LET’S RECLAIM YOUR LIFE TOGETHER
OCD Therapy in San Diego That Helps Break The Cycle.
Hi, I’m Dana Sockolov, a licensed OCD therapist in Mission Valley, San Diego who understands firsthand what it’s like to live with OCD. I use Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP), the leading evidence-based treatment to help you achieve long-lasting OCD relief.
Request a free 15-minute phone consultation to talk to me and see if we’re a good fit.
★★★★★
“Dana was such a light in a time of darkness for me… her transparency & honesty was exactly what I needed to get to the root of our work together. I’ve worked with other therapists in the past that left me unsure of wanting to try therapy again, but I’m so thankful Dana was referred to me because I wouldn’t be where I am now without her help.”
— Former Client from San Diego
If you’re here, there’s a chance something hasn’t been feeling right for a while.
Maybe your thoughts feel louder than they used to. Harder to ignore.
Maybe your day is shaped around trying to prevent something, figure something out or just feel that brief rush of relief, even if it doesn’t last long.
Living with symptoms like this can be exhausting in a way that’s hard to explain. Quiet, invisible and relentless. Like your mind is always trying to solve something that never fully resolves.
You’ve probably spent time trying to figure this out – reading things online, comparing your symptoms to others, trying to attach a label or wondering if what you’re experiencing is even considered OCD or not.
I’ve been there myself! For a long time, I thought that if I could just think through my experience enough, I’d feel “done” with my thoughts and behaviors and finally get rid of my OCD for good.
But here’s what I learned about how OCD actually works …
You don’t have to get rid of your OCD completely to start feeling in control again …
One of the most meaningful shifts in working with OCD happens when you realize that the goal isn’t to eliminate your thoughts completely. It’s to change your relationship to them.
WHAT WE DON’T WANT
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You’re stuck repeating unwanted behaviors
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Thoughts prevent your from being present
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Your OCD is pretty much in charge of your life
WHERE YOU CAN GET TO
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You notice your thoughts without reacting
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The urges becomes less overwhelming
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When you do get triggered, you detach faster
The thoughts may still show up from time to time – but they won’t dictate how you live your life. With time, you’ll feel more capable of handling the anxiety and uncertainty without spiraling out of control.
WHAT I TREAT
You’re in the right place if you’re struggling with …
Intrusive thoughts
Unwanted thoughts that feel disturbing or out of character
Repetitive behaviors
Compulsive behaviors like checking, cleaning or reassurance-seeking
Mental loops (“Pure O”)
Including overthinking, reviewing or trying to figure things out
Contamination OCD
Constant fears or worries about health, germs or food/diet
Relationship OCD (ROCD)
Relentless doubts or obsessions about your relationship or romantic interest.
Harm OCD
Fears or intrusive thoughts about hurting someone
Perinatal / Postpartum OCD
Intrusive thoughts around pregnancy or parenthood
Moral / Existential/ Religious OCD
Thoughts feel tied to religious values or needing to do the “right” thing at all times
OCD can also show up in ways that are entirely unique to you so if your experience doesn’t fit neatly into one of these categories, that’s okay too! If you’re unsure about what’s going on, it’s worth having a conversation to see if I can help you make sense of your situation.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Everything you need to know about OCD therapy
✧ Location:
In-person sessions at my office in Mission Valley: 2727 Camino del Rio S Suite 340, San Diego, CA 92108 (online sessions possible)
✧ Hours:
Tuesday & Friday 9:00-4:00
✧ Cost & Insurance:
$195 per 50-minute session. I don’t accept any insurances. However, I am an out-of-network provider so I can provide a superbill that you can submit for possible reimbursement.
How To Get Started:
✧ Reach out to arrange a free 15 min phone consultation.
✧ I’ll call you at the arranged time so you can talk to me, do a vibe check and ask any questions you may have.
✧ No commitment required! After our call, you can take time to decide if this feels like a good fit.
