Avani Persaud LMSW

As a Certified Trauma Professional, I specialize in working with individuals experiencing complex relational trauma, particularly where early attachment disruptions continue to impact emotional regulation, relationships, and sense of self. My approach integrates trauma-informed care with a deep understanding of how early experiences shape present-day patterns, offering a compassionate space for healing and reconnection.

I trained at the McLean Hospital OCD Institute (OCDI), one of the leading programs for OCD treatment in the country. I use evidence-based practices, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), to help clients confront intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors with greater confidence, flexibility, and self-compassion.

I am a Certified Inclusive Eating Disorder Specialist with training grounded in Health at Every Size (HAES) and anti-diet frameworks. I support clients across the spectrum of disordered eating, body image distress, and recovery, while holding space for the cultural, systemic, and personal factors that shape our relationships with food and our bodies.

I incorporate psychodynamic therapy to explore how early relationships and unconscious patterns shape present-day thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. My work with complex relational trauma and attachment issues is grounded in this approach, allowing clients to gain deep insight into longstanding patterns and foster meaningful, lasting change.

I specialize in ERP as the gold-standard treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I trained at the McLean OCD Institute (OCDI), a nationally recognized center for OCD treatment, where I received intensive, hands-on training in helping clients gradually face distressing thoughts and resist compulsive behaviors. My ERP work is collaborative, paced thoughtfully, and always grounded in compassion and respect for the client’s values and readiness.

I utilize CBT to help clients identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to distress, particularly in the treatment of anxiety, OCD, eating disorders, and depression. I emphasize not just symptom reduction, but also building long-term skills for cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation, and self-compassion. Clients working with me learn practical tools while also exploring the deeper meaning behind their thoughts and behaviors.