TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH WITH ME
Hi, I’m Dr. Johanna Wood (she/her)
I’m a Licensed Clinical Psychologist based in Wisconsin. I find that humans have so much more courage than we give ourselves credit for. Facing our fears head-on reminds us of our strength, and it’s incredibly empowering.
In therapy, I bring the latest in science-based treatment options straight to you. Not only do I specialize in treating OCD, panic disorder, and anxiety; I also really get it on a personal level.
I’m here to help you live the life you want, not the life anxiety bullies you into.
My OCD Story
My own story with OCD started several years ago, shortly after my sister got married. There were lots of comments from loved ones that it was my turn to get married. Perhaps due to the stress, or maybe all the pressure, I found myself experiencing the thought: “You need to break up with him”.
This single intrusive thought was the beginning of a spiral of desperation, anxiety, and guilt. Despite my own experience with OCD research, I had never heard of “Relationship OCD” until my own diagnosis. When I began treatment, I had a leg up; I already knew about Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) and OCD. But, knowledge alone didn’t stop the OCD from persisting.
Through my own work in therapy, I began to reframe the core of OCD, uncertainty, as a leap of faith, rather than something to be avoided. Today, I am happily married to that same person and I’m proud of all the work I did to get there.
Getting treatment was worth it and when you’re ready, we can take that leap of faith together. Real Science. Real Change.
Your pathway to a freer life begins with not only an understanding of what makes you feel better - but why it does. Let’s unpack all of this, and learn together.
This is a space where scientific research meets the human experience. My goal is to provide the best possible treatment for your specific needs, with a lot of warmth and compassion.
Using science-backed practices may sound rigid or even impersonal, but it is only one part of our journey together. I am here to help guide and support you with real human connection and to help bridge the gap between the personal and impersonal. Your goals, values, and lived experience are just as important to this journey as the research.
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I use a cognitive-behavioral approach to treatment. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is supported by decades of research. For OCD, I primarily use exposure and response prevention (ERP), the first-line treatment. I also use exposure therapy for other anxiety disorders.
Other CBT-based treatment modalities may include:
Cognitive restructuring for depression
Behavioral activation for depression
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Comprehensive Behavioral (ComB) Treatment for body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs)
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My primary specialty is OCD and anxiety, but I also treat common issues that present alongside OCD. I offer individual therapy services for:
OCD
Social Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
Agoraphobia
Phobias
Insomnia
Trauma & PTSD
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder
Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs)
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I work with adults 18+ for individual therapy. People with a primary diagnosis of OCD or anxiety are typically a good fit.
I serve all PSYPACT States. See if your state is part of PSYPACT here.
Since Leap Counseling is fully virtual, clients must have access to a secure internet connection and a device with a camera, speaker, and microphone for video sessions.
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I am committed to providing affirming, inclusive care. Therapy is a space where a person’s identities should be respected and valued.
Although the work toward cultural competence is never done, I am committed to ongoing learning, self-reflection, and listening. My goal is to offer care that honors your whole self and meets you with respect, curiosity, and compassion.
A few fun facts about me…
In addition to being a professional and a person with OCD, I am also a human who does regular human things! I am married to a wonderful person, and we share a sweet, cuddly red lab named Winry. In my free time I enjoy playing board games, watching stand-up comedy, and listening to fantasy and sci-fi books.
Treatment Modalities
I’m passionate about evidence-based practice, which means I use research, my clinical experience, and your individual needs and preferences to guide the work we do together. I want to understand you as a whole person, not just a list of symptoms. The approaches below give us a framework, but how we use them will depend on your needs.
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CBT is the foundation of my approach to therapy. It looks at the ways our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors affect one another and gives us practical ways to interrupt patterns that are keeping you stuck.
There are many different treatments that fall under the CBT umbrella, and I use specific strategies based on what you’re dealing with rather than taking the exact same approach with everyone.
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ERP is considered the gold-standard treatment for OCD. It involves gradually practicing facing the thoughts, situations, sensations, or uncertainty that OCD tells you to avoid, while working on responding differently instead of getting pulled into compulsions.
Exposure therapy is also one of the primary ways I treat anxiety disorders. Anxiety naturally tells us to avoid what feels scary or uncertain. Unfortunately, avoidance tends to make anxiety stronger over time.
Exposure can sound intimidating, but it isn’t about throwing you into the deep end. We work collaboratively and take things step by step.
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ACT is a cognitive-behavioral approach that focuses less on trying to get rid of uncomfortable thoughts and feelings and more on changing the relationship you have with them.
We may work on making room for uncertainty, anxiety, or other difficult internal experiences while helping you move toward the things that actually matter to you. I often integrate ACT into ERP and other anxiety treatments.
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I am trained in Comprehensive Behavioral Treatment, or ComB, for body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), such as hair pulling and skin picking.
ComB helps us get curious about when and why the behavior happens, including sensory, emotional, environmental, and behavioral triggers. From there, we can develop strategies that are actually tailored to your patterns rather than relying on willpower alone.
What I Treat
While I specialize in treating anxiety disorders, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), I also have experience treating other mental health concerns. Often, anxiety and OCD do not fit into a neat little box and come with other symptoms. For example, depression, trauma, or insomnia often exist alongside anxiety and/or OCD.
I also have training and experience in treating phobias, depression, insomnia, body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), and PTSD/trauma. We will collaborate together and decide what is most pressing and what needs to be tackled first.
Online Treatment is Available For...Depression
Agoraphobia
Specific Phobias
Social Anxiety
Insomnia
Body-focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB)
Trauma & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Training & Credentials
Licensed Psychologist, Wisconsin
PSYPACT authorization holder
PhD, Clinical Psychology from Northern Illinois University, 2023
Internship, Rogers Behavioral Health OCD and Anxiety Adult Residential Program
Former supervisor at a residential OCD, anxiety, and depression clinic.
Professional Interests
I am a member of the Faith and OCD Leadership Circle at the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). We provide resources and education about scrupulosity, a subtype of OCD involving moral and/or religious obsessions, to religious leaders, clinicians, and people with lived experience with OCD.
In a variety of settings, I have presented about OCD, including a 2024 national webinar on scrupulous OCD and its treatment.
Ready to take
the Leap?
Let’s connect on a 15 minute consultation call. You can ask questions and we can see if this feels like a good fit.