Conditions Treated: OCD, Anxiety & PTSD Therapy Online in CA

At Whatif Therapy, we specialize in providing Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), an evidence-based behavioral treatment for OCD and anxiety disorders through telehealth across all of California. ERP is the gold-standard, research-supported therapy for conditions driven by fear, avoidance, intrusive thoughts, and compulsive behaviors, such as Social Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Illness Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and Specific Phobias.  I also specialize in additional behavioral based approaches such as Prolonged Exposure for PTSD, Behavioral Activation and Habit Reversal Training.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can appear in many forms—often far beyond what most people expect.
Common OCD presentations include:

• Harm OCD 
• Contamination OCD
• Intrusive thoughts 
• Relationship OCD (ROCD)
• Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD)
• Symmetry, ordering, and “just right” OCD
• Scrupulosity OCD
• Post-partum OCD
• And More

Common symptoms of Social Anxiety include worries about:

• Being judged or embarrassed
• Speaking up at work or school
• Eating, writing, or performing tasks while observed
• Interactions with peers, coworkers, or strangers

 Illness Anxiety disorder often involves:

• Persistent fear of having or developing a serious disease
• Constant symptom checking
• Repeated searching for medical reassurance
• Frequent doctor visits or avoidance of doctors altogether
• Difficulty trusting medical results

 ERP is highly effective for a wide range of Specific Phobias, including:

• Needles
• Flying
• Heights
• Driving
• Vomiting (emetophobia)
• Animals
• Blood or injury
• Claustrophobia
• Water
• Invasive medical procedures

Common symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder include:

• Chronic worry
• “What if?” spirals
• Catastrophic thinking
• Fear of making the wrong decisions
• Constant mental reviewing

Common symptoms of Panic Disorder include:

• Rapid heartbeat or chest tightness
• Shortness of breath or choking sensations
• Dizziness, shaking, or sweating
• Numbness or tingling
• Intense fear of losing control, going crazy, or dying
• Feeling unreal or detached (derealization/depersonalization)

 Common symptoms of Agoraphobia include:

• Fear of being in places where escape may feel difficult
• Anxiety about crowded spaces, public transportation, or open areas
• Avoiding situations such as stores, theaters, or long lines
• Worry about having panic symptoms away from home
• Feeling safer only when accompanied by a trusted person
• Increasing restriction of daily activities or travel

 Common symptoms of Perfectionism include:

• Setting extremely high or rigid standards for yourself
• Feeling intense anxiety or distress when things are not “just right”
• Procrastinating or avoiding tasks because of fear of making mistakes
• Excessively checking, revising, or redoing work
• Difficulty finishing projects because they never feel good enough
• Harsh self-criticism or feeling like your efforts are never sufficient
• Feeling responsible for preventing mistakes or negative outcomes
• Avoiding situations where performance might be evaluated or judged

 Common symptoms of Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors include:

• Repetitive hair pulling, skin picking, nail biting, or cheek/lip biting
• Strong urges or tension before the behavior, followed by temporary relief or gratification
• Difficulty stopping the behavior despite repeated attempts
• Spending significant time engaging in or concealing the behavior
• Visible physical effects (hair loss, skin damage, scabs, infections)
• Shame, embarrassment, or secrecy related to the behavior
• Avoidance of social situations, mirrors, or bright lighting
• Increased behavior during stress, boredom, anxiety, or fatigue
• Impaired functioning or distress related to appearance, time loss, or self-esteem

Common symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) include:
• Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares related to the trauma
• Avoidance of reminders, people, places, or conversations connected to the event
• Persistent hypervigilance or feeling constantly on edge
• Exaggerated startle response
• Sleep disturbances or insomnia
• Emotional numbness or detachment from others
• Irritability, anger outbursts, or difficulty concentrating
• Negative changes in mood or beliefs (shame, guilt, hopelessness)