OCD therapy in Raleigh

OCD is not one thing. The intrusive thought changes from person to person; the loop underneath is the same.

• Intrusive thoughts about harm, violence, sexuality, or morality — thoughts that feel wrong and won't leave.
• Contamination and washing — germs, chemicals, illness; washing and cleaning until it feels safe.
• Checking — locks, the stove, emails, your own memory of whether you did something.
• "Just right" — arranging, repeating, or redoing things until the feeling settles.
• Relationship OCD — constant doubt about whether you love your partner, or they love you.
• Health anxiety — a symptom, a search, a reassurance, and the worry comes back.
• Scrupulosity — OCD attached to religion or morality.

OCD runs on a loop: an unwanted thought, anxiety, and then something you do to make the anxiety go away — checking, washing, replaying, asking for reassurance. The relief lasts a moment, and the next round comes back stronger.

I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). You'll learn to notice the thoughts for what they are, make room for the anxiety and doubt they bring, and not do what the urge demands — while you keep moving toward the things that matter to you. This is exposure and response prevention (ERP), the approach with the best evidence for OCD.

You set the pace. We choose something outside your comfort zone that you're willing to try, and make a plan around it. Between sessions you practice — that's where most of the change happens.

Why fighting anxiety backfires, and what actually helps →

The first session is an intake. I'll ask about you and your current situation — what your life looks like right now and what's been hard lately. Then we'll talk about what you want from counseling: the outcomes you're looking for and what you'd like to be doing differently. From there I'll explain my approach and how it fits what you need help with. By the end, we'll know what goals we're working toward, and you'll have a good idea of how the work will go. No exposures on day one.

Sessions are in person at my office near the Raleigh Beltline (3721 Benson Drive) or by secure video anywhere in North Carolina. Both are very effective — and video can even have an advantage, since you can practice exposure exercises at home or at work, where some of your triggers actually are. How online sessions work →

In network with most major plans — see Insurance & Pricing.