Dr. Wagner received her PhD in clinical and social psychology from Columbia University in 1980. She obtained a postdoctoral fellowship at NY Presbyterian- Westchester Division. Following her fellowship, she was invited to join the faculty there. Dr. Wagner served as full time senior psychologist, then voluntary supervising psychologist on the eating disorders in-patient unit. While there, she did research, supervised all therapists on the unit. In addition, Dr. Wagner developed group therapy manuals for in-patients which she modified as length of stay was steadily abbreviated.
After specializing in the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa for many years, Dr. Wagner became intrigued when patients referred for evaluation presumed to have anorexia nervosa did not. In fact, these individuals were struggling with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), or other phobias impacting eating behavior. Her focus shifted to OCD and anxiety disorders. She received intensive training in adult and pediatric OCD (BTTI's) through the IOCDF (International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation). She has received training in Inference Based CBT (I-CBT) for OCD from the co-developer of this approach, Frederick Aardema, Ph.D. This is an evidence based approach that does not require E/RP. Dr. Wagner is very pleased to be able to offer clients another path to recovery from OCD.
Dr. Wagner engages in consultation with national experts. She also provides supervision and consultation for clinicians who want guidance in treating OCD. She has been specializing in the treatment of OCD, anxiety disorders and trauma for over 15 years.
Dr. Wagner begins with an evaluation followed by recommendations. Treatment methods include CBT/ERP (cognitive behavioral therapy with exposure response prevention), I-CBT (Inference Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for OCD), DBT tools (dialectical behavioral therapy), CPT (cognitive processing therapy), Written Exposure Therapy, and mindfulness to treat these conditions. Her up-to-date approach and creative problem solving outlook have helped several clients make improvements where previous therapy was unable to launch.
Dr. Wagner is delighted to have another and different evidence based treatment for OCD to offer clients. The treatment is Inference Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for OCD (I-CBT). It is a cognitive/process model that differs from other treatment approaches for OCD. I-CBT identifies obsessional doubt, obsessional reasoning, and inferential confusion as core components of OCD. Obsessional thoughts are not viewed as random intrusions in I-CBT. They are unwittingly created by the person with OCD. Through treatment patients learn how they are creating and maintaining obsessional thoughts. And using obsessional reasoning which takes them into states of confusion and immersion in a compelling, imaginary Obsessional Story. Through the I-CBT treatment process clients learn to gradually untangle these components, trust their perceptions in the present moment, trust their senses and their common sense.
Professional affiliations
- American Psychological Association
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America
- Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy
- International Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Foundation