Sarah Blechman

I knew early on that I want to help people. I started working at an inpatient treatment center here in Hawaii, and I quickly found that the process of healing others matches my skill set and the needs I see in my community.

OCD is pervasive and misunderstood. Many people deal with intrusive thoughts and avoidance of those stimuli, and it can be a scary and lonely thing for a person to deal with. Specializing in OCD is a good match for my own natural skill set. I work really well with people who are dealing with that grueling combination of avoidance and intrusive mayhem in their own brains.

In addition to depression and anxiety, and I have experience with treating substance use disorders, conduct disorders, disordered eating, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and family conflicts.

Pushing through the fear of getting started is really the first challenge that sets the template for the healing process. It's an investment in being able to function better in your life.

Know that feeling shame is a natural part of the process. It's like the head of the snake—it's what brings people to avoidance and their lack of capacity to function normally in relationships, work, and life. To make progress, we must work through that fear.