My name is Sarah Segal and I am an LCSW (CA 86501) clinician and founder of Returning to Trust .

Before I became an OCD and anxiety specialist, I was an OCD sufferer myself. Throughout my life anxiety seemed to ebb and flow attaching to new topics as I transitioned to new phases in my life but I never had the language or understanding to describe the pain and agony of my experience.

It was not until I became a therapist myself that I began to learn about OCD and recognize the symptoms in myself. I found my own therapist and used both ERP and I-CBT to treat my OCD. This experience not only offered profound and meaningful change in my own life but forever informed and impacted my work as a therapist. The more I learned about anxiety and OCD the more my drive and passion to help others in this area grew.

As an OCD therapist, I am trained in I-CBT and certified by the International OCD Foundation Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) in ERP. I keep abreast of state of the art techniques and regularly engage in consultation with OCD practitioners. I am deeply committed to continued current learning, research, collaboration and consultation in the field of OCD and anxiety in an effort to be an informed and effective practitioner.

Prior to private practice, I was as a staff therapist providing individual and group therapy to college age students in the UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) program. Since completing my Master’s degree at UCLA in the Social Welfare Department, I practiced primarily in outpatient mental health settings around Los Angeles serving children, adults and older adults. As a clinical social worker at UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital in a child IOP/PHP setting, I provided family and group therapy. Additionally, I worked as an individual therapist with adults at AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Hollywood, and later, at LAC+USC hospital providing individual, group and family therapy in an outpatient adult clinic.

I strive to be anti-racist and LGBTQ+ affirming in my approach as a therapist. I work with clients to identify and validate one’s identities and systemic intersections to facilitate empowerment.

I tailor the therapy to facilitate empowerment through our work together as we identify, clarify and validate individual needs.