Why Choose a Specialist for OCD and Eating Disorder Treatment?

When you're looking for OCD treatment or eating disorder therapy, one of the most important decisions you'll make isn't just who you work with , it's what kind of therapist they are. Specialization changes everything about how treatment works, how fast you see progress, and how confident you can feel that what you're doing is actually going to help.

Why Specialization Matters in Mental Health Treatment

OCD, ARFID, and tic disorders are conditions with very specific symptom patterns, very specific evidence-based treatments, and very specific pitfalls if those treatments aren't applied correctly. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, for example, has to be implemented with precision, done incorrectly, it can reinforce the very cycle it's meant to break. The same is true for CBT-AR in ARFID treatment and CBIT for tic disorders.

This is why specialization isn't just a preference, it's a meaningful factor in treatment outcomes. A therapist who treats OCD, eating disorders, or tic disorders regularly has encountered the nuances, subtypes, and edge cases that only come from repetition: Harm OCD, Contamination OCD, sensory-based food avoidance, complex tic presentations, and the comorbidities that often travel alongside them. That depth of pattern recognition translates directly into more targeted, more effective care.

My Background and Areas of Specialization

I'm Ricardo Despradel, LMHC-D, LPC, a licensed mental health counselor with years of focused clinical experience treating:

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

  • Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) using CBT-AR

  • Eating disorders more broadly, including Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating Disorder, using CBT-E

  • Tic disorders and Tourette Syndrome using Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT)

My clinical work includes training and supervising other mental health providers, contributing educational content on OCD subtypes for organizations like the International OCD Foundation, and staying closely engaged with ongoing research and best practices in these specialties.

As a queer, Latinx therapist, I bring a culturally informed lens to every session. I understand how identity, culture, and mental health intersect, and I know that effective treatment has to account for the full context of a person's life and not just their symptoms. Clients from LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities can expect a space where their identity is understood from the outset, not something they need to explain or justify before treatment can begin.

Affirming Care for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC Clients

What to Expect From Specialized Treatment

Working with a specialist means your treatment plan is built around your specific diagnosis from day one , not a general framework loosely adapted to fit. In our first sessions, we'll map out exactly what you're experiencing, whether that's intrusive thoughts and compulsions, restrictive eating patterns, or tics that are interfering with daily life. From there, treatment follows a structured, evidence-based path designed for measurable progress.

Over time, clients typically notice:

  • Reduced frequency and intensity of intrusive thoughts or compulsions

  • Greater tolerance for uncertainty and anxiety, without relying on rituals or avoidance

  • A more flexible, less fear-driven relationship with food

  • Renewed ability to engage in relationships, routines, and goals that OCD or disordered eating had pushed aside

Telehealth Therapy Across New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts

I provide secure telehealth sessions for teens and adults across New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, and I'm in-network with most major commercial insurers making specialized, evidence-based care more accessible than it might otherwise be.

If you've been searching for an OCD therapist, an ARFID specialist, or an eating disorder counselor who treats your specific concern as their primary focus rather than one of many, I'd be glad to talk with you about whether we're a good fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes, in most cases, you can use your insurance to access this kind of specialized care. I'm in-network with most major commercial insurers across New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, which means your sessions may be covered the same way a typical therapy visit would be, without the added cost of paying out-of-pocket for specialized treatment. Insurance coverage can vary by plan, so I'd encourage you to verify your specific benefits, including any copay or session limits, before we begin. If I'm not in-network with your particular plan, I can also provide documentation for out-of-network reimbursement, depending on your insurance and assist you in submitting claims to your insurance

  • My primary focus is on OCD and eating disorders, including ARFID, because I believe specialized, evidence-based treatment leads to the best outcomes for these conditions. That said, I also work with related concerns that often show up alongside OCD and eating disorders, such as anxiety, perfectionism, and body image struggles, since these frequently intersect with the conditions I specialize in. If you're dealing with a concern outside of my areas of focus, I'm happy to talk with you about whether we're a good fit or whether a referral to another provider might better serve you.

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  • Yes, I work with both teens and adults. While the core treatment approaches like ERP for OCD, CBT-AR for ARFID, and CBT-E for other eating disorders stay grounded in the same evidence-based principles, I adapt how I deliver them based on a teen's developmental stage, communication style, and level of independence. For younger clients, I'll often involve parents or caregivers in parts of treatment, since their support and understanding can make a real difference in how successfully a teen engages with and sustains progress in therapy.

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