Treatment
Dr. Hezel uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which research shows is effective in treating a range of mental health problems. The goal of CBT is to alter maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that contribute to the onset and maintenance of disorders such as OCD, anxiety, and depression.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
OCD is characterized by upsetting/intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that lead to impairment and distress. The gold-standard treatment for OCD is exposure and response prevention (ERP), which entails gradually confronting feared situations/objects and refraining from engaging in compulsions.
Anxiety Disorders
Treatment is available for social anxiety (fear of negative evaluation in social situations), generalized anxiety disorder (excessive worrying about everyday things), panic disorder (worries about having panic attacks), and specific phobias. Treatment consists of exposures to feared situations and challenging unhelpful thoughts and behaviors related to the fears.
Depression
The hallmarks of depression are low mood and/or loss of interest or pleasure in activities one used to enjoy. It also causes changes in sleep, energy, appetite, and psychomotor activity, as well as thoughts of suicide, and feelings of guilt and worthlessness. CBT uses a number of techniques to decrease negative thinking and behavioral patterns.