Clinical Expertise

Dr. O’Bryan is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in cognitive-behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders (e.g., panic disorder, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, specific phobia), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), health anxiety, and other conditions. Dr. O’Bryan is experienced in working with both youth and adults to help them face their fears, learn their innate capacity for tolerating emotional discomfort and uncertainty, and live a life in line with what matters most to them. Within a broader exposure-based CBT framework, Dr. O’Bryan often incorporates mindfulness- and acceptance-based techniques into her work with clients. Dr. O’Bryan is passionate about tailoring evidence-based treatment approaches to the unique needs and preferences of each client.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Dr. O’Bryan strives to cultivate an environment in which all clients feel accepted and understood. She is committed to deepening her understanding of each client’s identity, culture, and values in order to best individualize treatment. Dr. O’Bryan is also attentive to social and environmental factors that may be impacting emotional functioning based on each client’s dimensions of diversity.

Training

Dr. O’Bryan received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Cincinnati and completed her predoctoral internship (CBT Track) and postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. As both a CBT intern and postdoctoral fellow, Dr. O’Bryan trained at the Anxiety Disorders Center/Center for CBT where she delivered exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for youth and adults with anxiety and related disorders, including Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD specifically. In addition, Dr. O’Bryan led Unified Protocol groups for mixed anxiety-related disorders in adolescents, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy groups for adults with anxiety, and provided group CBT for adults with Hoarding Disorder. Dr. O’Bryan also completed rotations in the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Intensive Outpatient Program and Adult Inpatient Service during her predoctoral internship. As part of her graduate training at the University of Cincinnati, Dr. O’Bryan received specialized training in Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy.

Research & Teaching

Dr. O’Bryan’s research has focused on better understanding transdiagnostic cognitive-emotional processes (e.g., intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety sensitivity) implicated in the development and maintenance of anxiety-related symptoms, as well as developing and evaluating brief, accessible interventions to target these processes. A significant portion of Dr. O’Bryan’s work has focused on understanding the utility of mindfulness in targeting these processes. Dr. O’Bryan has published over 25 peer-reviewed journal articles, numerous book chapters, and has presented extensively at national conferences.

Education

• University of Cincinnati, BS
• University of Cincinnati, MA
• University of Cincinnati, PhD
• Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital, Predoctoral Internship (CBT Track)
• Anxiety Disorders Center, Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital, Postdoctoral Fellowship

Areas of Expertise

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, health anxiety, phobias, PTSD, depression, hair-pulling/skin-picking; Exposure and Response Prevention, Exposure Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Unified Protocol (UP), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy