OCD Therapy in Boston and Brookline, MA
Specialized ERP treatment to get unstuck from the OCD cycle.
OCD Therapist in Boston and Brookline, MA
You've tried talking yourself out of the thoughts and repeating rituals until they feel "just right.”
Compulsions bring relief, but only for a little while.
OCD can be debilitating, and it's often misunderstood, even by therapists. Standard CBT asks you to weigh the evidence for and against a fear, which can become another compulsion and deepen the cycle.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) breaks that cycle by helping you face uncertainty and learn that you can manage it. Through it all, I'll be right alongside you as you learn to live on your terms, instead of OCD's.
OCD Therapy in Boston, MA and Brookline, MA
OCD takes many shapes, and it can latch onto almost anything. Therapy can help with:
Intrusive Thoughts and Images
Help for unwanted thoughts or images about harm, sex, or morality that feel distressing because they clash with your values.
Contamination Fears
Treatment for worries about germs, illness, or feeling "dirty" that lead to excessive washing, cleaning, or avoidance.
Checking and "Just Right" OCD
Support for the urge to check, arrange, or repeat actions, including mental repetition, reassurance seeking, and avoidance.
Relationship OCD
Care for persistent doubts about your partner or your feelings, even in a relationship you value.
Perinatal OCD
Specialized care for OCD that begins or intensifies during pregnancy or after a baby arrives.
Specific Fears and Phobias
Gradual, structured exposure to help you face fears like driving, socializing, or medical procedures.
However strange or shameful your thoughts may feel, I’m here to help you face them without judgment.
Why I Use ERP Instead of Standard CBT in OCD Therapy
Many therapists default to CBT, which challenges anxious thoughts by examining the evidence. With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, that process can become one more way to chase certainty and feed the compulsion cycle.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), along with medication when appropriate, is the gold-standard treatment for OCD.
In ERP, we gradually approach the thoughts and situations your OCD tells you to avoid, starting with small, manageable steps that we plan together.
Instead of performing the compulsion, you practice letting the discomfort rise and fall without acting on it. Over time, your brain learns through experience that the fear is manageable and that you don't need the ritual to get through it.
We pair ERP with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to clarify what's important to you and take stock of where OCD has been limiting your life. The goal is to help you feel capable of managing anxiety, so you get to choose how you live instead of your OCD.
OCD Therapy in Boston and Brookline, MA | ERP
Session Details
Consultation:
We start with a 20-minute phone call to see whether we're a good fit.
First appointment:
Your initial session is $300 for 60 minutes.
Ongoing sessions:
Regular sessions are $275 for 50 to 55 minutes.
In person:
I see clients in a calm, window-filled office at 1577 Beacon Street, Suite D, in Brookline.
Telehealth:
Virtual sessions are available anywhere in Massachusetts and Virginia.
Payment:
I accept cash, check, and all major credit cards, including HSA cards.
Insurance:
I'm an out-of-network provider and will give you the paperwork to submit for reimbursement. If you’re unsure how this works, I’m here to help!
If you'd like to know what your plan may cover, I partner with Mentaya to check your out-of-network benefits before your first session.
When you're ready, reach out to schedule a consultation, and we'll talk through what support could look like for you.
OCD Therapist in Boston and Brookline, MA
Meet Elizabeth Apkin, Psy.D.
As a licensed psychologist with a doctorate in clinical psychology, I have the diagnostic training to distinguish OCD from conditions that can look similar, and I treat it with ERP.
My Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) also has me well prepared to treat OCD that develops during pregnancy and parenthood.
In our therapy sessions, I bring plenty of warmth and encouragement that can take some of the power out of OCD's demands.
Here’s what my colleagues say:
“I know that anyone I send her way will be in good hands.”
"Dr. Apkin is a wonderful colleague and very talented psychologist. Her dedication to her work with her clients, especially those within the perinatal community, and continued training is extremely admirable. She is kind, empathetic, and highly skilled; I know that anyone I send her way will be in good hands."
— Dr. Rachel Duda, licensed psychologist
How to Know If You Need OCD Therapy
OCD often starts small, but it can gradually claim more and more of your time, energy, and choices.
Therapy can help if:
Unwanted thoughts or images pop into your head and won't leave, no matter how hard you try to dismiss them.
You spend excessive time on rituals, checking, or mentally reviewing.
