Elizabeth Penela PhD
I provide evidence-based therapy for teens and adults struggling with anxiety, OCD, and related concerns. I also work with parents of children who struggle with anxiety and OCD using the SPACE treatment approach. About 60% of my patients are individuals living with OCD.
I use Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) within a warm, compassionate, and empowering environment. I also use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness practices. My goal is to empower individuals to learn and practice coping tools to face current obstacles, and to develop confidence in their ability to navigate future challenges.
I completed my PhD in Clinical Psychology and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Miami. Then, at PPA, a private practice group in Florida, I helped establish their Anxiety and OCD IOP treatment program. I also completed a BTTI, a course led by experts at IOCDF, with direct training from Drs. Eric Storch and Martin Franklin.
I also received training in the SPACE Treatment (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), as well as the advanced Failure to Launch course (for parents of adults) with Dr. Eli Lebowitz. This is an evidence-based treatment for parents of children with anxiety and OCD.
I trained at the University of Miami (in South Florida) for my PhD and post-doctoral fellowship. As such, my clinical training was primarily with clients of diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds, at different stages of acculturation.
My clinical experiences throughout my training and in private practice have allowed me to develop cultural competence, which is something that I continuously cultivated through clinical experience.