Dr. Cristina A Scatigno, Psyd, Boulder Anxiety Psychologist

08/14/2026

What if ERP didn’t have to feel so heavy to be effective?⁠
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So many people have been taught that exposure work only “counts” if it feels punishing or overwhelming. But in a recent podcast episode, we gently challenge that idea. We talk about how ERP can still be deeply effective while also being more human, compassionate, and, at times, fun-ish.⁠
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This isn’t about avoiding anxiety or making fear disappear. It’s about learning that you can face discomfort without attacking yourself in the process. When ERP feels even slightly more approachable, people are often more willing to practice, more consistent between sessions, and more able to stay with the work long enough for real change to happen.⁠
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If ERP has ever felt intimidating, exhausting, or unsustainable, I hope this conversation helps you see another way forward, one that still honors the science while making room for kindness.⁠
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Comment 472 and I’ll send you the links to listen to the full episode.⁠
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08/10/2026

What if it’s not the sensation that’s keeping you stuck… but the meaning your brain gives it?⁠
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That racing heart, the tight chest, the wave of dizziness, your body is doing what bodies do. But when your mind labels it as danger, the cycle begins. And before you know it, you’re not just feeling anxiety… you’re fearing the fear itself.⁠
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This is how panic keeps repeating.⁠
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The shift isn’t to eliminate the sensations. It’s to change your relationship with them. To notice the story your brain is telling, and gently choose not to buy into it.⁠
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This is the work. And yes, it’s possible!⁠
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If you want to learn exactly how to break this cycle, comment 484 and I’ll send you the link to the full podcast episode 🎧⁠
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08/03/2026

Reassurance doesn’t always sound like a question.⁠
Sometimes it’s quiet. Automatic. Easy to miss.⁠
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But each time you go looking for certainty (even in subtle ways), you teach your brain that you need it to feel okay.⁠
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What if, just for a moment, you didn’t follow the urge?⁠
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Not to get rid of the anxiety…⁠
but to practice living with uncertainty instead.⁠
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Comment 306, and I will send you my podcast episode titled, “I Know Reassurance Seeking Is Problematic, But Isn’t It Also Bad To 'Hold It In'?”⁠
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07/31/2026

One of the BIGGEST lies OCD tells us, is that it's protecting us from danger. When in actual fact, OCD is the danger ❌

It uses lies like this to keep control over us. We believe it when it says "Just one more compulsion and everything will be Okay"- because it's just trying to protect us, right?

OCD works like a bully in your head, making you believe you need him for your own protection and to protect those you love. It also tells us that things will always be this way, but they don't have to be. It won't always be like this. You won't always feel this way, and you aren't alone 🤗🧡

07/16/2026

OCD is very convincing… but it’s not always telling you the truth 🧠⚡⁠
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It will demand certainty.⁠
It will create urgency.⁠
It will tell you to avoid, fix, solve, or figure it out right now ⏳⁠
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But these are not facts, they are fear-based messages.⁠
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Here are a few gentle truths to come back to instead 🌿⁠
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You do not need 100% certainty to move forward 🕊️⁠
Urgency is a feeling, not a command 🚦⁠
Thoughts are not threats 🔍⁠
Avoidance keeps the cycle going 🔁⁠
You can feel discomfort and still be okay 💛⁠
Relief comes from letting go, not solving everything 🫶⁠
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These are the skills that break the OCD cycle over time.⁠
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Not by proving the thought wrong…⁠
but by choosing not to engage with it in the same way anymore 🧩⁠
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Which one of these truths do you need to remind yourself of today? ⁠
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07/02/2026

Hawaii is officially the ninth state to authorize specially trained psychologists to prescribe medications to their patients. Two islands - Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi will serve as the sites for a three-year pilot study.

The AI-generated image was created by Dr Eric Silk, program director of the Idaho State University MSCP program.

Mahalo to everyone who has supported Hawaiʻi and the eight other states that have achieved the same success.

Who will be #10???

06/30/2026

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2026/06/26/child-psychologist-why-parents-should-let-kids-feel-anxious.html

Great tips for help avoid the rescue trap

Anxiety can be a key ingredient of confidence for children, rather than the enemy, says clinical child psychologist Kathryn Hecht.

06/25/2026

Your mind might tell you:⁠
“Just figure it out first… then you can relax.”⁠
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But peace doesn’t come from having all the answers.⁠
It comes from learning you can live without them.⁠
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You’re allowed to move forward,⁠
even while uncertainty is still here.⁠
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✨ What would you do today if you didn’t need certainty first?⁠
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06/24/2026