In this episode, Mimi and Alegra talk about the basics of obsessive compulsive disorder, what it looks like to treat the very disorder she suffered from, and social justice from a therapist’s perspective. Alegra is an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist who received my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University.  She currently practices in Los Angeles, CA, specializing in the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and Eating Disorders. Her clinical work focuses on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure & Response Prevention, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, and mindfulness skills training for adults, adolescents, and children.

Prior to her work in private practice, Alegra worked as a psychotherapist at The OCD Center of Los Angeles specializing in the treatment of OCD, BRFB's and anxiety disorders across the life span. She also trained extensively in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, with an emphasis on Exposure & Response Prevention, at the UCLA Adult OCD Intensive Outpatient Program, where she assisted in providing hands-on ERP with clients experiencing moderate to severe OCD. Additional clinical experience includes Alegra’s work as a counselor at The Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills, where she provided individual therapy and couples therapy for clients struggling with anxiety disorders, depression, grief, and complex trauma.

In addition to clinical experience, Alegra has a lifetime of experience as a human being.  Her passion for OCD treatment, education, and advocacy comes from her own personal experience with the disorder.  She understands firsthand the relentlessness of the disorder and how painfully it holds one’s life captive.  Alegra also understands that relief and recovery are real with a large dose of evidence-based treatment and an equally large dose of willingness.