Perinatal OCD and Anxiety Intensive Outpatient

The Perinatal OCD and Anxiety Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at Women’s Behavioral Health specializes in the treatment of individuals who are pregnant and up to two years postpartum with acute presentations of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), health anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, and phobias (intense, specific fears). Patients attend this intensive program 3 times per week, 3.5 hours per day, for an average of 8 weeks.

Treatment is centered around Exposure and Response Prevention interventions, the gold standard of treatment for OCD. Program content covers general OCD and anxiety concerns (e.g., obsessive worry, excessive cleaning, avoidance), as well as topics specific to pregnancy and postpartum (e.g., intrusive thoughts and images of harm toward baby, constantly checking the baby or pregnancy). Group, individual, and family therapy are all offered during the program, as well as medication management. The program is run by licensed professionals with expertise in OCD and anxiety disorders and provides education and training for social work and psychology trainees.

Perinatal OCD and anxiety can be particularly impairing and lonely experiences. As such, the Perinatal OCD and Anxiety IOP provides a supportive space for patients to connect with other parents going through similar experiences. In addition, the program encourages patients to bring their babies (under 1 year) to program to promote healthy attachment and directly target distress related to their baby.

Toward the end of program, staff help patients connect with outpatient therapy and medication management referrals for ongoing support following discharge.

Treatment of Co-occurring Disorders:

Although the Perinatal OCD and Anxiety IOP focuses primarily on treating OCD and anxiety-related disorders, we frequently work with individuals experiencing co-occurring mood disorders, PTSD, ADHD, personality disorders, and more. We are thoughtful in completing initial and ongoing assessment of each patient to ensure that intensive exposure work is the most appropriate treatment intervention for each patient. All staff specialize in perinatal mental health and are well-equipped to treat co-occurring disorders while a patient is enrolled in the IOP. If a co-occurring disorder is interfering with treatment, we discuss treatment options individually with each patient, including admission to our perinatal partial hospital program or referrals to outpatient providers.

Diversity Statement:

We are committed to fostering an environment that embraces diverse voices and identities. We prioritize social justice and stand against all forms of racism, discrimination, and oppression. We recognize that every individual’s experience during pregnancy and postpartum is unique, and we strive to provide mental health services that are strengths-based, patient-centered, and affirming. We are committed to providing services that do not discriminate based on gender, race, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religious beliefs or spirituality, political affiliation, culture, national origin, ethnicity, physical ability, cognitive ability, medical condition, reproductive health, behavioral health, or any other real or perceived differences.

All Women’s Behavioral Health (WBH) staff and clinicians engage in ongoing education and training around cultural competency and DEI efforts. Examples include attending weekly didactics on women’s mental health and participation in the LGBTQ & Gender Diversity Group. Within WBH, the Perinatal OCD and Anxiety IOP works with individuals from a wide range of racial, cultural, socioeconomic, behavioral health, and reproductive health backgrounds. Although services are primarily conducted in English, we have also admitted non-English-speaking patients to the program with the support of interpreters.

All Perinatal OCD and Anxiety IOP staff and clinicians engage in ongoing education and training around cultural competency and DEI efforts. Examples include attending weekly didactics on women’s mental health and participation in the LGBTQ & Gender Diversity Group. We work with individuals from a wide range of racial, cultural, socioeconomic, behavioral health, and reproductive health backgrounds. Although services are primarily conducted in English, we have also admitted non-English-speaking patients to the program with the support of interpreters.

OCD Specialists at this Clinic:

• Kristin Wedel, LICSW
• Maggie Allen, PhD
• Sarah Stern, PMHNP, APRN