What should I expect from therapy?

Therapy begins with an intake process to understand your objectives, assess current symptoms and areas of impairment, and discuss your history. We then collaboratively set goals and create a treatment plan, which typically includes psychoeducation and skill acquisition targeted to your specific needs. Sessions most often occur weekly for 45 minutes. Because therapy is individualized, it has no set time frame — it can be short or long-term depending on your goals, needs, and expectations.

Do you offer sessions virtually or in person?

I currently offer telehealth through a HIPAA-compliant platform. I am licensed in New York and New Jersey and am able to meet with individuals who have permanent residency in either state via telehealth.

Do you prescribe medication?

I do not prescribe medication as a clinical psychologist; however, discussion about medication efficacy and adherence is an integral part of therapy. I collaborate with medication prescribers to work as a team to ensure you are receiving the maximum benefit from your medication.

What is your fee and do you take insurance?

My fee is $325 for a 45-minute session, adjusted for longer or shorter meetings. I am not affiliated with any insurance provider and my services are considered out-of-network. Many insurance providers include out-of-network benefits, and I am happy to provide monthly receipts that you can submit for reimbursement.

What is your cancellation policy?

I understand that life is unpredictable and schedules can change. However, when an appointment is reserved, that time is set aside exclusively for you. Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice, or missed appointments, are subject to the full session fee.

OCD Therapist — ERP Treatment in New York & New Jersey | Dr. Elizabeth Clark

Breaking the cycle

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by distressing, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that are time-consuming, interfering, and difficult to control.

OCD can take many forms. Common presentations include fears of contamination, unwanted thoughts about harm, a need for symmetry or exactness, and distressing intrusive thoughts related to relationships, morality, or identity. The International OCD Foundation compares the experience to a faulty alarm system: instead of alerting you only to genuine threats, the brain begins treating minor or imagined triggers as catastrophic dangers. This leads to a cycle in which compulsions provide temporary relief but ultimately reinforce the obsessions over time.

Understanding OCD

Common OCD Presentations

Contamination fears with excessive washing, cleaning, or avoidance
Intrusive thoughts about harm, violence, or taboo subjects
Need for symmetry, order, or "just right" feelings
Checking behaviors (locks, appliances, written work)
Mental rituals such as counting, praying, or reviewing events
Relationship-focused obsessions and reassurance-seeking

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

The gold-standard psychotherapy for OCD is exposure and response prevention (ERP), a specialized form of CBT endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Research indicates that approximately two-thirds of patients who complete ERP experience meaningful improvement, and roughly one-third achieve full symptom remission.

ERP involves two core components. The exposure component involves gradually and systematically confronting the thoughts, images, situations, or objects that trigger obsessional distress. The response prevention component involves choosing not to engage in compulsive behaviors after the anxiety has been triggered. Over time, the brain learns that anxiety naturally decreases even without performing rituals — a process that breaks the cycle maintaining OCD.

Assessment & Education

Thorough evaluation of symptoms, creation of an exposure hierarchy, and psychoeducation about the OCD cycle

Response Prevention

Learning to tolerate discomfort without resorting to compulsive behaviors or avoidance

Gradual Exposure

Working through feared situations from least to most distressing at a pace that builds confidence

Generalization & Maintenance

Applying skills to real-world situations and building long-term resilience against relapse

Why does specialized treatment matter?

Traditional talk therapy has not been shown to be effective for OCD. The International OCD Foundation emphasizes that ERP or medication should be tried first, as these are the treatment types with extensive research support. Working with a clinician trained in ERP is essential for effective OCD treatment.

Work With Me