Field Notes
Honest writing about the things we do not talk about enough, from a therapist who would rather be direct than polished.
What Emetophobia Actually Looks Like
It is not a fear of throwing up. That is the surface-level version. What emetophobia actually looks like is a life organized entirely around avoiding one possibility.
Read this postIs This OCD or Just Anxiety?
They feel similar. They even overlap. But the distinction changes everything about how treatment works, and getting it wrong can keep you stuck.
Read this postWhat ERP Therapy Is Really Like
The internet will tell you ERP is about facing your fears. That is technically true and completely useless as a description. Here is what it actually looks like in practice.
Read this postReassurance Seeking: The OCD Compulsion You Did Not Know You Had
Your friend means well when they say "you are fine." Your partner means well when they check for you. But reassurance is the thing keeping the cycle alive.
Read this postWhy I Only Treat OCD and Anxiety
People ask me this all the time. Why not expand? Why not take on more? Because specializing is not a limitation. It is the whole point.