Evidenced-based treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety
Anxiety & OCD Therapy in Philadelphia and PA
The constant cycle of “what ifs” and self-doubt is starting to ruin your life.
Maybe you’ve been in therapy for years, but you’re not getting better. You keep trying to find relief, but you end up feeling worse.
Your spouse is losing patience with your doom spirals, and you’re worried your marriage is in trouble. You want to open up to your partner about what’s going on in your head, but you’re afraid they’ll be just as freaked out as you are.
You stay up all night googling things and imagine the worse case scenario. You’re late to work because of your rituals and can barely concentrate on tasks because you’re running on 3 hours of sleep.
You avoid making decisions because you don’t want to get it wrong. The simplest things like ordering from a menu become a back and forth inner dialogue in your head. So much that you lose sight of what you actually want.
maybe you are…
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Whenever you hear a bump while driving, you wonder if you’ve hit someone with your car. You’re in a constant state of panic on whether you’ve accidentally hurt someone and find yourself replaying past events. You often wonder if you’ve said the wrong thing and if the other person is offended. You’re terrified of having these thoughts because you’re afraid they’ll come true.
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You’ll mentally review past relationships to look for clues of your sexuality and look at videos and photos to see how you feel and react. The more you try to prove to yourself that you’re queer, the more confused you feel.
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You’re in the thick of post-partum and are terrified of hurting your newborn baby. You’re won’t change your baby’s diaper and are exhausted from constantly checking to see if they are breathing.
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Things with your partner will go well for a while until you find yourself fixating on their flaws, and whether they are the right person for you. You constantly question your attraction to them and compare them to other relationships.
Specialized Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Anxiety
Living with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety can feel isolating, especially when your experiences intersect with gender identity, queerness, or life transitions. At Ruberti Counseling Services in Philadelphia, I provide specialized therapy that understands these layers while offering evidence-based OCD treatment tailored to your unique needs.
ocd therapy can help
Exposure and Response Prevention is an evidenced-based therapy approach that rewires your brain so that OCD doesn’t call all of the shots.
We’ll address the thoughts and triggers that bring up your anxiety through therapy exposure exercises, both during our sessions and outside of the therapy room. Instead of responding with compulsions or rituals, I’ll help you practice sitting with your feelings.
Over time, your brain learns that you can handle your anxiety and that it can’t control you. You’ll learn tools for building confidence and flexibility so you can live the life you want.
Understanding Your OCD Symptoms and Anxiety
Obsessive compulsive disorder affects children and adults across all walks of life, manifesting through intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that can consume hours of your day. You might experience:
Obsessions: Unwanted, repetitive thoughts about contamination, harm, identity, relationships, or moral concerns
Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors or mental rituals performed to reduce anxiety from obsessions
Anxiety disorders: Including generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and social anxiety
Perfectionism: Rigid standards that fuel both OCD symptoms and anxiety
Identity-related doubts: Questions about gender, sexuality, or authenticity amplified by obsessive thinking
For many in Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community, these mental health conditions intersect with experiences of marginalization, transition, and identity exploration. I recognize that traditional OCD treatment often fails to address these unique challenges, which is why my approach integrates affirming care with proven therapeutic methods.
My Specialized Approach to Treat OCD
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
As the gold standard for OCD treatment, exposure and response prevention therapy gradually helps you face feared situations while resisting compulsive behaviors. I approach ERP with creativity and compassion, tailoring exposures to your comfort level. Together, we'll develop a treatment plan that includes:
Carefully designed exposure exercises specific to your OCD symptoms
Response prevention strategies you can implement in daily life
Weekly homework to practice skills between therapy sessions
Regular progress monitoring to adjust your treatment as needed
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy
IFS helps you understand the different "parts" of yourself, including those driving obsessive compulsive behaviors. Rather than fighting against OCD symptoms, we explore their protective intentions and develop healthier ways to address underlying fears. This approach is particularly effective for clients who struggle with self-criticism and perfectionism alongside their obsessive compulsive disorder.
