OCD & Anxiety Specialist

Expert Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Health Anxiety (Hypochondria)
Break Free from Constant Health Fears and Rebuild a Sense of Safety within Your Body
If you’ve ever struggled with health anxiety, you know how exhausting it can be to constantly worry about your body and what every new sensation might mean. A racing heart, a twinge of pain, or a dizzy spell can quickly spiral into fears of a serious illness or medical emergency. Over time, this can lead to endless checking, researching, doctor visits, and a persistent sense that something is deeply wrong.
For over a decade, I’ve helped teens and adults break free from the health anxiety cycle and regain trust in their bodies using the gold standard treatment: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Exposure. I’m licensed to provide therapy in Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Washington, New Jersey, and Illinois.
I deeply respect my clients as some of the bravest people I’ve ever met, and my commitment is simple: to use proven therapies, applied with care and compassion, to help you find the lasting relief and freedom you deserve. - Josh Kaplan, LCSW

Meet Josh Kaplan, LCSW and OCD Specialist.
Hi, I’m Josh Kaplan, LCSW. I’ve dedicated my career to helping people overcome health anxiety using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Therapy, the gold-standard, evidence-based treatments that truly work.
Over the years, I’ve helped clients break free from the endless cycle of body scanning, Googling symptoms, seeking reassurance, and fearing that every sensation signals something serious. Whether your anxiety centers on a specific body sensation or various illnesses, I want you to know you’re not alone, and that real, lasting relief is possible.
I’m deeply passionate about this work because I’ve seen how powerful CBT and Exposure Therapy can be in helping people trust their bodies again. You deserve proven treatment that helps you let go of constant health-related worry, regain confidence in your physical sensations, and live your life without anxiety calling the shots.

Understanding Health and Illness Anxiety
Health anxiety, sometimes called Illness Anxiety Disorder, can feel all-consuming. Your mind fixates on every sensation, a flutter in your chest, a headache, a strange feeling, a new ache...and suddenly you’re wondering, What if this is something serious? Even after reassurance or normal test results, the doubt comes right back.
If that sounds familiar, I understand exactly what you’re going through. Health anxiety tricks your brain into believing that normal bodily sensations are signs of illness. To feel safe, you might find yourself Googling symptoms, checking your body, asking for reassurance, or scheduling one more doctor visit, yet the relief never lasts.
The good news is, you don’t have to stay stuck in this cycle. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard, evidence-based treatments for health anxiety, I’ll help you retrain your brain to interpret sensations more accurately, build tolerance for uncertainty, and finally feel at peace in your body again.

How Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) Work for Illness Anxiety?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) work together to directly target the cycle that keeps health anxiety alive. CBT helps you identify and challenge the thought patterns that drive fear and misinterpret physical sensations, while ERP gives you the tools to face those sensations, thoughts, and triggers without resorting to compulsions, reassurance seeking, or avoidance.
Through this process, you’ll learn to tolerate anxiety and uncertainty about your health while resisting the urge to “fix” or neutralize discomfort. As you repeatedly face these triggers and allow anxiety to rise and fall naturally, your brain learns something powerful: bodily sensations and thoughts about illness are not dangerous, and the distress fades on its own when compulsions are resisted.
This combination of CBT and ERP creates the exact conditions your brain needs to rewire its fear response. Over time, intrusive thoughts occur less often, compulsions lose their pull, and what once felt overwhelming becomes manageable.
Treatment is a structured, step-by-step process tailored to your pace and comfort level. With my guidance and support, you’ll develop the insight, tools, and confidence to face uncertainty directly, respond differently to obsessions, and regain trust in your body and mind.
Why Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the Gold Standard for Panic Disorder Treatment
Proven and Supported by Decades of Research
Decades of research show that CBT and ERP are highly effective for health and illness anxiety, leading to significant reductions in health-related fears, overall anxiety, and quality of life.
Endorsed by Experts
CBT, combined with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), is the most effective, evidence-based treatment for health anxiety. It’s recognized by leading organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Targets the Root Cause
CBT and ERP directly address the fear cycle that drives health anxiety. Rather than just managing worry in the moment, these treatments help you understand and change the thought patterns and behaviors that keep health anxiety going.
Retrains the Brain's Response to Fear
Through CBT and ERP exercises, your brain learns that normal bodily sensations are uncomfortable but not dangerous. Over time, this retraining reduces the intensity and frequency of health-related fears and helps you respond to physical sensations with calm and confidence instead of alarm.


Online CBT And ERP Therapy for Health Anxiety Available in: Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Washington, New Jersey, and Illinois
My practice is 100% virtual, making CBT and ERP Therapy for health anxiety both effective and convenient. Online therapy allows us to work with your fears in real time and in the environments where your anxiety actually shows up, whether that’s at home, at work, or in medical-related settings. This approach helps you face triggers directly, build trust in your body, and practice new responses where they matter most.
Whether you’re in Denver, Phoenix, Seattle, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Chicago, or anywhere in between, I’ll help you develop the tools, confidence, and freedom to move beyond constant worry and reclaim a calm, balanced relationship with your body and health.
Take the First Step Toward Freedom from Health and Illness Anxiety
Recovery begins with a single step. If you’re ready to start CBT and ERP therapy for health and illness anxiety, I invite you to schedule a free 20-minute online consultation. We’ll discuss your symptoms, goals, and what effective treatment can look like for you. Together, we’ll take the first step toward lasting relief and renewed peace of mind.