What type of treatment can I expect?
Research-proven strategies to help you find relief from your symptoms.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of evidence-based intervention that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns, behaviors, and emotional responses. The premise of CBT is that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected, and by changing negative or distorted thinking, we can improve how we feel and behave. It is a structured, goal-oriented therapy that has been proven to treat anxiety and depression. CBT focuses on practical strategies to help individuals develop healthier coping skills and more realistic, balanced ways of thinking.
Dialectical Behavioral & Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Committment Therapy (ACT) are types of CBT interventions. DBT is designed to help individuals manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and reduce self-destructive behaviors. It was originally developed by Marsha Linehan to treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but it has since been adapted for various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. ACT focuses on helping individuals accept their thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or avoiding them. It combines aspects of mindfulness and behavioral therapy to promote psychological flexibility — the ability to be open, adaptable, and effective in the face of life's challenges.
Exposure and Response Prevention
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is also a type of CBT and is considered to be the gold-standard treatment for OCD. ERP helps individuals manage intrusive, anxiety-inducing thoughts (obsessions) by gradually exposing them to these thoughts and preventing the mental or physical responses (compulsions) that follow. This teaches individuals to resist performing the compulsive behaviors or mental rituals (like washing, checking, or counting) they typically use to reduce anxiety. By preventing these responses, the person learns that the anxiety will decrease on its own without the need for compulsions. ERP is often combined with medication (like SSRIs) prescribed by a psychiatrist.
What does the research say about virtual therapy and treatment outcomes?
There have been many studies exploring the effectiveness of virtual therapy on symptom reduction, most of which have found virtual therapy to be as effective as in-person. A large meta-analytic study (a study that combined the results of many different smaller studies to get a clearer and more reliable result) compared clinical interventions delivered via videoconferencing with those delivered in-person. Overall, they found that in-person and virtual interventions produced similar outcomes. Another study exploring the effectiveness of virtual therapy for OCD found that virtual therapy treatment was effective in reducing OCD symptoms and it also improved patients’ quality of life. This is not surprising as virtual therapy allows the therapist to help the client engage in exposure work in their home and/or in the real world - which is typically where obsessions and compulsions present themselves. Given the effectiveness, virtual therapy is here to stay!