You need to feel completely certain before you can move on from a thought or task.
You avoid places, people, or tasks that might trigger your fears.
You constantly ask loved ones for reassurance, but the relief fades quickly.
Your partner or family has started adjusting their routines to accommodate your OCD.
A need for things to feel "just right" has encroached on getting things done in the ways you once did.
You know the fears don't fully make sense, yet you still feel compelled to act on them.
Therapy you've tried before didn't make a dent in the cycle.
OCD can feel isolating because the thoughts are so hard to explain, but many people share these experiences, and OCD is highly treatable with the right support.
OCD Therapy in Boston and Brookline, MA
Not every therapist is trained to treat OCD
The wrong approach can strengthen OCD, which is why it’s important to find a clinician with expertise in treating it.
As a therapist, I:
- Bring doctoral-level diagnostic training to make sure we're treating OCD and not something that resembles it.
- Have completed extensive training through the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) in how to help you take OCD out of the driver's seat.
- Use ERP, the gold-standard treatment for OCD, instead of engaging with modalities that might inadvertently be reinforcing compulsions.
- Hold back reassurance that feels helpful in the moment but keeps the cycle going.
- Plan every exposure with you, so you know what's coming and agree to each step.
- Treat OCD that emerges during pregnancy and new parenthood with perinatal expertise.
- Connect each step of treatment to what's important to you, so you feel more willing and motivated to stretch yourself in the discomfort of exposures.
I often work with driven, successful people whose OCD has been fueling their high standards for years, and I understand how exhausting it is to keep up that effort, as well as how scary it can be to think of letting go.
OCD Therapist in Boston and Brookline, MA
FAQs
What is ERP therapy for OCD?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a structured, evidence-based treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). You gradually face the thoughts and situations that trigger your fears and practice resisting the compulsions that usually follow. The avoidance that accompanies the ritual exacerbates the anxiety, making it feel insurmountable. Over time, your brain learns the fear is manageable without the ritual.
Is ERP a type of CBT?
Yes, ERP falls under the broader umbrella of cognitive behavioral therapy, but it works differently from the standard CBT you may have tried before. Standard CBT often focuses on examining the evidence for and against a thought, which can turn into a compulsion for people with OCD. ERP focuses on changing how you respond to the fear or fixation.
Can ERP work over telehealth?
Yes. ERP can be very effective via telehealth, and practicing exposures at home can make it easier to apply your progress to the places where OCD tends to affect you most.
How is OCD different from being anxious or a perfectionist?
Many people worry or hold high standards without having OCD. OCD involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause significant distress, paired with compulsions you feel driven to perform, often taking up large amounts of time or interfering with daily life. Thoughts can feel extremely sticky and impossible to move on from. An accurate diagnosis helps make sure you get the right treatment.
Can medication help with OCD?
Yes. Medication, combined with ERP, is part of the gold-standard treatment for OCD. While I do not prescribe medication, I have a trusted list of providers with whom I work closely when a referral for medication is needed.
Where is your office?
My office is at 1577 Beacon Street, Suite D, in Brookline, just outside Boston. I also offer telehealth sessions anywhere in Massachusetts and Virginia.
How much does OCD therapy cost?
The first appointment is $300 for 60 minutes, and ongoing sessions are $275 for 50 to 55 minutes. I accept cash, check, and all major credit cards, including HSA cards.
Do you take insurance?
I'm an out-of-network provider for most major carriers, with one exception. I'm in-network with UnitedHealthcare Student Resources for Boston College and Tufts University students.
Many plans reimburse part of out-of-network care, and I'll give you the paperwork to submit. Paying privately also keeps your diagnosis and treatment details off your insurance record.
You can learn more on my Fees and Insurance page.
More Areas of Clinical Focus
Infertility and Loss →
Grief-focused support through fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, termination, and stillbirth, at a pace that feels right for you.
Pregnancy and Postpartum →
Perinatal care for the anxiety, depression, and identity shifts that can come with pregnancy and a new baby.
Trauma and PTSD →
Trauma-informed therapy that helps you rebuild a sense of safety and control after overwhelming experiences.
Anxiety and Depression →
Support for persistent worry, low mood, and perfectionism that make it hard to enjoy what you've worked for.
Life Transitions →
Help finding steadier footing through career changes, burnout, relationship shifts, and new roles.