Art Therapy Integration
Art therapy offers a unique pathway for processing emotions that feel too complex for words. Through creative expression, we can explore the intersection of anxiety, OCD, and identity without the pressure of verbal articulation. This approach resonates particularly well with creative professionals and those who find traditional talk therapy limiting.
Psychodynamic Exploration
Understanding the deeper roots of your obsessive compulsive disorder helps create lasting change. We'll explore how past experiences, relationships, and unconscious patterns contribute to current OCD symptoms, providing insight that complements symptom-focused work.
Specialized Support for LGBTQ+ and Trans Clients
My practice specializes in treating OCD and anxiety within the context of LGBTQ+ experiences. As a queer therapist with advanced training in gender-affirming care, I bring both professional expertise and personal understanding to this work.
For Trans and Non-Binary Individuals
Obsessive compulsive disorder can create particular challenges around gender identity, including:
Obsessive doubts about being "trans enough"
Compulsive behaviors around gender presentation
Anxiety about transition decisions
Managing OCD symptoms during hormone therapy
Differentiating between OCD-driven doubts and authentic questioning
For Partners and Families
Supporting a loved one through transition while managing your own mental health requires specialized care. I help partners process complex emotions, manage anxiety about changes, and maintain wellbeing throughout the journey.
The Intersection of Eating Disorders and OCD
Many clients with obsessive compulsive disorder also struggle with disordered eating or body image concerns. Traditional eating disorder treatment often operates from heteronormative assumptions that alienate queer and trans individuals. My approach addresses:
How OCD symptoms manifest in food and body relationships
The intersection of gender dysphoria and body image
Challenging diet culture from a queer-affirming perspective
Pursuing intuitive eating while managing OCD's demand for certainty
I work from a Health at Every Size framework, recognizing that recovery looks different for everyone, especially when navigating both OCD treatment and identity exploration.
Therapy for OCD can help you…
Make Decisions With Clarity
Whether it’s ordering off of the menu, creating your D & D character, or deciding what to wear to a theater show, you’ll be able to move through these situations with more confidence.
Be More Present
Cuddling on the couch with your partner while rewatching your favorite episode of Star Trek is a lot more fun when you’re not bogged down by doom and gloom thoughts.
Sleep and Rest
Falling asleep and staying asleep is more possible when you’re not lying in bed replaying every moment of the day. You’ll be able to truly relax and enjoy that podcast when you have down time.
Manage Your Anxiety
Intrusive thoughts might still come up, but they become background noise. You no longer believe them and they don’t control you.
Enjoy Your Life
You’ll have more appreciation for your morning coffee routine during the work week and look forward to going to Ren Faire over the weekend.
Navigate Your Day With More Flexibility
A sink full of dishes won’t spin you out and you’ll be able to roll with last minute plans to meet up for game night.
Your thoughts don’t define you and you’re not a bad person.
Let’s quiet the noise in your head so you can finally breathe again.
What to Expect from Therapy
Your First Step
Begin with a free 20-minute phone consultation, bookable through ruberticounseling.com. This conversation helps us determine if we're a good therapeutic fit for your OCD treatment needs.
