Heidi Ojalehto, PhD (she/her/hers) is an Associate Staff Psychologist in the Anxiety Center at EBTCS.
Dr. Ojalehto completed her post-doctoral fellowship with the Anxiety Center at EBTCS and specializes in evidence-based treatments for a range of psychological concerns, including anxiety disorders (e.g., panic disorders, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, phobias, generalized anxiety disorder), obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (e.g., OCD, hoarding disorder, skin picking/hair pulling), and trauma and related disorders (e.g., PTSD). She also has expertise in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and couples’ distress.
Dr. Ojalehto completed her undergraduate degree in human development at Cornell University. After college, she worked as a research coordinator at the University of Washington Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress, working on clinical trials examining treatments for PTSD. She went on to pursue her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at UNC Chapel Hill where she received specialized training in evidence-based treatments for trauma and anxiety-related disorders. Her doctoral research focused on the role of trauma in the development of OCD as well as the perinatal transition as a time of risk for the onset of mood and anxiety disorders.
Dr. Ojalehto completed her predoctoral internship training at the Seattle VA where she provided Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and couples therapy to Veterans. She has also received specialized training in other evidence-based treatments such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy (IBCT). In her clinical work, Dr. Ojalehto prioritizes building a strong therapeutic relationship and takes a collaborative approach, partnering with each client to identify and work toward shared goals.
Dr. Ojalehto is licensed in Washington State and holds the Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) through PSYPACT. Dr. Ojalehto is also a member of the Washington State Psychological Association.