Tejal Jakatdar, PhD
Founder and Director/Psychologist
My clinical philosophy is simple yet deeply personal: I approach you as a whole person, far beyond just the symptoms you're facing. I know how anxiety, sadness, OCD, postpartum mood and anxiety challenges can stir up feelings of guilt, shame, and isolation, making it feel so hard to embrace the full, vibrant life you could live. It is something that truly inspires me, and it is why I am here—to walk beside you with genuine care and understanding.
With empathy and expertise at the core of everything I do, I will create a personalized, forward-thinking treatment plan that is just right for you, appreciating where you are and what you are ready for. Friends and colleagues often describe me as warm and funny, and while that's true, I also believe in offering that caring kind of "tough love"—the steady hand that holds you accountable as we gradually face those fears together. I would love to help you uncover what is standing in the way of the values that make your life meaningful, then partnering with you to lift those barriers. What brings me the most joy is seeing your real progress, those tangible steps toward goals that feel purposeful, as you step into the best version of your life with confidence and ease.
Methods Of Treatment
I have built my practice around treating OCD and anxiety with a level of care and expertise that comes from years of wholehearted dedication—and it is a privilege to be trusted with even the most complex cases. I ground everything in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), that reliable foundation backed by decades of research, making it the trusted gold standard for so many anxiety and mood challenges. What I love about CBT is how it feels like a true collaboration—structured and practical, but always hands-on, focusing on the real changes that matter to you.
Drawing from my track record of meaningful outcomes, I thoughtfully blend the best from CBT, exposure therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). It is all about giving you practical tools to not only ease the weight of your struggles but to build a life full of purpose and connection. Through my work at Willow, which I founded in 2016 to bring evidence-based care right to the Bay Area, my goal has always been the same: to make change feel approachable, effective, and deeply supported. I am dedicated to supporting adults with OCD, anxiety disorders, perinatal anxiety and depression, ARFID, and perfectionism, helping you navigate challenges and work toward a more fulfilling life.
Cultural Sensitivity
As someone who immigrated from India, I am keenly aware of the warmth and complexity of how culture and family values weave into every part of who we are—it shapes our strengths, our joys, and yes, even our struggles with mental health. Having bridged two such different worlds myself, I approach every story with that same openness, seeing the full picture of your diagnosis alongside the cultural threads that make it unique. I am especially attuned to how family expectations, the push for independence, or the adjustments of new languages and traditions can quietly amplify anxiety or mood challenges, and it means a lot to me to capture that in our work.
I practice with cultural humility, weaving your background into our sessions so therapy feels like a welcoming conversation, not a one-size-fits-all plan. Here in Silicon Valley's beautifully diverse community, I have had the pleasure of supporting South Asian families through the gentle shifts of acculturation or helping bicultural folks connect with and appreciate their diverse roots. Inspired by my personal journey, I ensure our time together respects your background, creating space for growth that feels truly seen and valued.
Education and Experience
My path to this work has been filled with inspiring mentors and moments that I am deeply grateful for. I earned my doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Temple University in Philadelphia—one of the top 10 programs nationwide—learning from Dr. Richard Heimberg, a brilliant researcher and mentor whose passion for real-world impact shaped my own. My internship at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in bustling New York City gave me invaluable hands-on experience in a fast-paced psychiatric environment. By 2010, I was a full partner at the Anxiety and OCD Treatment Center of Philadelphia, a standout program for OCD care, where Dr. Jonathan Grayson—such a generous OCD expert—mentored me and later became my business partner. Since 2016, I have called Silicon Valley home, founding Willow Anxiety and OCD Treatment Center to offer that same compassionate, specialized care to families right here in the Bay Area.
Sharing knowledge is one of my greatest joys—it is like passing on a bit of light to others. I am proud to serve as faculty for the IOCDF's BTTI program, the go-to training for OCD and related disorders worldwide, where I get to connect with eager clinicians. I have taught CBT to third-year psychiatry residents at CPMC, an experience that earned me the "Teacher of the Year" award for 2020-21—a sweet reminder of how much I love those breakthroughs. I have been adjunct faculty at Temple, mentored countless practicum and postdoctoral trainees with care, chaired ABCT's Master Clinician Seminars for three rewarding years, and reviewed submissions for ADAA conferences—organizations that keep the conversation alive on OCD, anxiety, and mood disorders. My research in peer-reviewed journals, including a book chapter on treating social anxiety, comes from a place of wanting to help more people, and I cherish presenting at IOCDF, ADAA, and ABCT annual conferences (like on perfectionism and OCD in demanding cultures) or speaking in communities about anxiety and OCD. From Psychology Today contributions to podcast chats, it is all about reaching out with warmth and hope.
In my downtime, nothing recharges me quite like cozy evenings with my son and husband, exploring new cuisines on travels that spark my curiosity, feeling the ocean's calm and sometimes stormy presence, sprucing up our home and office with touches that bring smiles, diving into a good thriller, or those genuine catch-ups with my wonderful Willow team. These simple pleasures keep me connected to what matters most, so I can show up fully for you.
