30+ Years of Excellence
Founded in 1994, with roots in pioneering OCD research at UCLA since the early 1990s.
Expert Treatment for OCD, PTSD & BDD in Los Angeles
Hope Starts Here
Westwood Institute specializes in personalized, evidence-based care for individuals living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and complex anxiety-related conditions.
30+ Years of Experience
70% Improvement Rate
Why Choose WIAD
A Legacy of Clinical Excellence
The Westwood Institute combines decades of specialized expertise with compassionate, evidence-based care for severe, complex, and treatment-resistant symptoms.
Intensive Treatment Programs
Immersive, individually tailored programs designed for severe and treatment-resistant cases.
ERP Specialists
Trained in Dr. Edna Foa’s Exposure and Response Prevention protocol, the gold standard for OCD treatment.
Psychiatry Integration
Comprehensive psychopharmacological management can be coordinated with behavioral therapy.
Medical Collaboration
Academic affiliations with USC Keck School of Medicine and UCLA School of Medicine.
Research-Based Care
Active contributions to scientific literature and ongoing refinement of treatment methods.
Conditions We Treat
Specialized Expertise in Complex Disorders
Explore the full spectrum of OCD and anxiety-related conditions treated at Westwood Institute.
Featured Videos
Learn more about our specialized approach to treating complex anxiety disorders, OCD, and related conditions.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Recurrent obsessions and compulsions treated through intensive ERP, CBT, and the Four-Step Method.
Learn More →Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Specialized CBT and ERP for appearance-related distress, checking, reassurance seeking, and avoidance.
Learn More →Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Trauma-focused care using evidence-based exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral strategies.
Learn More →Anxiety Disorders
Comprehensive care for generalized anxiety and related fears using CBT and behavioral interventions.
Learn More →Panic Disorder
Targeted treatment for panic attacks, fear of body sensations, and agoraphobic avoidance.
Learn More →Social Anxiety
Evidence-based treatment for social fear, performance anxiety, embarrassment, and avoidance.
Learn More →Health Anxiety
Specialized care for illness anxiety, body scanning, checking, and reassurance cycles.
Learn More →Hoarding
Structured intervention for compulsive saving, clutter, avoidance, and decision difficulty.
Learn More →Trichotillomania
Behavioral treatment for compulsive hair pulling using awareness training and habit reversal.
Learn More →Skin Picking
Specialized behavioral care for excoriation disorder and repetitive picking cycles.
Learn More →Treatment Programs
Evidence-Based Programs Tailored to You
From intensive outpatient care to flexible telehealth, each program is designed around clinical fit and patient goals.
What is an IOP Program?
An Intensive Outpatient Program provides a higher level of support than standard weekly therapy while allowing patients to remain in daily life.
Program Guide3-Week Intensive ProgramMost Popular
The flagship immersive program integrates ERP and the Four-Step Method for severe OCD and related disorders.
3 weeksTwice-Weekly Program
A semi-intensive option for patients who need strong continuity while balancing school, work, or family responsibilities.
8 weeksComprehensive Assessments
A thorough clinical evaluation using validated rating scales and specialized diagnostic tools.
VariesIndividual Therapy
Personalized one-on-one therapy with an ERP specialist, tailored to symptoms, goals, and readiness.
OngoingTelehealth Sessions
Secure virtual sessions for appropriate patients who cannot attend in person.
FlexibleMeet the Team
Led by World-Renowned Experts
Our clinicians bring specialized training and a deep commitment to helping patients overcome challenging cases.
Director & Founder
Eda Gorbis, PhD, LMFT
Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, USC Keck School of Medicine
Dr. Gorbis is a world-renowned authority on the treatment and research of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. She trained under Dr. Edna B. Foa, the pioneer of ERP therapy, and worked with Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz at UCLA, creator of the Four-Step Cognitive Behavioral Self-Treatment method.
She synthesized these approaches to establish the Westwood Institute, achieving one of the highest success rates for OCD treatment in the United States.
OCDBDDERPCBTPTSDAnxiety
Success Stories
Voices of Recovery
From professional colleagues to patients who have walked the path to recovery, hear what they say about the Westwood Institute.
“Dr. Eda Gorbis is a seasoned expert in helping people overcome OCD and related problems. Her expert team helps even the toughest cases.”
Professional Colleague
“Her approach is compassionate, caring, intense and fast. Clients who stay with the program experience positive changes and improved mood.”
Professional Endorsement
“After years of struggling with OCD and trying many different therapists, I finally found a program that understood what recovery required.”
3-Week Intensive Program Graduate
“The team at WIAD understood my BDD in a way no one else had. Dr. Gorbis and her innovative techniques gave me the tools to see myself clearly for the first time in years.”
BDD Treatment Graduate
Research & Publications
Advancing the Science of Recovery
Dr. Gorbis and the WIAD team contribute to evidence-based knowledge on OCD, BDD, PTSD, and related disorders.
Start Here
Recovery begins with the right assessment.
Contact Westwood Institute to learn which treatment format fits your symptoms, history, and goals.