cognitive behavior therapy
Contamination OCD Therapy Near Me | Online & In-Person in California
If you find yourself consumed by fears of germs, illness, or contamination, despite repeated cleaning or checking, you may be experiencing Contamination OCD.
I offer evidence-based CBT and ERP therapy for Contamination OCD, available in-person near San Jose or online throughout California.
What is Contamination OCD?
Contamination OCD is characterized by intrusive fears of being contaminated, dirty, or being responsible for harm due to uncleanliness.
Common obsessions may include:
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What if I spread germs and someone gets sick?
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What if there is something contaminated on this surface and I don't realize it?
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What if I inhale mold, asbestos, or something invisible that harms me?
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What if someone else’s bad energy or negative thoughts transfer to me?
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What if I didn’t wash my hands long enough and it wasn’t “complete”?
To neutralize these fears, you may engage in compulsions such as:
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Excessive handwashing, showering, or cleaning
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Avoiding places, people, or objects seen as “dirty”
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Changing clothes frequently or throwing away “contaminated” items
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Mentally reviewing whether you could have touched something contaminated
These compulsions may relieve anxiety in the short term but ultimately perpetuate the cycle of OCD leading to more obsessions about contamination and feeling less certain.
1. Spend Hours Per Day on Cleaning Rituals
Time consuming and repetitive hand washing, showering and cleaning rituals to feel "safe or "pure"
2. Avoid Certain Places or People
You may steer clear of public restrooms, touching doorknobs or physical contact with others
3. Overwhelming Thoughts About Germs & Contaminants
Constant worries about germs and contaminants in your environment to the point where you find it difficult to relax, always monitoring the world around you and feeling consumed with washing and cleaning routines
4. Repetitive Checking and Reassurance-Seeking
Repeatedly check if you have touched something “contaminated” or ask others for reassurance about whether you have been exposed to harmful substances
5. Fear of Contaminating Others
Some people with contamination OCD have a heightened fear that they might unknowingly contaminate others, leading them to excessively clean shared spaces or avoid interaction with family and friends altogether You may avoid relationships or intimacy due to fear of spreading or receiving “contamination”
How Contamination OCD Affects Your Life
My Approach to Contamination OCD
As a therapist who specializes in OCD and anxiety, I know how overwhelming Contamination OCD can feel—and how misunderstood it often is. My approach is structured and evidence-based, but also compassionate and collaborative. I’ll help you build confidence in facing fears, reduce your need for rituals, and create meaningful changes at a pace that feels manageable.
Whether your fears are rooted in germs, illness, morality, or general “unclean” feelings, we’ll work together to regain freedom and peace of mind.
Treatment for Contamination OCD
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How do I make an appointment?Complete the Potential Client Form and I will be in touch with you within 24 hours to set up a consultation call. If we are a fit, we will will book an intake session from there. After our initial meeting, most clients meet with me weekly for 45-minute sessions, ideally at the same day and a time each week. We will meet more or less depending on your needs. If you need to change your appointment time or cancel, I require 48 hours notice to avoid a full session charge.
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How much does therapy cost and do you take insurance?My fees are $340 per 60 minute initial assessment session and $255 per 45-minute therapy session. I am an out-of-network provider for all insurance panels. If you have a PPO you may be eligible for out of network benefits and I will submit electronic claims on your behalf so that you may be partially reimbursed for your CBT sessions. You can contact your insurance company directly to find out more information about your out of network coverage.
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Do you offer in-person/face -to-face sessions?YES! It has been so good to be back in the office! I offer both in person and online therapy. My in person office is in Campbell, CA, serving the Silicon Valley region. I can provide online therapy to residents throughout California.
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Do you work with children and teens?Most of my therapy clients are adults, young adults and older teenagers. I don’t often work with children under age 11 but if you feel your child could be a good fit for me I am happy to speak with you. I also offer Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) treatment for parents seeking to help their children with anxiety disorders and OCD.
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What will our sessions be like?CBT is more structured than other types of therapy. We will start by setting an agenda and intention for the session. Then the majority of our session time will be spent on discussing your problems and applying CBT interventions. We will end with an action plan for you to take into your week. CBT, is at its core, flexible and collaborative so we will tailor our sessions to your needs.
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How long does therapy take?It truth is that treatment length varies a lot! The severity of your symptoms and how long you've had them , your motivation to work outside of session, and your life circumstances will all factor in to treatment length. Most clients start to feel some noticeable relief within three months and may achieve their goals by six months. For others it can take a year or more.
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What is a Good Faith Estimate?You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.
In-Person and Online Therapy Options in California
I offer in-person therapy in Campbell, CA, conveniently located near San Jose, Los Gatos, and Saratoga, as well as virtual therapy across the state of California. Whether you're local or elsewhere in the state, you don’t have to keep managing OCD alone. If you've been searching for contamination OCD therapy, evidence-based support is available.
Start Contamination OCD Therapy Today
If you’re ready to stop letting contamination fears control your life, I’m here to help. Therapy can help you feel more grounded, free, and like yourself again.
Schedule a Consultation
Get a feel for my style and get your questions answered during our no-obligation phone screen.
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How do I make an appointment?Complete the Potential Client Form and I will be in touch with you within 24 hours to set up a consultation call. If we are a fit, we will will book an intake session from there. After our initial meeting, most clients meet with me weekly for 45-minute sessions, ideally at the same day and a time each week. We will meet more or less depending on your needs. If you need to change your appointment time or cancel, I require 48 hours notice to avoid a full session charge.
-
How much does therapy cost and do you take insurance?My fees are $340 per 60 minute initial assessment session and $255 per 45-minute therapy session. I am an out-of-network provider for all insurance panels. If you have a PPO you may be eligible for out of network benefits and I will submit electronic claims on your behalf so that you may be partially reimbursed for your CBT sessions. You can contact your insurance company directly to find out more information about your out of network coverage.
-
Do you offer in-person/face -to-face sessions?YES! It has been so good to be back in the office! I offer both in person and online therapy. My in person office is in Campbell, CA, serving the Silicon Valley region. I can provide online therapy to residents throughout California.
-
Do you work with children and teens?Most of my therapy clients are adults, young adults and older teenagers. I don’t often work with children under age 11 but if you feel your child could be a good fit for me I am happy to speak with you. I also offer Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) treatment for parents seeking to help their children with anxiety disorders and OCD.
-
What will our sessions be like?CBT is more structured than other types of therapy. We will start by setting an agenda and intention for the session. Then the majority of our session time will be spent on discussing your problems and applying CBT interventions. We will end with an action plan for you to take into your week. CBT, is at its core, flexible and collaborative so we will tailor our sessions to your needs.
-
How long does therapy take?It truth is that treatment length varies a lot! The severity of your symptoms and how long you've had them , your motivation to work outside of session, and your life circumstances will all factor in to treatment length. Most clients start to feel some noticeable relief within three months and may achieve their goals by six months. For others it can take a year or more.
-
What is a Good Faith Estimate?You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.
About CAITLYN
I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with a master’s degree in clinical psychology. I have been working as a therapist since 2009, specializing in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders. Before starting my own practice in 2021 I worked at a specialty anxiety/OCD group practice for many years, as well as community mental health, and school settings.
My practice is located in Campbell, CA in the South SF Bay Area, near San Jose, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Cupertino.
I have been working primarily with clients struggling with anxiety since 2012. Read more about my speciality training here.
My approach to anxiety and OCD treatment is compassionate and personalized. This work is challenging but we will go at your pace and focus on the symptoms that are getting in the way of your life.
Ready to get started or have more questions?
