Sarah Mullersman (she/her)

I treat OCD through a combination of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I have almost 3 years of experience treating OCD (from mild to severe) and a variety of subtypes (scrupulosity, contamination, harm- all types, sexual orientation, intrusive thoughts, just right, etc.). I emphasize self-compassion work with OCD as often there are intense feelings of shame and guilt. Living life with more ease and fewer obsessions and compulsions is possible!

We can't live without some anxiety, but sometimes anxiety can keep us from living life the way we want to! I treat anxiety with a variety of techniques depending on diagnosis (GAD, panic, social anxiety, specific phobia, perfectionism, etc.). Learning how to manage those intense thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations comes from specific techniques from DBT, CBT, and ACT. Some folks may also benefit from some exposure work to relearn how to face those fears gradually and with self-compassion.

It can be so difficult when we become depressed to see a way out. The sense of hopelessness, low energy, not even wanting to do things we love or talk to those who love us is incredibly painful. Self-compassion, behavioral activation, mindfulness, DBT, and ACT are the tools in the toolkit, but I think connection is also at the core of treating depression. If you are struggling with self-harm or suicidal ideation, I am experienced in helping you manage these concerns as well. There is hope!

Therapy is not one-size-fits all, and it is often beneficial for us to take an eclectic approach! This means that you may benefit from techniques from a variety of modalities. For example, you may benefit from learning somatic techniques to manage your anxiety, behavioral techniques like behavioral activation to get back into things like paying your bills or brushing your teeth, and an interpersonal effective skill like DEARMAN from DBT to prepare for a difficult conversation!

I enjoy incorporating ACT into therapy as ACT emphasizes leaning into our values, improving psychological flexibility, and feeling and understanding our thoughts and emotions without letting them push us around. Often therapy is about change, and ACT can help us make changes in ways that are in line with who we are and what we care about even (or especially!) when we are feeling difficult emotions like fear, anxiety, guilt, shame, or sadness.

ERP is an effective treatment for OCD and many types of anxiety. To do ERP effectively, we learn about how your OCD and anxiety shows up in your life and then develop an exposure hierarchy to gradually exposure you to the elements that cause anxiety. At the same time, we work together to gradually reduce the safety behaviors or compulsions whether that is reassurance seeking and avoidance or excessive handwashing, prayer, checking, perfecting, or ruminating. ERP helps you get your life back!