What Is OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition involving two core experiences: obsessions and compulsions.
Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that create significant distress. They feel sticky, urgent, and hard to dismiss, even when you know the thought does not reflect your values or intentions. Compulsions are behaviors or mental rituals performed in an attempt to reduce that distress, such as checking, counting, reassurance-seeking, or avoiding certain situations.
The relief that compulsions provide is temporary. Over time, the OCD cycle strengthens, and the distress returns. This is why effective OCD therapy focuses not on eliminating intrusive thoughts, but on changing how you respond to them.
OCD can look very different from person to person. Common themes include contamination fears, harm obsessions, relationship OCD, perfectionism, religious or moral scrupulosity, and health anxiety. Two people with OCD may share a theme but have entirely different fears and compulsions. This is why personalized care matters. Our therapists work with a wide range of OCD presentations, and all sessions are available via telehealth so you can access support from wherever you are.
Signs You May Be Experiencing OCD
You might be experiencing OCD if you notice:
- Intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that feel distressing and hard to shake
- Repetitive behaviors or mental rituals you feel compelled to perform
- Spending significant time each day managing obsessions and compulsions
- Avoiding situations, places, or people that might trigger your fears
- Temporary relief from rituals, followed by the doubt returning
OCD is far more common than most people realize, and it is highly treatable. The OCD therapy techniques we use are grounded in decades of clinical research. You do not need to wait until symptoms become severe to reach out. If anxiety is also part of your experience, our therapists are trained to address both.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
ERP is the most researched and effective exposure therapy for OCD available. ERP therapy for OCD works by helping you gradually face feared thoughts or situations without performing the usual compulsion. Over time, your brain learns that the feared outcome does not require a ritual, and the urgency of the obsession decreases. We approach ERP therapy for OCD collaboratively and at a pace that feels workable for you.
Exposure and response prevention therapy for OCD is considered the gold standard treatment by leading mental health organizations. It is not about forcing you into distressing situations, but about learning, step by step, that you can tolerate uncertainty without relying on compulsions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for OCD
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most well-supported approaches in OCD therapy. CBT for OCD helps you understand the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapy for OCD specifically targets the thought patterns that maintain the OCD cycle and builds more flexible ways of responding to intrusive thoughts. Cognitive behavioral therapy for OCD is often integrated with ERP for a more complete and lasting approach, addressing both the behaviors driving the cycle and the beliefs underneath them.
Who We Work With
OCD does not discriminate, and neither do we. Inclusive Therapy Group provides OCD therapy for adults across a wide range of identities, backgrounds, and life experiences, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, neurodivergent clients, and people from marginalized communities who have not always felt safe or seen in traditional mental health settings.
OCD can intersect with other parts of your identity in ways that matter clinically. Religious or moral scrupulosity may look different depending on your faith background. Harm obsessions can be shaped by internalized stigma. Relationship OCD can present differently in non-monogamous or queer relationships. Our therapists are trained to hold that context, not ignore it.
You do not have to minimize who you are to get effective OCD treatment. We work with the whole person.
Online OCD Therapy
Online OCD therapy offers the same evidence-based treatment as in-person care, delivered through secure video sessions. All of our services are provided by telehealth, which means you can access ERP, CBT, and ACT for OCD from the comfort of your own home, on a schedule that works for you. View our telehealth services to learn more about how online OCD therapy works and what to expect in your first session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Research consistently shows that online OCD therapy produces outcomes comparable to in-person treatment for most people. Because all of our sessions are delivered via telehealth, you receive the same quality of care regardless of where you live. This also means you can access support across all states we serve. See our rates and insurance information to understand your options.
OCD is generally considered a manageable condition rather than one that is "cured." Many people who complete ERP and CBT for OCD experience a significant reduction in symptoms and go on to live full, meaningful lives with minimal interference. Some people do experience full remission. The goal of therapy is not to eliminate every intrusive thought but to reduce the power those thoughts hold over your daily life.
OCD and anxiety share some features, but they are distinct conditions. Anxiety typically involves worry about real-life concerns like health, relationships, or finances. OCD involves intrusive thoughts that feel ego-dystonic, meaning they clash with your values, paired with compulsions designed to neutralize the distress. A thorough clinical assessment can help clarify which condition is driving your symptoms, or whether both are present.
Getting started is straightforward. You can book directly through our online scheduling system, or contact us if you would like to speak with someone first. We will match you with a therapist who has experience treating OCD and who is a good fit for your needs. If you have questions about cost or coverage, our rates and insurance page has everything you need.
Ready to Start OCD Therapy?
Whether you are newly recognizing OCD in your life or have been struggling for years, we are here to help you build a different relationship with your thoughts.
