Sarah Peterman

I have always wanted to help people in some way as a career. That, combined with a fascination with how the human mind works, led me to become a therapist. I enjoy connecting with my members, partnering with them in overcoming their challenges, and seeing them return to living their lives with new skills and opportunities. It is such a privilege to be able to help people to move toward recovery!

I knew I wanted to become a therapist when I was in college, but I didn't really know much about OCD until I had my own experience with OCD and ERP treatment in my early twenties. ERP gave me my life back, and, after learning to do the work as a therapist, I have seen it work for so many others who struggle with OCD as well. I love both the creative process of finding the right ERP pathway to recovery from OCD for each person as well as celebrating the successes that members have in regaining their lives!

I have focused on treating a range of anxiety/depressive disorders, personality disorders, and BFRBs, in addition to OCD/OC spectrum disorder treatment. I feel confident helping members to identify and manage anxiety disorders using cognitive behavioral therapy and ERP, depression symptoms with cognitive behavioral therapy, and BFRBs with habit reversal training. I also have past experience using dialectical behavioral therapy to help members to regulate emotions, cope with distress, and improve relationships and communication.

NOCD is a place that understands OCD and provides the most effective intervention available to help individuals cope. OCD specialists at NOCD are familiar with all kinds of OCD, and we provide a safe space to explore your symptoms and move toward recovery. We know that ERP isn't an 'easy' type of treatment—I always joke that it 'doesn't look good on paper'—and we know you can do it! Also, please know you aren't alone. Many people have similar experiences with OCD and have benefited from ERP treatment to get better. Recovery is possible!

First and foremost, know that this is really common. OCD is invested in sticking around and continuing to make you afraid of it. Sometimes, it will even create specific fears about how a therapist will respond to your OCD thoughts! Sharing these thoughts, in spite of your fears, is often the first step toward regaining your life from OCD. That said, I recognize that having these conversations is difficult. I will support you in talking through these thoughts at a pace that feels manageable.