mindful_psyche

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mindful_psyche I specialize in the treatment of OCD and anxiety.

ROCD can make relationship uncertainty feel like something you need to solve immediately.So you check your feelings, com...
10/05/2026

ROCD can make relationship uncertainty feel like something you need to solve immediately.

So you check your feelings, compare your partner, replay memories, Google, ask friends for reassurance and maybe feel better temporarily.

But when those behaviors become compulsive, the relief can keep the cycle going.

Recovery isn’t about proving that your relationship is right or wrong.

It’s about changing your relationship with uncertainty. Doubt is part of relationships. When the search for certainty becomes compulsive, recovery means learning to make room for uncertainty without repeatedly checking, analyzing, or seeking reassurance. Progress can look like having the same doubt and no longer treating it as a question you must answer.

Perfectionism usually doesn’t change because someone tells you to “relax” or “stop caring so much.”It starts to change w...
09/11/2026

Perfectionism usually doesn’t change because someone tells you to “relax” or “stop caring so much.”

It starts to change when you notice the rule underneath it.

Maybe yours sounds like:

“If I make a mistake, people will think less of me.”

“If I disappoint someone, I’ve failed.”

“If I’m not exceptional, I’m not enough.”

That’s the part to pay attention to.

When perfectionism shows up, try this:

1️⃣ Name the fear, not just the task. Instead of “I need to get this perfect,” ask: What am I afraid will happen if I don’t?
2️⃣ Separate the mistake from your identity. “I handled that badly” is very different from “I am bad.”
3️⃣Practice being slightly imperfect on purpose. Send the email without rereading it five times. Let something be 90% done. Say no without building the perfect explanation. Give yourself experiences that show you imperfection is uncomfortable, not dangerous.
4️⃣Notice what happens after success. If you immediately move the goalpost, minimize what you did, or focus on the one flaw, that’s worth noticing too.

The goal isn’t to stop having standards.

It’s to stop making your worth depend on meeting them.

You don’t have to lower your standards. You just have to stop using them to measure your worth.

the unsolicited OCD advice nobody asked for...
07/17/2026

the unsolicited OCD advice nobody asked for...

OCD doesn’t let go because you found the perfect answer.It loosens its grip when you stop playing by its rules.Recovery ...
07/10/2026

OCD doesn’t let go because you found the perfect answer.
It loosens its grip when you stop playing by its rules.

Recovery begins when you stop letting OCD dictate your choices.

That often looks like:

⚫️Resisting reassurance, even when it feels comforting.
⚫️Accepting uncertainty instead of trying to eliminate it.
⚫️Responding differently to intrusive thoughts instead of trying to control them.
⚫️Choosing your values over OCD even when it’s uncomfortable.

OCD always promises relief after one more answer, one more Google search, one more check, or one more confession.

But recovery isn’t found in certainty.

It’s found in your willingness to move forward without it.

Which slide resonated with you the most?

Or…

What’s an OCD hill you’d add? 👇

Responsibility OCD is an OCD theme where the mind gets stuck in an inflated sense of responsibility- the feeling that it...
05/05/2026

Responsibility OCD is an OCD theme where the mind gets stuck in an inflated sense of responsibility- the feeling that it’s your job to prevent harm or make sure nothing bad happens to the people you care about.

It doesn’t show up as certainty or facts. It shows up as doubt, “what if” thoughts, and the urge to figure it out or make it feel resolved.

So your mind starts treating uncertainty like something you need to fix.

⚪️What if something happens to them?
⚪️What if I didn’t do enough?
⚪️What if it’s my fault?

In response, you might notice mental checking, replaying situations, scanning for mistakes, or trying to get a sense of certainty that everything is okay.

From an ERP perspective, this is an OCD process not actual responsibility but an overestimation of responsibility paired with intolerance of uncertainty.

The more you engage with the thoughts to feel sure, the more your brain learns that uncertainty is dangerous and needs solving.

Mental traps that keep it going:

1️⃣ If I think it through enough, I can prevent something bad from happening.

This turns thinking into a compulsive attempt at protection.

2️⃣ If I don’t feel certain, I’m being irresponsible.

Uncertainty starts to feel like moral failure instead of a normal mental experience.