✧ If you’d like to move forward, I’ll send some basic intake forms before we go ahead and schedule our first session together.
ABOUT ME
Why choose me as your OCD therapist?
Therapeutic approach shaped by personal experience with OCD, not just textbooks or one-size-fits-all clinical scripts.
The highest quality OCD care based on specialized ERP training, the most effective treatment for OCD.
One of only a few in-person therapists available for OCD in San Diego. Online sessions possible when needed.
A deeply personal & genuine therapeutic relationship. Not rushed, surface-level care you often get at larger practices.
HOW I WORK
Exposure & Response Prevention Therapy: A structured and effective approach for long-lasting OCD relief
Step 1
In a safe environment, we gently approach the thoughts or situations that feel difficult and expose you to your triggers. I will always be there to guide you through each step so everything feels safe and manageable.
Step 2
After the exposure, we will practice different tools and techniques to help you respond differently and not fall into old patterns. This part follows a structured framework that we can personalize to your unique needs.
Step 3
With time, this process can get your brain to weaken its automatic fear response and the OCD will slowly lose its power. Even if the thoughts never fully go away, they’ll stop controlling your every move.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Still wondering if OCD therapy is right for you?
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You absolutely don’t have to be sure you have OCD to work with me. Many people come to me wondering if what they’re experiencing is actually OCD, anxiety or something else entirely. Part of the process of therapy is to understand your patterns more clearly and figuring out what’s going on. If you’re seeing yourself in any part of what I’ve described, it’s worth having a conversation to see if I can help you make sense of your situation.
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My office is located at 27 Camino del Rio S Suite 340, San Diego, CA 92108, USA. It is a quiet, comfortable space where you can settle in and breathe. It’s easily accessible from Mission Valley, North Park, Hillcrest, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, La Mesa and El Cajon, with convenient parking right in front of the building. And if coming in person isn’t practical, I offer virtual sessions when needed.
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I have completed a wide variety of OCD trainings and certifications from NOCD Academy, The International OCD Foundation, anxietytraining.com, the knowledgetree.org and The OCD Training School. I am currently also part of a monthly consultation group for OCD therapists and psychiatrist in Southern California and continue do do regular 1:1 consultation as well.
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To help you treat your OCD, I use a modality called Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP), commonly recognized as the gold standard for OCD treatment. As the name would suggest, together we’ll work on exposing you to your triggers in a safe environment and then try different tools to help you prevent your usual response.
With time, this can get your brain to weaken its automatic fear response and the OCD will slowly lose its power. Bit by bit, you’ll start to feel more confident and even if the thoughts never go away completely, they’ll stop controlling your every move.
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In sessions, we won’t just be talking about your thoughts, obsessions and compulsions, we’ll actively practice exposures together in the room, imagine certain scenarios or make plans for you to safely try real-life exposure & prevention between sessions.
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Each session is 50-min. This is person dependent but I usually like to see clients weekly or biweekly when we start. As things move along, I like to add space between sessions so life can show up! If sessions are too spaced out at the beginning or during more challenging times, the work slows down.
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Most people begin to see meaningful change within 8-12 sessions of consistent ERP therapy. Many will continue the therapy for a minimum of 3-6 months or even longer in order to strengthen their new habits and skills as well as explore deeper layers of their OCD. We’ll consistently check in on your progress to make sure you are getting the right amount of care, without keeping you in therapy unnecessarily.
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I use an assessment tool called the YBOCS that I will administer every couple of months to track progress.
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The first line of treatment for OCD is ERP. The second line of treatment is ERP with medication. I believe medication is a personal decision. Usually when symptoms feel really high and intense, folks might like to go on medication so that they can do the ERP work.
GETTING STARTED
Reach out now to start taking control of your OCD
I know how tricky it can be to find the right therapist. You don’t need to be completely sure you want to work with me before reaching out. This is just a no-pressure chance to talk to me on the phone, do a vibe check and ask questions so you can figure out if we’re a good match.