Where are you located? Do you accept insurance? What are your credentials? What population do you work with, and which disorders do you primarily focus on?
I’m a licensed professional counselor in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. I do accept some insurances through NOCD, which is a teletherapy platform that provides therapy services for people who have OCD and related conditions. I have a masters in Clinical Psychology and I got my license in 2014.
What is your theoretical orientation? Why did you choose that orientation?
I technically practice Cognitive Behavioral Therapy but more specifically I practice Exposure and Response Prevention, which is the first-line treatment for OCD, anxiety, and related conditions. I chose this because I love the concept of ERP. Exposure and Response Prevention requires people to go outside of their comfort zones and to build trust in themselves by challenging themselves. I can relate to that personally and have seen how helpful this intervention is for people.
What is a mental health “golden nugget” you can give over?
Everyone has intrusive, scary, and disturbing thoughts – it’s how you react to them that’s the problem. By avoiding scary thoughts and running from fear, we actually make our fear and worry bigger and more difficult to manage. We overcome fear and scary thoughts by facing them head-on in a way that’s challenging but manageable.
What type of coffee do you enjoy best and how do you like your coffee? (If you don’t drink coffee that is fine too!)
I actually prefer loose leaf tea. An iced chai lavender latte would be my favorite.
Tell us about your practice/work! Do you work alone or are you a part of a group practice?
I am the Director of Clinical Marketing at NOCD. NOCD is a free app and teletherapy platform that provides teletherapy services and tools to individuals who have OCD and related conditions. I work as part of the marketing team to help inform marketing decisions from a clinical perspective.
When/How did you first become interested in a career in Psychology/Therapy? If you have a specialty, what is it and why did you choose your specialty?
I have always been an anxious person myself but always valued challenging myself and doing scary things. I knew that by doing scary things, it eventually got easier, and felt good to conquer fears. When I learned that this (Exposure and Response Prevention aka ERP) was an actual behavioral intervention for a major psychological issue (OCD/anxiety), I loved the concept and wanted to specialize in it immediately.
What aspects of your work do you enjoy most and why?
I love seeing people get to face their fears. The process of them being fearful, to showing courage, to eventually realizing that they’re far more capable than they thought is such a rewarding experience to witness.
What are your hobbies?
I work out 5–6 days a week at Burn Boot Camp and am currently training for a half marathon. I like trying new foods and cooking new recipes with my family.
What do you do for self-care?
I’m actually a huge introvert, and being a therapist requires me to use a lot of my energy in conversation. By the time I’m done with work, I try to fill up my cup by spending quality time with my husband and 4-year-old son. We watch movies together and try to relax together as much as we can. I also love to meditate and practice calligraphy, which helps me be more mindful.
Do you have any blog/podcast/other media people can follow?
People can follow me for more OCD/anxiety tips on Instagram @jenna.overbaugh .
I would also encourage them to check out NOCD. You can check out NOCD online at nocd.com, also on Instagram and TikTok @treatmyocd, and they can download the free Treat My OCD app on the app store and on the Google play store. I also have my own podcast about OCD, anxiety, and postpartum-related issues called “All The Hard Things”, available wherever you get your podcasts.
What is your favorite quote?
“Do it scared.” – Elyse Myers
You can connect with Jenna here:
Email: jenna.overbaugh@nocdhelp.com
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