DR. MICHAEL J. GREENBERG

OCD Associates

For more information or to inquire about treatment

OCD Associates is a practice that specializes in the use of ERP to treat OCD. Every therapist at OCD Associates joins the practice with previous training and experience in ERP. They then participate in intensive additional training and ongoing case consultation.

What is OCD?

OCD is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by compulsions and avoidance. People with OCD are afraid of making an irreversible mistake with permanent emotional consequences. They use compulsions and avoidance in an effort to guarantee that this won’t happen.

What is ERP?

ERP is a specific type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Clinical researchers consider ERP to be the gold standard for OCD treatment.

Most of our patients eliminate virtually
all of their symptoms in 10 to 15 sessions.

What makes our approach so effective?

A focus on rumination

Rumination is often mistaken for intrusive thoughts. Due to this error, therapists fail to realize that a patient is ruminating or lack the tools to help. We understand that rumination is the cornerstone of OCD. As such, it must always be a focus of treatment. Every therapist at OCD Associates is rigorously trained in the treatment of compulsive rumination.

A modern approach to ERP

ERP stands for exposure with response prevention. In the past, researchers thought that ERP worked through desensitization. Therefore, it was believed that treatment had to make a patient feel anxious.

Such a focus on desensitization distracts attention from the aspects of therapy that actually work. Worse, this outdated approach causes unnecessary suffering. ERP should make you feel less anxious, not more.

A precise understanding of each case

OCD symptoms aren’t random. They’re a coherent strategy meant to prevent a person’s worst fear from coming true. If a therapist can’t help a patient understand their symptoms as a coherent strategy, then ERP will not be entirely effective. We begin treatment by developing a clear understanding of the case. This makes it possible for us to systematically dismantle the OCD.

We're happy to help all people who suffer from OCD. Even the most challenging cases.

Severe cases

The most severe cases of OCD function the same way as the mildest ones. A therapist can help dismantle even the toughest cases if they have a clear understanding of the case and how to implement ERP.

We offer intensive treatment options in cases where this is needed.

Complex cases

Many people with OCD also struggle with another issue, such as depression, autism, or borderline personality disorder. It’s true that these disorders have separate names. However, when they occur in one person, they have to be understood as interlocking pieces of a single puzzle.

Treatment-refractory cases

People who have not responded to ERP are often called treatment-refractory. This label implies that something is wrong with the patient.

In reality, though, usually something was wrong with the therapy.   For instance:
  • 01 The therapist lacked a clear understanding of the case.
  • 02 The therapist had an outdated approach to ERP that focused on desensitization.
  • 03 The therapist didn’t address rumination, and thus provided exposure without  response prevention.

Special cases

We are experts in the treatment of sensorimotor (somatic) OCD and so-called Pure O.

Conditions We Treat

We treat all ‘types’ of OCD. These ‘types’ are really just themes, and most people with OCD have multiple themes:

  • Contamination OCD
  • Just right OCD
  • Religious or moral OCD (scrupulosity)
  • Pure O (compulsive rumination), including:
    • Existential OCD 
    • Harm OCD (including Suicide OCD) 
    • Pedophilia OCD (POCD)
    • Real event OCD
    • Sexual orientation OCD (HOCD) and transgender OCD
    • Relationship OCD (ROCD) and retroactive jealousy
    • Sensorimotor OCD (somatic OCD)

We also treat these related disorders:

  • Specific phobia (e.g., emetophobia)
  • Social anxiety (social phobia)
  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
  • Health anxiety and hypochondriasis
  • Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
  • Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), including:
    • Hair-pulling (trichotillomania or TTM)
    • Skin-picking (excoriation)
    • Nail-biting (onychophagia)

We are a telehealth practice

We work with patients over the internet using a HIPAA-compliant video-conferencing platform.
In order to work with us, you’ll need an internet connection and the ability to ensure your privacy during sessions.

For more information or to inquire about treatment
  • In an emergency please call 911 or go to your local ER.
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Dr. Michael J. Greenberg, All rights reserved © 2020

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