Obsessive-compulsive disorder therapists & psychiatrists in Encino, CA

I am Sharon Atwood, a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Adult Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of dedicated clinical experience. I hold active, unrestricted licenses in Florida, New York, California, and Idaho, and I specialize in serving adults aged 18 and older through both telehealth and outpatient settings.

My educational foundation reflects a lifelong commitment to excellence. I earned my Associate in Science and Diploma in Nursing before completing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology magna cum laude from Kean University. I then pursued my Master of Science in Nursing from Florida Atlantic University and a Post-Master's Certificate in Psychiatric-Mental Health from the University of Miami, both achieved summa cum laude. I maintain dual board certifications through ANCC and AANP, and I am a proud member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, and the California Association of Nurse Practitioners.

My clinical background spans diverse settings, including adult and geriatric primary care, inpatient psychiatry, crisis intervention, hospital consultation, assisted living environments, and outpatient psychiatric medication management. This breadth of experience equips me to confidently address a wide range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, OCD, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, sleep disturbances, and complex co-occurring presentations. I welcome individuals with treatment-resistant symptoms.

My approach is collaborative, evidence-based, and rooted in genuine partnership. I combine psychiatric medication management with integrative health practices, examining how sleep, nutrition, exercise, stress, and social connection shape your overall wellbeing. I believe that meaningful progress flourishes when expert care is paired with healthy lifestyle.

I provide psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and supportive therapy for kids, teens and adults. I specialize in treating ADHD, anxiety, depression, mood disorders and trauma-related conditions. For individuals concerned about ADHD, I offer comprehensive evaluations that may include FDA-cleared computerized testing, clinical interviews, and standardized rating scales to help support an accurate diagnosis and guide treatment decisions. My goal is to provide clear answers, personalized care, and practical strategies that help you function at your best.

As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I aim to create a space where you feel heard, respected, and understood. I believe mental health care should be collaborative, practical, and tailored to your unique needs. My approach combines evidence-based treatment with real-life understanding whether that includes therapy, lifestyle changes, or medication management when appropriate. I value honesty, cultural awareness, and meeting you where you are. My goal is to help you feel more stable, confident, and in control of your mental health not just during appointments, but in your everyday life.

I have spent over 40 years teaching, training, and developing mental health programs for individuals from 4 to 84 find hope once again. I am a life-long learner and add at least one certificate a year to ensure clients are given multiple approaches to what they encounter. I am very honest and direct, but also understand the need for pause and reflection. You know the level of your pain and suffering. My job is to meet you where you are and lead you to the place you want to go.

I believe therapy works best when you feel safe, understood, and genuinely supported. My approach is warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental, and I strive to create a space where you can be yourself. People often describe me as easy to talk to, and I believe that compassion—and even a little humor when appropriate—can make the healing process feel more comfortable. We'll work together to build on your strengths and help you create meaningful, lasting change.

I’m a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in helping children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families navigate anxiety, depression, panic, trauma, PTSD, and other life stressors. With experience in psychiatric crisis care and community outreach, I believe healing starts with feeling safe enough to show up. My goal is to offer real, judgment-free support that meets you where you are and helps you move toward lasting growth.

Before earning my Masters in Counseling, I earned a PhD in social and personality psychology. This background deeply informs how I show up as a therapist. I help clients address unresolved trauma and grief, anxiety and OCD, address relationship issues, as well as "problems of everyday living." My style is active, engaged, and practical.