Misty Pilgrim (she/her)

I get it, nobody likes feeling anxious. However, we need anxiety! Anxiety is what helps you jump out the way when real danger is near, or that kept you up all night writing that paper due the next day. The key is to train our brains to understand the difference between real and imagined danger, and each time you avoid it, or distract yourself, or try in some way not to be anxious, you're prolonging the problem. Exposure therapy helps you habituate to anxiety, instead of avoiding it.

I am a member of the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder foundation, and have completed training in that area from the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the IOCDF, and the Massachusettes General Hospital Psychiatry Academy. I am also trained in treating BFRBs, such as trichotillomania and excoriation disorder, and I also treat Hoarding disorder.

I integrate mindfulness into therapy. By that I mean I help people get to a place of paying attention to what is happening right now when their mind wants to worry, mull, or overthink. There are formal mindfulness practices, such as meditation, but they aren't for everyone: informal practice in paying attention to what is happening right now can help you teach your brain what is important, so that it doesn't perseverate on the past or worry about the future.

Your time is valuable to me, so I'll only use evidence-based practices to help you live a better life. CBT interventions such as ERP, COMB, CBT-i, CBT-d, CBTp are considered the "gold standard" by the most respected researchers for treating disorders such as OCD, BFRBs, insomnia, depression, and pain.

I use the Gottman method of relational therapy, based on 30 years of research on what keeps couples together--and what drives them apart. (NOTE: At this time Couples' counseling is private pay only.)

Excessive worry, or fears, can be crippling. Sometimes, it keeps you awake at night. Those thoughts in your head, the feeling that something bad is about to happen, what can you do? Well, for starters, you can start working with someone who is skilled in helping you discover self-soothing and relaxation skills, along with uncovering the thoughts that are so distressing. you have the ability inside you to learn to relax. Let me help you uncover it.

Life hasn't been the same since it happened, and avoiding what happened isn't the answer. Getting appropriate, effective treatment after symptoms begin can begin the healing. Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing (CPT) for adults, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for children and adolescents are strongly recommended, evidence-based therapies that can get you your life back.

You do alot. You've got a lot of responsibilities. And, you've got the stress to go along with it. You might notice symptoms of stress when disciplining your kids, during busy times during the day, when trying to pay bills, or when trying to manage a relationship. Stress cleverly disguises itself as depression, anxiety, or anger. Stress, and insomnia, can both be managed with Cognitive Behavioral interventions that are easy to learn.