A calming picture of a sandy walkway through reeds to the beach

Therapy for OCD

& Anxiety

Evidence based treatment for intrusive thoughts, reassurance seeking, compulsive checking, self-doubt, and perfectionism

 

You don’t have to go through this alone.

You’re a high achiever, maybe even the one your friends come to for advice. You’re passionate, driven, and care deeply about doing the right thing. But sometimes your thoughts don’t match the person you know yourself to be,  and that can be terrifying.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone, and you’re not dangerous, broken, or “bad.” You may be experiencing a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that centers around intrusive, unwanted thoughts. These thoughts feel deeply distressing because they go against everything you value. You’re not afraid of doing something harmful. You’re terrified that the fact you’re having the thought at all means something is deeply wrong with you.

Let’s clear something up.

Having intrusive thoughts does not mean you’re “bad.” In fact, the distress you’re feeling is a sign of how deeply you care. Therapy can help you untangle the fear from the thought and start living with more freedom and peace of mind.

You don’t have to keep this to yourself.

It’s scary to open up about these thoughts, especially if you’re worried how others might respond. But this space is different. In our work together, we’ll create a judgment-free environment where you can finally say the thing you’ve been holding back. You won’t be met with fear. You’ll be met with understanding, evidence-based treatment, and compassion.

What is OCD?

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts (called obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental actions (called compulsions). People with OCD often feel intense anxiety or distress and engage in rituals, such as checking, cleaning, or mentally reviewing, to try to relieve that discomfort.

  • Obsessions can involve fears about harm, contamination, morality, identity, or making a mistake. Compulsions might be visible actions like checking or cleaning, or internal responses like mentally reviewing conversations or seeking reassurance. What makes OCD especially difficult is that these thoughts and rituals feel urgent and consuming, even when the person recognizes they’re irrational.

  • OCD isn’t just about being neat or particular. It can show up as fears of harming others, doubts about morality or identity, or needing things to feel "just right." These thoughts can feel disturbing, and the rituals can take up hours of your day, even if you know they don’t truly make sense.

  • Many adults with OCD go years without a diagnosis, especially if their compulsions are internal (like mental checking or reassurance seeking). Left untreated, OCD can interfere with relationships, career, and overall quality of life.

  • OCD isn’t about personality quirks or preferences, it’s about feeling stuck in a cycle that interferes with everyday life.

The good news? OCD is very treatable. With the right support and evidence-based therapy, you can learn to step out of the cycle of fear and control. The most effective treatment for OCD is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a type of therapy that helps you face fears gradually while resisting the urge to do the usual rituals. Over time, this helps reduce the power OCD has over your thoughts and actions.

If you’re an adult struggling with intrusive thoughts, perfectionism, or compulsive behaviors, OCD therapy may help you reclaim peace and clarity. You don’t have to keep living under the weight of anxiety and doubt. OCD is treatable, and change is possible

🌟How ERP Helps You Take Back Control from OCD🌟

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard treatment for OCD—and for good reason. It’s a powerful, research-backed therapy that helps retrain your brain to respond differently to obsessive thoughts and anxiety triggers.

Here’s how it works:

➡️ Exposure involves gradually facing the thoughts, images, or situations that tend to cause obsessive fears.

➡️ Response prevention means resisting the urge to respond with compulsions, like checking, avoiding, or mentally neutralizing those fears. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a highly effective therapy approach designed specifically for treating OCD. It helps you gradually change your relationship with anxiety by teaching you how to face distressing thoughts without relying on rituals or avoidance.

  • By staying present with anxiety and not giving in to compulsions, you teach your brain that fear doesn’t need to be solved to pass. Over time, anxiety decreases, and your confidence grows.

  • ERP is done in a structured, supportive way. You won’t be thrown into your biggest fear. We work together to build a personalized plan that meets you where you are, moving step by step toward freedom from OCD.

  • This approach is ideal for adults dealing with mental rituals, relationship OCD, moral scrupulosity, contamination fears, or “just right” compulsions.

If you're looking for effective OCD therapy, I offer virtual ERP sessions to help you reclaim your time, energy, and peace of mind.

I am a professional member of the International OCD Foundation, dedicated to providing evidence-based treatment for individuals with OCD — you can view my profile here.

My therapy Style: Direct, Evidence-Based, and Human

My approach to therapy is direct, honest, and grounded in real connection. I don’t beat around the bush. If something needs to be named, I’ll name it. I draw from evidence-based methods like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which are proven effective in treating OCD and anxiety-related conditions.

These approaches help you build a healthier relationship with your thoughts and emotions so you can stop avoiding them and start living more fully.

That said, therapy doesn’t have to be all serious, all the time. I bring humor and warmth into the work to make hard conversations easier, and to create a space where you can feel safe being your full, unfiltered self.

 How Individual Therapy Works

We’ll talk about what prompted you to seek therapy, what you hope to achieve in our work together, and determine if we are a good fit.

During our first session, we’ll explore in more detail your journey to therapy. I will do a lot of listening to give you space to share your story.

In our second session, we’ll create a plan of what you want to achieve during our time together. We’ll discuss some of the roadblocks you may face and strategies to overcome them.

In our subsequent sessions, we will continue to work on the goals you created at the beginning of therapy. If new problems arise, we will hold space for those problems and make adjustments as necessary.

 Frequently Asked Questions

+ Do you offer sessions in person?

All the work that I do is online. This means you can live anywhere in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or Florida and we can work together. All psychotherapy sessions are done via telehealth, using the Simple Practice platform. You must be located in one of the states I am licensed in (MA, NH, & FL) during each session, have a good internet connection, and be in a private space.

+ Do you accept insurance?

I accept Blue Cross Blue Shield. I am considered an out-of-network provider for all other insurance companies.

+ What are my options if you don't accept my insurance?

If you have a private insurance provider, there is a good chance that your insurance will provide some compensation for out-of-network providers. If you want to use your out-of-network benefits, I'd be happy to provide you with a statement (superbill), that you can submit to your insurance company to seek reimbursement of fees already paid.

**I recommend you contact your insurance company to determine your coverage for out-of-network reimbursement. When you call your insurance company to ask about your out-of-network benefits, I recommend asking: **

What is my out-of-network deductible for mental health services?

What percentage of out-of-network mental health services is covered by my insurance plan?

Is online therapy covered?

Are there specific forms that have to be filled out for reimbursement?

My provider will send me a superbill, how long do I have to submit that?

+ What is the length of therapy?

Therapy sessions are typically weekly or biweekly for 55 minutes depending upon the nature of the presenting challenges and insurance authorizations. It is difficult to initially predict how many sessions will be needed. We will collaboratively discuss from session to session what the next steps are and how often therapy sessions will occur.

+ What is expected of me in therapy?

Embarking on the journey of individual therapy with a mental health professional can stir up various emotions. I acknowledge that you might be facing challenging circumstances in your life, and I commend your decision to seek help at this moment.

Having said that, I kindly request a sincere dedication from you during our collaborative work. It is crucial that you approach this process with an open mind, ready to learn, grow, and receive feedback that directly relates to your personal development. I encourage you to strive to remain non-defensive, communicate honestly when you feel defensive, and commit to changing any behaviors that hinder your progress. By meeting these conditions, we significantly increase the likelihood of achieving your goals and attaining a life free from anxiety.