to addressing your thoughts, you will also explore behavioral changes to support your new way of thinking. You will also learn how to practice balanced and flexible thinking to combat the black or white thinking OCD is used to view the world.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy

While engaging in ERP therapy, you will learn to confront your anxiety and fears by creating a hierarchy. This is the exposure aspect of the model. The other part, response prevention, is learning to do the opposite of your previous actions, compulsions, or urges. By exposing yourself to your obsessions, whether they are intrusive thoughts or sensations, and not doing what your OCD is telling you to do, you will learn to tolerate discomfort and embrace uncertainty. This process allows the body to sit with anxiety and learn to tolerate the discomfort. Over time and with enough practice, you will regain your strength, confidence, and sense of empowerment back into your life.

While you will never stop practicing ERP and challenging your compulsions, after significant improvement, you and Dr. Menije will review your treatment process. This is when we will discuss ending therapy if your goals have been met. So, we will create a termination plan to ensure that you have a solid idea of how to maintain your new behaviors and changes and have a strong support system to rely on.

OCD loves perfection. It makes you believe that the more you seek certainty, the more perfect you are. By learning to embrace the uncertainty and the imperfection, you will build a sense of trust, compassion, and love in yourself.

More About Dr. Menije

Hi, I’m Dr. Menije and I am passionate about helping you be in charge of your life, not OCD.

I received my Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego Angeles. Afterward, I furthered my education with a Master’s in Psychology from Pepperdine’s University and a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. Most importantly, I am a licensed psychologist in the state of California.

I have been treating OCD and OCD Spectrum Disorders since 2012. Further, I completed the Behavioral Training offered by the International OCD Foundation’s Training Institute. My Woodland Hills-based therapy practice focuses on OCD and anxiety-related experiences.

Therapy with me is the place to change your patterns and strengthen your self-confidence. Together, we will work on helping you break free from the vicious cycle of anxiety and judgment. Then, we will work on building a true sense of trust in yourself.

What Does OCD Treatment Cost?

Treatment for OCD is a fee-for-service program, and our Los Angeles, CA-area practice accepts all major forms of payment. You can find more information about payment and insurance here.

I am an out-of-network provider for all insurance panels. Therefore, I am not affiliated with any insurance panel. This is due to my desire to make sure you maintain maximum privacy and ensuring I provide you the highest level of care possible without constraints from managed care. Many PPO plans may reimburse you in full or in part for my services. Unfortunately, HMO, Medi-Cal, and Medicare insurances do not reimburse, as they require that you see someone on their panel.

Where and When Can I Schedule my First Session?

Our private practice therapy office is conveniently located at 20501 Ventura Blvd, Suite 395, Woodland Hills, CA 91364. While our physical location is in Woodland Hills, we also serve Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Tarzana, Encino, and the surrounding communities.

Begin Treatment for OCD in Los Angeles, CA

It is possible to feel empowered and confident to live your best life. With the help of an OCD therapist, you will be able to manage the symptoms of OCD. You will also see that you can have your ideal life and pursue your dreams. Ultimately, you’ll find a way to get unstuck and start living the endless possibilities.

Right now, being in control of your OCD symptoms feels far off, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start taking the necessary steps to reduce the limitations of these symptoms. After treatment, your OCD will no longer steal your joy. You will have an easier experience of living life, which will help you be more present in the special moments.

Your OCD does not have to mean that your life will always be chaotic. You are completely capable of busting out of your comfort zone, taking ownership of your dreams, and creating a new sense of self. Most importantly, you will repair your relationship with yourself and build a foundation based on self-trust, self-compassion, and acceptance.

To schedule an appointment to begin treatment for OCD at our Los Angeles area therapy practice, please fill out the contact form and Dr. Menije will contact you to discuss your goals for treatment during a free phone consultation.

Other Services at Embracing You Therapy in Los Angeles, CA

While Dr. Menije specializes in OCD treatment, she and our other therapist offer a variety of mental health services at our Los Angeles area therapy practice. We provide anxiety treatment, substance abuse counseling, and couples therapy. Additionally, you can access all of our services using online therapy in California. If you have additional questions, please reach out to us using the contact form and check out our blog!