Therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Evidence-based OCD treatment using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to help you break free from OCD cycles and spend less time controlled by fear, doubt, and compulsions.
OCD can be exhausting. Whether it shows up through intrusive thoughts, sensory experiences, or a need for things to feel “just right,” it can pull you into cycles of:
Anxiety and doubt
Checking and analyzing
Asking for reassurance
Repeating rituals or behaviors
These cycles can take up significant time and energy. You may recognize that your fears or behaviors don't always make sense, but the anxiety can still feel impossible to ignore.
The good news is that OCD is highly treatable.
How We Approach Therapy for OCD
Our approach is grounded in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), an evidence-based treatment specifically developed for OCD. We also incorporate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based strategies.
Together, we’ll work to:
Face Fears Gradually: Approach feared thoughts, situations, and sensations at a manageable pace.
Reduce Compulsions and Avoidance: Practice responding differently to anxiety and uncertainty without relying on compulsions or avoidance for relief.
Build Psychological Flexibility: Develop a different relationship with intrusive thoughts, uncomfortable emotions, and uncertainty.
Apply Skills Beyond Sessions: Practice what you learn in therapy in your everyday life, building confidence in responding to OCD outside the therapy room.
Sessions are active and collaborative, with treatment tailored to your experiences, needs, and goals.
The goal isn’t to make uncertainty disappear—it’s to learn new ways of responding to anxiety and uncertainty so you can stop organizing your life around OCD.
Questions We Often Hear
I’m very organized and afraid of germs,
do I have OCD?
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Not necessarily. OCD is more than being neat, clean, organized, or particular. It involves patterns of thoughts and behaviors that can feel overwhelming and difficult to step away from.
These patterns can take up significant time and energy and make everyday life more difficult.
Understanding the difference between everyday preferences and OCD is an important part of providing effective, compassionate treatment.
How do I know if I have OCD?
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OCD can show up in many ways. You may experience:
Intrusive thoughts, images, sensory experiences, or urges that feel unwanted, distressing, or inconsistent with your values.
Persistent doubt and overthinking, including questioning your relationship, your feelings, or whether you're making the “right” decision.
Checking and reassurance-seeking, such as researching, comparing options, or repeatedly asking questions to feel more certain.
Contamination fears and rituals, including excessive washing, cleaning, or food preparation.
Mental rituals, such as replaying conversations, reviewing memories, or analyzing thoughts and feelings to understand what they mean.
A need for things to feel “just right,” or symmetrical which may lead to repeated organizing, checking, or adjusting things until they feel right or may include certain sensory obsessions and rituals
Avoidance, such as steering clear of situations, people, or experiences that trigger anxiety or uncertainty.
A heightened sense of responsibility, including feeling that you must take certain actions, avoid certain situations, or think the “right” thoughts to prevent something bad from happening.
OCD looks different for everyone. This list isn’t exhaustive and you don't need to experience all of these symptoms to benefit from further exploration with an OCD-informed therapist.
What if I’m not sure whether I have OCD?
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You don’t need a formal diagnosis to seek support or an assessment. You may notice:
Cycles of anxiety or persistent doubt
Avoidance of situations that trigger discomfort
Repetitive behaviors, checking, or reassurance-seeking
Together, we can explore what you’re experiencing, better understand what may be keeping you stuck, and determine whether OCD-focused treatment may be helpful.
Will ERP make me face my biggest fear right away?
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No! ERP is a gradual, collaborative process.
We’ll identify your OCD patterns and treatment goals.
We’ll develop an individualized plan based on your needs and readiness.
We’ll work toward challenging situations at a manageable pace.
The goal isn’t to overwhelm you. It’s to help you build the skills to respond differently to anxiety, discomfort, and uncertainty.
What if my intrusive thoughts are disturbing or embarrassing?
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Many people with OCD experience intrusive thoughts that feel upsetting, shameful, or inconsistent with who they are.
Having an intrusive thought doesn’t mean you want it, believe it, or that it reflects your values.
Therapy offers a space to explore these experiences without judgment and learn how to respond differently to intrusive thoughts, rather than getting caught up in trying to analyze or resolve them.
Why Does OCD Require Specialized Treatment?
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Traditional anxiety treatment often focuses on examining anxious thoughts and reducing anxiety. With OCD, these strategies can sometimes reinforce the cycle of doubt, reassurance-seeking, and compulsions.
Specialized OCD treatment, such as ERP, helps you respond differently to intrusive thoughts and uncertainty rather than trying to resolve them or make the anxiety go away.