OCD Therapy
Erik Anderson, LMFT
In-person in Playa Vista +
telehealth across California
I’m an OCD therapist who has OCD myself.
I know what it’s like to have your mind running out of control and what it takes to get control again.
Do your thoughts loop endlessly, no matter how much you try to reason with them?
Do they relentlessly come back, hijacking your focus and digging you deeper into anxiety?
OCD isn't about the thoughts themselves, it's paying a high cost when your brain can’t eliminate uncertainty.
Clients Come to Me When They're
Stuck in behavior patterns
Ruminating on the same topic endlessly
Overwhelmed by constant doubts
Frustrated by therapists that didn’t give them tools
Looking for an ERP therapist
Unsure if it's OCD
Chased by feelings of disgust, horror or shame
You don't need to explain every thought in detail for this to make sense.
I already understand the terrain.
OCD can take on many subtypes, including:
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Preoccupation with the fear of dirt, illness or germs harming you, people important to you, or innocent people around you. Common compulsions include excessive washing, cleaning, or avoiding things that feel "contaminated."
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Intrusive and distressing thoughts about violence towards yourself or others underpinned by a deep fear that you'll somehow act on these impulses or fail to prevent a disaster.
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Unwanted sexual thoughts and doubts about one's sexuality or orientation focused on what those thoughts mean. Compulsions often involve mentally 'testing' your reaction to certain sexual thoughts, constantly seeking reassurance from others, or comparing your feelings against what you believe they 'should' be.
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Persistent doubts about if your partner is “right” or if your feelings for them are “right”. Comparisons to other couples, constant checking of your own feelings, repeatedly seeking reassurance from your partner, or a neverending evaluation of your partner.
Like most mental health challenges, OCD isn't neatly boxed in-its symptoms vary widely from person to person. If you're stuck battling repetitive thoughts and behaviors, know that professional treatment is available and real recovery is possible. You don't have to keep living under OCD's spell.
How I Treat OCD
In therapy together, we'll focus on what helps, what worsens symptoms, and how to apply that knowledge day to day so your mind becomes quieter and more flexible.
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The gold-standard treatment for OCD. ERP helps you face feared thoughts and sensations without engaging in rituals or reassurance, retraining your brain's threat response over time.
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Teaches you how to notice thoughts without reacting to them and take actions aligned with your values rather than your fears.
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I stay current with the latest medical and psychological research on OCD, including research on the best established medications, emerging treatments, and new ideas on dealing with rumination from experts like Michael J. Greenberg, PhD.
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Persistent doubts about if your partner is “right” or if your feelings for them are “right”. Comparisons to other couples, constant checking of your own feelings, repeatedly seeking reassurance from your partner, or a neverending evaluation of your partner.
OCD therapy is about breaking the loop between intrusive thoughts and compulsive responses. We don't try to get rid of the thoughts, we learn how not to feed them.
Together, we'll track how your brain generates these cycles and use evidence-based tools to change your relationship to them.
My approach is structured, transparent, and grounded in the latest research on OCD treatment.
Obsessions take minutes, not hours a day
Knowing how to handle OCD when it flares
Less time in mental loops
Clarity about what matters and what doesn't
Feeling present instead of trapped
After Therapy with me,
Clients Report:
OCD doesn't disappear overnight, but
you can learn how to stop it from running the show.
About Me
Hi, I'm Erik Anderson, LMFT.
I'm both a therapist who treats OCD and someone who's lived with it.
I combine personal understanding with clinical expertise and up-to-date research on OCD treatment. My approach is active, collaborative, and grounded in research. Together, we'll work toward building awareness, skills, and clarity so OCD takes less of your time and energy.
Before becoming a therapist, I studied modern literature, tutored math and science, and received a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu. Outside of therapy, I've been an active member of the Rationality community since 2018, working to apply reason, logic, and accurate maps of the world to life's personal challenges.
Education, Credentials, & Trainings
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, California
M.S. in Counseling, California State University, Long Beach
B.A. in Modern Literature, University of California, Santa Cruz
Advanced training in psychotherapy outcomes research (Scott D. Miller, PhD)
Continued study of contemporary OCD research and emerging ERP methods
Active in the Rationality community, curates the Astral Codex Ten Psychiat-list
Getting Started in 3 Steps
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Reach out via the contact form. No pressure to explain everything perfectly.
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We'll talk for 15 minutes to see what brings you in, see if it's a good fit and answer your questions.
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We'll dig into what's happening, identify the key issues, and start making progress.
You've spent enough time battling thoughts.
Therapy is the place where it quiets down.