evidenced based therapy for LGBTQ individuals, transgender adults, and career professionals.
Identity-Affirming OCD Treatment in Pittsburgh, PA
Breaking free from OCD in Pittsburgh, PA
Queer life is thriving in Pittsburgh but you can also feel weighed down by the anti-trans legislation that looms over our country.
The hustle of getting to work while dealing with the soul-crushing tunnel traffic is enough to raise your cortisol levels. On top of that, you’re constantly questioning who you are, who you’re attracted to, and whether your identity is a fraud. The gatekeeping and invalidation from your own community doesn’t help. It can be hard to discern what feels real from the mental noise in your head.
Maybe you’ve googled OCD or recently got diagnosed by your doctor. Perhaps you’ve been in therapy for years, but you’re not getting better. It seems like the more you try to process the ‘why’ behind your struggles, the more overwhelmed you feel.
OCD is commonly misdiagnosed and it can take years to find relief. Whether you’re curious if you have OCD or just got diagnosed, it can feel like one more thing on your already too full plate. OCD treatment offers evidenced based care that is structured, collaborative and attentive to the unique concerns of LGBTQ people.
OCD is like a brain fart on over-drive. It’s not who you are, and it doesn’t define you.
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.
Are you in a queer or trans person in Pittsburgh, stuck in constant self-doubt?
OCD hits different for LGBTQ people. OCD demands 100% certainty even though sexuality and attraction are naturally fluid and changing.
Doubting your own identity, whether you’re queer, straight, trans, or non-binary. Seeking reassurance through googling, social media, and online forums. Feeling distressed at the idea of being trans instead of excited.
Looking at images of people or videos to “test” your attraction by monitoring your physical sensations. Constantly looking in the mirror to check your comfort level with your appearance.
Imposter fear. Questioning whether you’re bi or trans enough and feeling like you have to prove your identity. Experiencing thoughts such as: “What if I’m not really bi/trans?”, “What if I’m lying to myself others?” “What if I’m just trying to get attention?”.
Gatekeeping in the queer and transgender community. Finding negative posts in queer subreddits that criticize non-binary and bisexual people. Anti-trains laws that invalidate gender identity.
Analyzing the Bi-Cycle- It’s normal for your preferences to shift and change over time. OCD targets this fluidity and creates fear that you’re not actually bi.
Replaying past behaviors in our head to prove your gender identity. Misgendering yourself to trigger your dysphoria to prove your trans.
Intense shame of your own thoughts and fear of telling your friends and family about them.
Online OCD Treatment for Queer and Transgender individuals in Pittsburgh, PA
Specialized OCD therapy is most effective when you attend sessions consistently at least once day per week. Keeping up with that schedule can feel hard when you’re balancing tight deadlines, long hours and college classes. If you’re a busy career professional, college student or don’t feel safe going out it the community, online therapy may be a good fit for you.
Online therapy poses unique benefits for OCD treatment because you’re at home. Exposure and Response Prevention can be helpful when implemented online because you have the option to practice exposure exercises in your own space. Together, we can create exposure exercises by identifying the triggers in your home or on the internet.
As a queer therapist, I offer nuanced, identify affirming care that can help you separate OCD thoughts from your true self. I believe that the ultimate goal of OCD treatment is be able to trust yourself again and tolerate the uncertainty of life.
I combine Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you address your core fears and break free from compulsions. My approach to ERP is collaborative where we come up with exposure exercises together.
Together, we’ll
Identify your specific OCD thoughts and fears and how they impact your life.
Assess whether you have additional mental health needs, trauma history, and neurodiversity so treatment trauma-informed and neuro-affirming.
Help you face your fears through exposure therapy exercises both during sessions and for homework.
Practice resisting your compulsions both in sessions and at home.
Recognize what triggers your OCD and how to manage flare-ups in the future.
Learn More About ERP
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 RPG 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.
Be More Flexbile
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.
Is OCD Treatment Right for You?
My ocd treatment approach is a good fit for:
Pittsburgh LGBTQ adults, trans and gender expansive individuals seeking queer-affirming OCD care
Career professionals struggling with work/balance, burnout and perfectionism
Partners and spouses of transgender individuals
People who are able to attend therapy at least one per week and can dedicate time to homework in between sessions
Folks who were recently diagnosed with OCD or are curious if they have it
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.
Questions?
FAQs
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While my physical office is in Philadelphia, PA, I offer OCD therapy sessions for people in Pittsburgh online. The virtual approach offers more flexibility for your busy schedule and may feel safer if you prefer to do therapy from home.
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Yes, evidence shows that ERP can be just as effective online and even has some advantages. Online therapy gives us the opportunity to come up with exposure exercises that are specific to any triggers you experience at home.
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I help people overcome OCD using the evidenced-based model, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Learn more by clicking here.
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. The duration of treatment depends on your obsessions, how often we meet, and your ability to complete homework between sessions. Some people end treatment after ERP while other people continue therapy to work on different mental health goals
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You can schedule a phone or video consultation by booking online. If you prefer to email, I’ll reply 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.
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Yes, this is one of my primary focuses. I understand how OCD can impact gender identity, sexuality and queerness. OCD tends to weaponize the natural fluidity of gender and sexuality. Queer people are especially vulnerable to OCD because their identity is constantly brought into question by society. Gatekeeping in the queer community and systemic homophobia/transphobia all contribute to self-doubt and fears that fuel OCD thoughts. I help LGBTQ people separate their OCD from their true selves so they can better tolerate uncertainty.
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Gender Identity OCD or Transgender OCD is an OCD subtype that is defined by severe doubt and intrusive thoughts about whether you gender identity matches the gender you were assigned at birth. For cisgender people, it’s extreme anxiety and fear of being or becoming trans. For transgender people, it’s the fear of not being trans enough or faking it.
Common thoughts are:
“what if I’m secretly trans but have been repressing it my whole life”
“What if I’m lying to myself and others about my gender?”
“What if I’m just faking it or looking for attention”
Rituals or Compulsions
Mental Checking - Reviewing past memories and interactions to look for clues of your true gender
Body Checking – Constantly looking in the mirror to analyze your facia features, body, movements
Excessive Googling – Spending hours in online forums and LGBTQ sites looking for signs that you fit the criteria for a different gender.
Reassurance Seeking – Repeatedly asking friends , family or partners to validate that your are the gender you’re assigned at birth, or that you are really trans.
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Yes, this is one of my specialty areas. I am queer licensed therapist with advanced training in gender affirming care and Exposure and Response Prevention.
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Relationship OCD (ROCD) is a type of OCD that causes intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors focuses on romantic and platonic relationships. These thoughts are divided into two categories: relationship-focused and partner-focused.
Relationship-focused thoughts can sound like “Do I really love my partner”, “ What if I’m missing out on someone better”, “Am I just staying my with my partner out of convenience?”. Compulsions can be replaying interactions to see if you really like your partner or for proof that you’re bored. You might be constantly seeking reassurance that you’re truly in love either by asking your friends or taking online quizzes.
Relationship OCD transforms normal anxiety into a debilitation cycle of intrusive thoughts and checking and may sabotage your relationships.
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Harm OCD is primarily treated using Exposure and Response Prevention, an evidenced based approach that is considered the first line of treatment for OCD. Some people benefit from a combination of medication and ERP while others find that just one of these options is effective.
Acceptance and Commitment therapy is another evidenced based approach for OCD and can compliment ERP work. My approach combines ERP, ACT, and identity- affirming care. While ERP can be an uncomfortable process, it’s completely collaborative where we create the exposure exercises together. We’ll start at fears that are low on your fear list and work our way up at a pace that works for you.
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.