Linda Street PhD

In my own practice, approximately 20% of my practice is comprised of patients with OCD and OC related disorders. The reason is because the percentage of clients is based on the numbers of referrals I receive. I would certainly be open to treating more OCD clients if more sought my treatment. I cannot estimate the numbers accurately but it must be close to 100 patients I have treated over my entire career.

I initially learned OCD treatment in at the SUNY Albany Anxiety Disorders Clinic. At Columbia Univ, I was the site coordinator of an OCD treatment study comparing psychotherapy (exposure and response prev.) and Clomipramine. I was trained and supervised by leaders in the field to provide all of the therapy in the study for several years. I also I treated solely OCD clients in a practice in NYC for 2 years. At GWUMC, I treated individuals and groups with OCD clients, trichotillomania, body dysmorphic disorder, etc. I have treated OCD patients in my own practice for over 20 years.

I have worked in treating and evaluating non-English speaking persons from Latino cultures (especially from the Dominican Republic) with anxiety disorders but with a translator as I don’t speak Spanish. I have also learned much from supervisors and colleagues from other cultures. I have treated non- English speaking persons with OCD. I have treated English-speaking persons with OCD from a variety of cultures (African American, Latino, Eastern European, Middle Eastern, Western European) throughout my career. In recent months, I have treated one European person (from Belgium) and one Middle Eastern person (from Iran) with OCD in my practice.

The longevity of my career makes it difficult to recall the names of specific trainings I have received. I was licenced in Washington, DC for 20 years where CE credits were required. I took numerous CE courses about diversity during that time. While working for the Federal Government, we were required to take inservice-type meetings on cultural issues and to include diverse populations in the studies we participated in. I worked in an HMO where treated I also numerous persons from many diverse populations. Honestly, most of my knowledge about diversity has come from the patients themselves.