OCD, ERP, and Building Trust Through Therapy (feat. Ella Laniado)

In this episode of Doc Secret, our guest is Ella Laniado, Training Director at Brookline Adult and Child Counseling. After being diagnosed with OCD herself, Ella's path into therapy was deeply personal—fueled by her own healing, a passion for human connection, and transformative experiences in social work. From her first steps as a therapist battling imposter syndrome, to becoming a licensed clinician in three states, Ella has developed an adaptive, client-centered approach to OCD and anxiety treatment. She shares how ERP, trauma-informed CBT, and building trust through rapport and humor form the backbone of effective care, especially across diverse settings. Ella also reflects on clinician burnout, training the next generation of therapists, and the evolving accessibility challenges in mental health. This episode unpacks themes of clinical nuance, leadership, trauma, flexibility, and purpose-driven practice.

Doc Secret is sponsored by Quantics Marketing, LLC. https://www.quanticsmarketing.com/

00:00 – Meet Ella Laniado: From Patient to Practitioner
02:55 – How OCD and Personal Therapy Shaped Her Career
05:01 – First Week in Practice and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
09:59 – Lived Experience: Building Rapport and Validating Discomfort
14:30 – What Is ERP and Where OCD Care Falls Short
17:18 – Treating Kids vs. Adults: Play, Parents, and Progress
21:47 – Creative Interventions and Rethinking OCD Tools
27:50 – Teaching ERP: Flexibility Over Rigidity
33:10 – Trauma-Informed ERP and Diagnosing with Care
49:08 – Lightning Round and Close

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