Specialized Therapy for OCD, BDD, & Anxiety
Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Iowa, and PsyPact States
Help for when anxiety, obsessions, or appearance concerns take over
When clients reach out…
they are often caught up in worries, obsessions, or appearance concerns. They may find themselves overthinking, checking, or asking for reassurance in the effort to find relief, that never seems to last.
Many have missed out on important life experiences because of anxiety and avoidance. Sometimes these struggles impact how clients see themselves, leading to shame and self-doubt.
Most say they want to get out of their heads, return to activities they care about, and simply feel like themselves again. Some have tried therapy before but found that it didn’t fully address the patterns keeping them stuck.
The encouraging part is that these conditions are highly treatable. Evidence-based therapies such as CBT, ERP, and I-CBT can help you respond differently, so that obsessions and worries no longer take over your life. Therapy is a collaborative process focused on learning skills to break out of these cycles.
Conditions treated
Rachel Simmons, PhD specializes in evidence-based treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), body-focused repetitive behaviors such as hair pulling and skin picking (BFRBs), and anxiety disorders. She also works with people experiencing perfectionism, excessive self-doubt, and related concerns.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Anxiety Disorders
Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors
How Dr. Simmons helps
Therapy focuses on understanding the patterns that keep OCD, BDD, body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), and anxiety going. Therapy strives to change how you respond to them so they take up less space in your life.
Dr. Simmons tailors care to each person’s needs, including:
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT) - a newer approach for treating OCD (learn more here)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for body dysmorphic disorder (CBT for BDD)
Habit Reversal Training (HRT) for hair pulling and skin picking
These approaches are often supported by emotion regulation and self-compassion skills from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Her approach is practical, structured, and supportive.
About Rachel Simmons, PhD
Rachel Simmons, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist based in Rhode Island. She is licensed in Massachusetts, New York, Iowa, and Rhode Island, and authorized to practice in all PSYPACT states.
Dr. Simmons specializes in the treatment of OCD, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), and related anxiety conditions. She has over 15 years of experience, with specialized training in approaches such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), CBT for BDD, and Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT).
Her approach is collaborative and supportive. She focuses on helping clients understand the patterns that keep them stuck and develop practical tools to change them.
