Specialized OCD Therapy & Animal Caregiver Support
About AngelaHello and welcome!
I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) dedicated to helping adults navigate life's challenges with compassion, curiosity, and evidence-based care. My practice is built around two areas of specialized expertise: treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and supporting individuals whose lives are deeply connected to animals through caregiving.
Whether you're struggling with intrusive thoughts and compulsions or navigating the journey of caring for animals, you deserve a space where your experiences are understood without judgment. I believe healing begins when people feel seen, supported, and empowered with practical tools to move toward the life they want to live.
My work with OCD focuses on helping clients break free from the cycles of fear, doubt, and compulsions that can make everyday life feel overwhelming. I use evidence-based approaches, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), to help clients build confidence, tolerate uncertainty, and reconnect with what matters most.
In addition to OCD treatment, I specialize in the complex emotional experiences that arise through the human-animal bond. I work with veterinary professionals, pet parents, animal advocates, rescue and shelter staff, and others navigating compassion fatigue, burnout, grief, caregiver stress, ethical dilemmas, or the profound joy and heartbreak that can come with loving and caring for animals.
As an LCSW licensed in California, I provide virtual therapy for adults throughout the state, making specialized care accessible wherever you are. I also offer in-person services for animal shelters, rescue organizations, and other animal welfare settings.
No matter what brings you to therapy, my goal is to create a collaborative, affirming space where you feel supported, challenged, and equipped with the tools to create meaningful, lasting change.
I believe therapy should be collaborative, practical, and deeply compassionate.
My goal is to provide the space for you to feel truly heard and supported while empowering you to show up for yourself in new ways.
PHILOSOPHY
-
Self compassion
Being human is hard. Whether you're navigating OCD or caring deeply for animals, self-compassion creates space to move beyond self-criticism, acknowledge your humanity, and respond to life's challenges with greater understanding and care.
-
Mindful awareness
Mindfulness helps us notice our thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations without becoming overwhelmed by them. By cultivating present moment awareness, you can develop a different relationship with anxiety, intrusive thoughts, grief, and stress, allowing you to respond in ways that align with your values.
-
Strengths and tools
Healing isn't about becoming someone new. It's about recognizing and building on the strengths you already have. Together, we'll build on those strengths while developing practical, evidence-based tools to help you navigate OCD, cope with life's challenges, and foster resilience in the relationships and experiences that matter most, including those you share with animals.
-
Radical acceptance
Some experiences cannot be changed but our relationship with them can. Radical acceptance means making room for uncertainty, loss, and life's realities so you can respond with intention rather than becoming stuck in struggle.