Meet Denver Anxiety and OCD Specialist, Josh Kaplan, LCSW
Hi, I’m Josh Kaplan, LCSW. I specialize in helping people break free from the grip of anxiety and OCD so they can live with more calm, confidence, and freedom. If you’re here, you’ve probably tried to manage anxiety or OCD on your own and found it harder than it should be. I get it, and I've been there myself.
For close to 15 years, I’ve helped people of all ages break the anxiety cycle, and rediscover a sense of peace through practical, evidence-based therapy. My work is built on trust, compassion, and collaboration. Together, we’ll take an active, structured approach to help you feel more confident, capable, and in control.
Experience and Credentials
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Master’s degree in Social Work and nearly 15 years of experience specializing exclusively in anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder. I am considered a specialist because my work is focused solely on these conditions, using evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention. I received advanced training through the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, where I studied the application of CBT and ERP for anxiety disorders and OCD. This work is not simply my profession but a long-standing passion. Having my own lived experience with anxiety allows me to relate deeply to what my clients are going through and to approach treatment with empathy, clarity, and respect for how real and consuming anxiety can feel.
As a therapist, I’m often described as calm, warm, professional, and sometimes funny. I bring warmth and empathy to every session, paired with a direct and structured, evidence-based approach. I believe my clients are some of the bravest people I know. Choosing to face anxiety, uncertainty, and fear takes a level of courage most people never see. I value and respect the therapeutic relationship and work hard to create a space where you feel safe, understood, and supported. I show up authentically, human and imperfect like everyone else, because real change happens in a relationship built on trust, honesty, and genuine connection.
What sets me apart
Why choose to work with an Anxiety and OCD Specialist?
When you’re dealing with anxiety or OCD, working with a specialist matters. A helpful way to think about it is the difference between seeing your primary care physician and seeing a cardiologist. Your primary care doctor is knowledgeable, capable, and essential, but if you have a specific heart condition, you’re typically referred to a specialist who treats that issue every day.
Anxiety disorders and OCD operate in very specific ways, and effective treatment requires more than general coping strategies or supportive talk therapy. A specialist understands the mechanisms that keep anxiety and OCD going, knows how to apply evidence-based treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention correctly, and can recognize when well-intended approaches may unintentionally reinforce symptoms.
Working with a specialist often saves both time and money, even when insurance isn’t used. Because treatment is targeted and structured, many clients begin seeing meaningful improvement within 10–12 sessions, rather than spending years in therapy without directly addressing the anxiety or OCD cycle. Fewer sessions focused on the right interventions can ultimately be more cost-effective than long-term, unfocused treatment.
In fact, many of my clients are referred to me by their primary therapist. We often spend a few months working strategically on anxiety or OCD, and once symptoms are better managed, clients return to their original therapist to continue focusing on other treatment goals. This collaborative approach allows you to get specialized care when you need it most, without replacing or disrupting the broader therapeutic work you may already be doing.
Exclusive specialization in anxiety and OCD: I've spent my entire career focused exclusively on anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This focus allows me to understand the patterns, subtleties, and treatment nuances that a more generalized therapists often miss.
Advanced, gold-standard training: I have advanced training through the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, with a strong emphasis on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention, the most effective, research-supported treatments for anxiety disorders and OCD.
Structured, evidence-based treatment that leads to real change: Therapy is active and intentional. Sessions are focused on learning how anxiety and OCD operate, practicing new responses, and applying skills in real life so progress continues outside of session, not just during it.
Personal understanding paired with professional expertise: My own lived experience with anxiety informs my work, helping me meet clients with empathy and realism. I understand how consuming anxiety can be, and I approach treatment with respect, clarity, and a belief in my clients’ capacity to do hard things.
CV
Education
I earned my Bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and went on to complete my Master of Social Work (MSW) at the University of Denver, graduating in 2011. My graduate training focused on clinical mental health, with a specialty in interpersonal trauma and recovery. This foundation continues to shape my work today, informing the evidence-based approach I use to help clients understand their symptoms, build resilience, and create lasting change.
Post Graduate Anxiety and OCD Training
I completed post-graduate training at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. I received advanced, OCD and anxiety specific training under the guidance of psychologist Edna Foa, a pioneer in the anxiety field. My training focused on gold-standard, evidence-based treatments, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Exposure Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Direct Clinical Practice
I’ve always worked directly with clients, because this is the work I’m most passionate about. Since 2013, I’ve maintained a private practice focused specifically on the treatment of anxiety disorders and OCD. Even while serving in leadership roles within larger behavioral health organizations, I made it a priority to continue seeing clients every week. Direct clinical work has remained the core of my professional identity; it's my passion, and it’s where I find the most meaning, helping teens and adults break free from fear-driven anxiety patterns and reclaim their lives.
Clinical Leadership (2019-2023)
In addition to my work in private practice, I’ve worked to advance the quality of evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders and OCD on a broader scale. I served as Director of Clinical Operations and later Vice President of Clinical Operations at NOCD, where I helped train, supervise, and provide clinical oversight for a team of more than 200 OCD therapists. In these roles, I contributed to the development of training programs, refined clinical protocols, and ensured therapists were delivering consistent, research-supported OCD and anxiety care. This leadership work strengthened my commitment to high-quality, evidence-based treatment and deepened my understanding of what clients need to make meaningful, lasting progress.
Ongoing Contributions to Anxiety and OCD Awareness and Education
I am proud to have contributed to OCD and anxiety disorder awareness and education through presentations at two International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) conferences. My presentations focused on two critical topics: Harm OCD, shedding light on its unique challenges and effective treatment approaches, and co-morbid Social Anxiety with OCD, emphasizing the nuanced interplay between these conditions and tailored intervention strategies.
Start Anxiety and OCD Therapy Today
If Anxiety or OCD has been controlling more of your life than you want, help is available. With the right treatment, it is possible to break out of the cycle and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
I offer a free 20 minute online consultation to answer questions, discuss your symptoms, and help you determine whether my approach is the right fit.
CBT 4 Anxiety