Tanisha Clark, PhD

My primary specialty is treating teens, young adults, and adults who identify as neurodivergent. I offer individual therapy in a safe virtual space to help teens and adults manage symptoms of anxiety, OCD, and autism. My services also include parent coaching to help caregivers confidently support their neurodivergent children (ages 6 to adulthood) through Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), a parent-based treatment program. I use proven therapeutic tools, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) adapted for Autism, to help clients manage symptoms and build confidence.

After an intake session and the collection of diagnostic data, I educate clients about diagnostic overlaps. I tailor treatment by combining additional modalities with Exposure and Response Prevention for co-occurring conditions. For clients with autism and intellectual disabilities, I incorporate concrete behavioral strategies from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Autism and often involve caregivers through coaching sessions using Supportive Parenting of Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) Treatment, enabling them to support their adolescent, teen, or adult children. I also incorporate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles and techniques to address OCD and other co-occurring conditions, as ACT is an evidence-based approach for these issues. Once clients report that OCD is managed, I offer the option to terminate, reduce sessions to maintenance, or begin additional work with new goals targeting co-occurring conditions, as clients often report that the severity of OCD symptoms increases with increases in symptoms of their co-occurring conditions.

I have completed advanced postdoctoral training and certification in evidence-based modalities at Stanford University under the direct supervision of senior faculty psychologists. Modalities relevant to the treatment of OCD include Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) Treatment (Training Certification from the Yale Child Study Center), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, CBT adapted for autism, and neuro-affirming care approaches. I continue to pursue continuing education (e.g., Integrating ACT into ERP) and receive bi-weekly supervision in Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy from a senior psychologist at Stanford University to deepen my understanding of a variety of OCD presentations.

My approach is grounded in cultural humility and a commitment to self-reflection. I continually reflect on how my identity and biases shape my clinical practice. This commitment extends beyond my individual work; I actively promote systemic change by training and educating other professionals, and I consistently pursue ongoing training and consultation to deepen my understanding when working with clients from diverse backgrounds. I intentionally explore the salient aspects of a client’s intersectional identities (race, spiritual and religious values, ethnicity, and gender identity, etc.) and consider how systemic forces, including racism and discrimination, affect their mental health and presenting concerns.

I have extensive experience in researching, developing, and providing training and consultation on evidence-based treatments for diverse populations. I co-created and co-led a 6-hour workshop titled Racial Socialization for African American Children with Experiences of Racial Trauma, which I have conducted in various settings such as large urban school districts, juvenile justice centers, and top academic medical centers. Over time, I have adapted this framework to support other marginalized groups in my clinical work. Additionally, I continue to study neuro-affirming care and offer didactic training on autism and neuro-affirming practices at leading academic institutions.