OCD, Anxiety & Insomnia Treatment in Bellingham, WA | Lizzy Shevins, PMHNP-BC

Specialized psychiatric care · Bellingham, WA & Telehealth across Washington

OCD, anxiety, and insomnia
often linked, always treatable

These three conditions frequently travel together and reinforce each other. I offer specialized psychiatric care targeting each one — medication management for OCD and anxiety, and evidence-based CBT-i for insomnia available as a standalone service.

Services at a glance

OCD & Anxiety

Medication management + ACT/ERP-informed therapy

Chronic Insomnia

CBT-i · standalone, no medication required

Co-occurring conditions

ADHD, depression, bipolar, PTSD

In-person & telehealth

Bellingham office · Washington State only

Medication management + supportive therapy

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) & Anxiety

OCD is more than perfectionism or occasional intrusive thoughts. It's a disruptive cycle of obsessions — unwanted or distressing thoughts — and compulsions, the behaviors or rituals performed to relieve the anxiety those thoughts create. Many people with OCD feel stuck in exhausting patterns that quietly take over work, relationships, and daily life.

Anxiety disorders often appear alongside OCD, or on their own. They can show up as constant worry, physical tension, avoidance behaviors, racing thoughts, or a persistent sense that the worst is always just around the corner. Left untreated, anxiety can erode your ability to live freely and fully.

How I treat it: I use a combination of targeted medication management and supportive therapy informed by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). This integrative approach helps break the cycle of compulsive behaviors and catastrophization while building psychological flexibility and self-compassion.

Medication management Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) ERP-informed therapy Self-compassion Mindful awareness Deprescribing
A note on therapy scope: For OCD and anxiety, the supportive therapy I offer is integrated with medication management — it's not a standalone therapy-only service. If you're looking for intensive ERP without medication, I'm glad to refer you to a specialist therapist who focuses exclusively on that.

At a glance

Service type Medication + therapy
Initial eval 75 minutes
Follow-ups 30–60 minutes
Format In-person or telehealth
Insurance Accepted (most plans)
CBT-i · Available as a standalone service

Chronic Insomnia & CBT-i

Insomnia often becomes a self-reinforcing cycle: the harder you try to sleep, the more elusive rest becomes. It may show up as difficulty falling asleep, waking through the night, or early-morning awakenings you can't recover from. Over time, poor sleep compounds anxiety, mood, and concentration — making everything harder.

How I treat it: I offer Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i) — a structured, evidence-based program recommended as the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia by both the American Psychological Society and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. CBT-i works by targeting the thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate poor sleep, using techniques like sleep restriction, stimulus control, and cognitive restructuring.

Unlike medication, CBT-i addresses the underlying drivers of insomnia rather than masking symptoms. Results are durable. If you're currently taking sleep medication, deprescribing support is available when that's a goal.

CBT-i (8–12 sessions) Sleep restriction Stimulus control Cognitive restructuring Sleep hygiene Deprescribing support No medication required
Is CBT-i right for you? CBT-i is appropriate for most people, including those managing co-occurring anxiety, depression, or other psychiatric conditions. The main exception is people with seizure disorders; it also requires careful consideration for those with bipolar disorder. We'll go through this together during the initial evaluation.

CBT-i program details

Program length 8–12 sessions
Initial eval 75 minutes
Session length 30–60 minutes
Standalone? Yes — no meds needed
Format In-person or telehealth
Insurance Accepted (most plans)
Treated alongside primary conditions

Co-occurring conditions

OCD, anxiety, and insomnia rarely travel alone. I can evaluate and treat co-occurring conditions as part of a comprehensive medication management plan. Treatment is always collaborative — I take time to understand your full picture before we decide on a path together.

ADHD

Attention and focus challenges that frequently co-occur with anxiety and sleep difficulties.

Depression

Often intertwined with anxiety and insomnia, and responsive to an integrated treatment approach.

Bipolar Disorder

Mood stabilization through careful medication management, with attention to sleep as a key factor.

PTSD

Trauma responses that often manifest alongside anxiety, hypervigilance, and disrupted sleep.

My approach

Integrative, patient-centered care

I work collaboratively with patients to find the best path forward — whether that means medication management, CBT-i, discussion of evidence-based supplements, lifestyle adjustments, or referral to the right specialist. No single approach works for everyone.

Before becoming a nurse practitioner, I worked as a registered nurse on the inpatient psychiatry units at Harborview Medical Center and Seattle Children's Hospital. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for the complexity of each person — and for how much context matters in getting care right.

I also stay in regular contact with therapists, primary care providers, and specialists when that serves my patients. If I'm not the right fit for what you need, I'll tell you — and point you somewhere useful.

Medication management Evidence-based supplements Deprescribing Lifestyle medicine Collaborative care Specialist referrals

Background

Credential PMHNP-BC, DNP
Education University of Washington
Prior role RN, Inpatient Psychiatry
Hospitals Harborview · Seattle Children's
Location Bellingham, WA

Not sure where you fit?

Schedule a brief 10–15 minute consultation call. We'll talk through what you're experiencing and whether my practice is the right fit — no commitment required.

Schedule a free consultation

Or call directly: 206-649-5337