Initial Session
In our first meeting, we'll explore:
Your current OCD symptoms and their impact on daily life
Previous therapy experiences and what has helped
Your comfort with different treatment approaches
How identity and relationships influence your mental health
Your goals for recovery from obsessive compulsive disorder
Ongoing Treatment
I typically meet with clients weekly for one-hour therapy sessions, though we can adjust based on your needs. Some clients benefit from:
Twice-weekly sessions during challenging periods
90-minute sessions for deeper exploration
Customized ERP homework between sessions
Journal prompts tailored to your specific struggles
Building Your Support System
Recovery from OCD requires more than individual therapy. I'll help you develop a supportive environment that might include:
Connecting with Philadelphia's queer and trans support groups
Building chosen family relationships
Creating affirming spaces at home and work
Developing wellness practices that complement your treatment plan
Why Choose Ruberti Counseling Services
Specialized Expertise
My advanced training in both OCD treatment and gender-affirming care means you won't have to educate your therapist about your identities or experiences. I understand how obsessive compulsive disorder intersects with:
Gender transition and exploration
Queer relationships and chosen family
Creative professions and perfectionism
Medical anxiety and health concerns
Minority stress and discrimination
Personalized Treatment Plans
I don't believe in one-size-fits-all approaches. Your treatment plan will be tailored to your specific OCD symptoms, identity, values, and life circumstances. Together, we'll create an approach that feels authentic and sustainable for you.
Beyond Traditional Therapy
By integrating Internal Family Systems, art therapy, exposure and response prevention, and psychodynamic work, I offer more than traditional cognitive behavioral therapy. This multi-faceted approach addresses both the symptoms and roots of your obsessive compulsive disorder while honoring your whole self.
Begin Your Recovery Journey
Living with OCD and anxiety while navigating identity, relationships, and life transitions takes tremendous courage. You deserve therapy that understands these complexities and provides effective, affirming treatment.
If you're ready to explore how specialized anxiety & OCD therapy can support your journey, reach out today. Through our work together, you'll learn to:
Recognize and manage OCD symptoms without judgment
Implement response prevention strategies effectively
Build self-compassion and reduce perfectionism
Navigate identity with confidence despite anxiety
Create a life guided by your values, not compulsive behaviors
Your struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder don't define you, and recovery is possible. Contact me to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward the life you deserve.
Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community deserves therapists who truly understand their experiences. At Ruberti Counseling Services, you'll find specialized OCD treatment that honors your identity while providing the tools you need to manage symptoms and thrive. Your journey toward healing starts here.
Questions?
FAQs
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I help people overcome OCD using the evidenced-based model, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
Treatment begins with an assessment to confirm whether you meet the criteria for OCD, and the level of intensity your symptoms are. This can take 1-2 sessions.
We’ll go over in detail how ERP works, and how it will help your OCD. The goal is for you to have a full understanding of what to expect from treatment.
Next, we’ll create a detailed list of your obsessions, fears, triggers and thoughts. We’ll use that list to create exposure exercises that you’ll practice in session.
A large part of treatment will be practicing these exposure therapy exercises in sessions, while working to resist doing your compulsions. I will support you throughout this process.
Treatment involves 1-2 sessions a week, and homework in between sessions.
Homework involves practicing exercises that are completed during sessions at home or in the community with ongoing work on resisting doing your compulsions.
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There is no set timeline with therapy, but ERP therapy can take around 17-25 sessions, though it might take longer. This depends on how often we meet, and how often you’re able to complete homework between sessions.
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While there are no guarantees, Exposure and Response Prevention is considered the first line of treatment for OCD. With that being said, it’s not for everyone! It requires a commitment of time and energy, and can feel uncomfortable since you’ll be confronting your fears directly. It’s not uncommon to see a slight uptick in anxiety before you start to feel better.
ERP is a good fit for you if:
You’re able to commit to at least one hour long session a week.
You’re able to complete daily homework exercises that are about 15-20 minutes a day, while also working on resisting your compulsions.
You’ve tried other types of therapy before but haven’t found relief.
You’ve been recently diagnosed with OCD.
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You can schedule a consultation by booking online. I’ll reply to your email within 1-2 business days (not on weekends). From there, we’ll pick a day and time that works for both of us.
Here’s what to expect from the consultation call:
We’ll discuss what’s bringing you to therapy and what you’re hoping to get out of sessions.
If you feel it’s a good fit, we can schedule your first appointment.
You will receive an email to set up your client portal and complete the intake paperwork online. Once all of the forms are completed, your appointment will be confirmed.