Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Dr. Arikian enjoys helping people overcome the challenges of OCD and has been doing so for over eight years. She has observed very powerful results of treatment when people are motivated to work on their symptoms both in treatment sessions and in life outside of sessions.

Dr. Arikian is a graduate of the Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI), which offers intensive training for the treatment for OCD. She has also attended workshops and engaged in individual consultation with experts in this field.

In her treatment of people struggling with OCD, Dr. Arikian always begins by using exposure and response prevention (ERP). This is a specific form of cognitive-behavior therapy; research has shown that it is the most effective treatment for helping people master the symptoms of OCD. Sessions may be held in Dr. Arikian’s office or outside of the office, depending on your needs.

Dr. Arikian may also discuss with you the possibility of using medication for decreasing your symptoms and if you are interested in using medication, help you find a doctor who can prescribe them.

If needed, other approaches may be used in treatment, such as addressing family issues that contribute to the OCD, learning relaxation strategies, or addressing life stressors that contribute to anxiety.

For more information about OCD, visit the International OCD Foundation website.

For a description of exposure and response prevention treatment, visit their ERP page.