Iris Cohen

I enjoy learning about people and helping them through difficult situations. Studying psychology for my undergrad degree, I was so fascinated by the brain and its relation to people’s behavior. Right before grad school, I suffered a traumatic loss that completely altered my outlook on life. I learned how difficult it is to move forward and engage in 'normal' activities while carrying heavy, indescribable pain. That led me to get into therapy. There is so much suffering in the world, and I wanted to provide support and relief, to help people learn tangible ways they can improve their well-being.

Like most people, I had little to no understanding of OCD. When I saw a job opportunity that utilized ERP, I decided to apply. It was in that job interview that I began to learn about OCD and how impairing it can be. Working with people with OCD, I’ve learned how scary their intrusive thoughts can be. I learned how many experiences, relationships, and opportunities they have lost or strained because of their OCD. I could not believe how brave these people were, to do scary things their OCD is telling them will cause a feared outcome.

In addition to OCD, I focus on treating anxiety and depression. I've been interested in treating depression because of my personal experiences with it. I've experienced how exhausting and lonely it can be to constantly be chained down by feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, lack of motivation, and lack of pleasure. I wanted to help people regain enjoyment in life, improve their mood, and engage in behaviors that align with their values and goals.

You should know it will not be easy. It can be very hard and very scary. There might be times when you want to give up. But if you commit to engaging in therapy, you can learn how to manage the distress that comes from your intrusive thoughts. You can improve your relationships, do the things you want to do, and work toward your goals.

It is completely understandable. Intrusive thoughts can often feel taboo or unspeakable. I hope you'll tell me that you feel scared to share your thoughts. I will meet you where you are and not force you to tell me anything you are not comfortable with. I will help you identify the barriers to sharing those thoughts with me.