Ann-Margaret Mercier, LMFT, APCC

Since entering the mental health profession, I have focused almost exclusively on the treatment of obsessive-compulsive and related, anxiety-based conditions in children, adolescents, and adults. I practice using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and, more specifically, exposure and response prevention (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based behavioral therapy (MBBT). I also have familiarity with inference-based CBT (I-CBT); metacognitive therapy (MCT); and SPACE, as well as ComB for BFRBs and perceptual retraining for BDD. I have experience working with both weekly and intensive outpatient program clients that has included family education, group therapy, home visits, and in-vivo exposures in public locations.

I use CBT — primarily psychoeducation, cognitive therapy, ERP, ACT, and mindfulness-based techniques — for anxiety disorders, including specific phobias; generalized anxiety disorder (GAD); social anxiety disorder (SAD); panic disorder; and separation anxiety disorder, as well as illness anxiety disorder, somatic symptom disorder (both often referred to as “health anxiety”), emetophobia (fear of vomiting), and olfactory reference syndrome (ORS). I also use CBT, including attention training technique (ATT) and task concentration training (TCT), for misophonia.

I received my master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and my undergraduate and first master’s degrees from the universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh in Scotland. After completing my practicum at Living Success Center in early 2023, I began working at The Gateway Institute, the first center in Orange County to specialize in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs). I received extensive training at Gateway from my director and colleagues — who include speakers at IOCDF conferences, advocates, and an executive IOCDF board member. They and other leading experts have vastly enriched my understanding of OCRDs.

For me, working with an individual who is a member of a group I am unfamiliar with provides me with an opportunity to learn more and expand my scope of competence. I approach differences with curiosity and respect. I receive great personal fulfillment in helping individuals impaired by OCD and related disorders — no matter their background — reclaim their lives through caring, compassionate, and collaborative evidence-based treatment.