If you’re looking for therapy that actually reduces OCD, health anxiety, panic attacks, or anxiety, the most effective approaches are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and, for OCD, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
I’m Dr Elaine Ryan (PsychD) — a Doctor of Psychology — and I specialise in evidence-based CBT and ERP for OCD and anxiety-related conditions, offered in person in Dublin and online across Ireland.
Work with me (choose the best next step):
- Book a CBT/ERP appointment (Dublin or Online): A structured plan tailored to your symptoms, with weekly practice and clear progress tracking.
- Start immediately (Self-Help Programmes): If you want to begin right away, you can start with a structured programme that teaches the same core skills and builds momentum.
Book Appointment | CBT Therapy | ERP Therapy | OCD Treatment | Health Anxiety Treatment | Anger Management | Anxiety Treatment | Panic Disorder Treatment
What I specialise in
Evidence-based therapy for OCD & anxiety (CBT + ERP)
CBT for anxiety disorders
CBT is a practical, structured therapy that targets the patterns that keep anxiety going — worry loops, avoidance, safety behaviours, panic cycles, and stuck habits — so you can feel better and function better in daily life.
ERP for OCD (and OCD-style anxiety patterns)
ERP is a form of CBT designed for OCD. Instead of trying to “get rid of” intrusive thoughts, ERP helps you retrain your brain by facing triggers without doing compulsions or safety behaviours — so the cycle loses fuel.
CBT works because it targets the processes that maintain anxiety. ERP is a type of CBT designed specifically for OCD and related patterns, where change happens through graded exposure and response prevention (learning to face triggers without doing the behaviours that keep the loop alive).
Who this is for
I most often help adults with:
- OCD (including mental compulsions, reassurance seeking, rumination, intrusive thoughts)
- Health anxiety (checking, Googling, reassurance cycles)
- Panic attacks / panic disorder
- General anxiety and avoidance patterns
- Anger that’s driven by threat, stress, overwhelm, and reactive habits (skills-based CBT work)
Therapy is structured and goal-led. We’ll:
- clarify what’s maintaining the problem (your specific cycle)
- agree a plan (skills + practice)
- practise the right interventions (CBT tools and/or ERP)
- track progress in real-world outcomes (time spent ritualising, avoidance reduced, life regained)
If OCD is part of the picture, ERP focuses heavily on identifying all safety behaviours (including subtle mental rituals) so your brain stops getting the “relief reward” that keeps OCD alive.
How treatment works
A stepped approach (start where you are)
Guidelines for OCD recommend a stepped-care approach, where people with milder impairment may begin with lower-intensity CBT/ERP options and step up when needed.
That’s why I offer two practical starting points:
1) Start immediately (mild–moderate symptoms)
If your symptoms are mild to moderate — or you want to begin right away — start with a structured self-help programme that teaches CBT/ERP skills.
2) Book an appointment (moderate–severe, complex, or stuck)
If symptoms are severe, long-standing, or you’ve tried help before and didn’t improve, book a CBT/ERP appointment so we can tailor a plan and troubleshoot the patterns that keep therapy from working.
The therapies I use in practice
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) (CBT for OCD)
- ACT-style skills (when useful alongside CBT/ERP)
Therapy approaches explained on this site (informational guides)
My clinical focus in practice is OCD and anxiety-related conditions using CBT and ERP.
This website also includes informational explanations of many therapy models (e.g., EMDR, CAT, psychodynamic approaches, etc.) to help you understand what they are and when they’re typically used.
