Terra Yott

Personally, I experienced childhood trauma. Therapy helped me learn so much about myself, and I wanted to help other people do the same. I often share my own experiences to help people make connections between their experiences and their patterns of behavior. I then teach strategies and tools for people to live more optimal lives with less struggle. I get as much out of sharing stories about myself as I do from people sharing their stories with me. I have extensive experience with friends, family, and my own children having a range of mental health issues, including trauma, personality and mood disorders, anxiety, sexual abuse, and substance abuse. That drew me into this field, and it's why I'm so passionate about it.

I see OCD increasing in prevalence. It's a barrier that keeps people from doing the things they love. It gets in the way of work, planning, reaching goals, setting rules, and enjoying family and leisure activities. The response to ERP—the work that can be done to improve OCD in a relatively short period of time—motivates me to continue. Science shows us how effective ERP is. And in my personal experience working with people with OCD, I've never seen any therapy like it. ERP gives you a set of tools and a solid understanding of how your mind works—your thought processes and your fears. You can apply that to other areas of your life, as well. That is so impressive to me.

Anxiety, trauma—intergenerational trauma, specifically—relationships, family discord, and mood disorders. Family discord is a big focus for me. Being connected culturally to my indigenous community, and understanding my own family dynamics and personal history, helps me to understand that there's an interplay between all of those elements of our lives.

Be prepared to commit to the work. It's not an enormous amount of work—even the smallest changes, when done consistently each day, can create a significant impact in our lives. But you must be ready to start. You can do it at your own pace, but be committed.

Tell me that. Let's have open communication. Say 'I'm afraid to share' or 'I'm not ready to share,' and we'll work with what we can. We will work at your pace, so you can become comfortable over time.