Deborah Birkett, MA

Treating adult individuals with OCD is at least 40% of my current practice and on the increase. I have a particular focus on religious and moral OCD (scrupulosity). Treatment of OCD is a primary professional interest for me. My goal is to provide individualized treatment for each client, including support for co-occurring challenges (e.g., trauma/PTSD, neurodivergence, anxiety disorders, etc.). I continue to develop my expertise through professional development opportunities, regular consultation, and research-informed practice.

Religious trauma/spiritual abuse
Identity challenges
Spiritual transitions

Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (I-CBT) for OCD Intensive (OCD Lived Experience Collective) + many hours of individual and group consultation

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Treatment for
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Intensive Workshop (Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, University of Pennsylvania) + 18 hours of consultation

CBT for OCD (ECHO Ontario/CAMH/Frederick W. Thompson Anxiety Disorders Centre/Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre)

OCD: Foundations for Primary Care Providers (ECHO Ontario/CAMH/Frederick W. Thompson Anxiety Disorders Centre/Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre)

I am experienced in working with clients from a wide range of religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. I have particular expertise in supporting the mental health needs of those who identify as Jewish, Christian, and Muslim, and have also worked successfully with clients who identify as Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, agnostic, and atheist.

I also have lived experience as a member of a religious minority and as a person with invisible disabilities.

I am trauma-certified, and have had training in intercultural effectiveness. I have a multifaceted background in religious and cultural studies, and substantial experience in interfaith and interreligious encounters. I am deeply committed to combining evidence-based treatment with culturally and spiritually sensitive psychotherapy.