Lisa Germeroth, PhD

Approximately 50% of clients at Mind Body Health, the group practice with which I am affiliated, seek treatment for OCD or OC-related disorders, making OCD a primary specialty area of the practice. Approximately 50% of my caseload consists of individuals seeking treatment for anxiety, and about half of those clients have OCD. My OCD treatment primarily utilizes exposure and response prevention (ERP) and inference-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT). For other anxiety disorders, I use ERP, CBT, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) as appropriate. I also provide Comprehensive Behavioral (ComB) treatment for body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs).

I treat OCD alongside co-occurring anxiety and mood disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, and depression, as well as eating disorders (binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa) and BFRBs (trichotillomania and excoriation disorder). I individualize treatment plans based on clinical presentation and client preference, using ERP as the foundation for OCD treatment when appropriate. ICBT may be recommended when ERP is not a strong fit. Co-occurring conditions may be addressed concurrently or sequentially using ACT, CBT, behavioral activation, or other targeted interventions. I coordinate with psychiatric providers when medication management or additional support is indicated.

I have treated individuals with anxiety for over 10 years and individuals with OCD for over 5 years. During my first year treating OCD, I received individualized training and supervision specifically focused on OCD. For the past 5 years, I have continued participating in weekly group supervision with other OCD specialists, as well as a book club and consultation group focused on implementing ICBT for OCD. I also regularly attend continuing education events and seek out resources specific to OCD treatment. I received my PhD from the University at Buffalo and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Pittsburgh.