3️⃣ It’s my job to make sure nothing slips through.

This reinforces the belief that you are responsible for outcomes you cannot actually control.

OCD isn’t asking for safety.
It’s asking for certainty.

And no amount of checking, replaying, or analyzing can produce permanent certainty.

I wanted to reintroduce myself to everyone new here 🤍My name is Maythal (pronounced May-tal)I’m a LMFT practicing in Cal...
05/02/2026

I wanted to reintroduce myself to everyone new here 🤍
My name is Maythal (pronounced May-tal)

I’m a LMFT practicing in California, specializing in OCD, anxiety, and other OC spectrum disorders, including skin picking and trichotillomania. I graduated from Pepperdine University in 2014 and have had extensive experience in clinical work since then.

I’m really passionate about helping my clients get their lives back from OCD and anxiety. Life can feel so much bigger when it’s not being run by fear.

My approach integrates ACT because I believe your values not your fears- should guide your choices. I also use DBT skills to build distress tolerance and emotional resilience and obviously ERP is a core part of treatment for OCD. Mindfulness is another important piece, helping you learn to relate differently to your thoughts and stay grounded in the present, instead of getting pulled into anxiety’s “what if” stories about the future.

A few things about me ✨
• I recently became a mom to a baby girl- she runs the show now (sleep? what’s that)
• I’m still learning how to balance work and life… and honestly just taking it one day at a time
• I feel really lucky to do this work and really grateful for the trust my clients place in me
• Coffee is basically a personality trait at this point ☕️ and I will never say no to chocolate
• I’ve had my own experiences with anxiety and perfectionism so I understand how loud and convincing it can feel
• If your brain ever gets stuck in overthinking, “what if” spirals or worst-case scenarios- you’re not alone in that

I’m really glad you’re here 🤍

What’s something you wish people understood about anxiety? Comment below ⬇️

If you’re pregnant or postpartum and having scary, unwanted thoughts about your baby — this is for you. 💛Perinatal OCD c...
01/04/2026

If you’re pregnant or postpartum and having scary, unwanted thoughts about your baby — this is for you. 💛

Perinatal OCD can cause intrusive thoughts that feel shocking, disturbing, or completely out of character. Common examples include:
• “What if I hurt my baby?”
• “What if I lose control?”
• “What if I accidentally harm them?”
• “What if I’m not safe around my baby?”

These thoughts are ego-dystonic, which means they go against your values, beliefs, and intentions. They are the opposite of what you want, which is why they feel so upsetting and confusing. Feeling horrified by these thoughts is actually a sign of how much you care — not a sign that you are dangerous.

Because these thoughts feel so alarming, many people respond with compulsions — behaviors aimed at neutralizing or preventing the feared outcome. Common compulsions include:
• Mentally checking your intentions or feelings
• Seeking reassurance from others or yourself
• Avoiding certain situations, objects, or caregiving tasks
• Mentally replaying or “undoing” thoughts
• Hyper-monitoring to prevent “bad” outcomes

While these behaviors may temporarily reduce anxiety, research shows they maintain the OCD cycle, making thoughts feel more persistent over time.

The most effective, evidence-based treatment for perinatal OCD is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). ERP helps you gradually reduce compulsive responses while allowing intrusive thoughts and anxiety to exist, without trying to “neutralize” them. Mindfulness and non-judgmental awareness can support this process:
🤍Notice the thought: “This is an intrusive thought.”
🤍Notice the anxiety: “This is anxiety in my body.”
🤍Allow it to exist without reacting: “I do not need to respond to this right now.”

This doesn’t mean accepting or agreeing with the thought — it means changing your relationship to it so it has less control over your life.

Perinatal OCD is highly treatable. Intrusive thoughts do not define you, predict your behavior, or determine your ability to be a loving parent. You are not your thoughts, and help exists.

Sometimes the hardest truths are the ones that set you free. 💭It’s not about controlling every thought — it’s about choo...
09/10/2025

Sometimes the hardest truths are the ones that set you free. 💭

It’s not about controlling every thought — it’s about choosing how you respond.

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P. O. Box 666
Beverly Hills, CA
90213

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Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+13105646317

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