OCD THERAPY— NASHVILLE, TN
You could’ve followed your fears all the way down, but you are trying…
Trying to manage, trying to get by each day. And it’s exhausting. If you are tired of feeling controlled by your fears, thoughts, and urges, I encourage you to reach out. We can face your fears together.
UNDERSTANDING OCD
OCD is so much more than being a little particular.
OCD is often joked about in pop culture and it has contributed to a misunderstanding of the disorder, particularly the many forms it can take and how debilitating it can be. OCD involves intrusive and sticky thoughts or images that are unwanted and highly distressing, followed by feeling compelled to complete a ritual, or compulsion, to end the discomfort and prevent their fears from coming true. Here’s the problem: that relief is only temporary, and in fact, the compulsions only fuel the obsessions and the cycle continues. This is why your OCD feels so repetitive and time-consuming. Your OCD brain is convinced this is the only way to stay safe (but your OCD brain is wrong).
OCD can look wildly different from person to person. Here are some of the most common ways it shows up:
Contamination OCD
Fear of germs, illness, or making others sick — leading to excessive washing, cleaning, or avoidance.
Religious/Moral OCD
Scrupulosity — overwhelming fear of being sinful, immoral, or having offended God or others.
“Just Right” OCD
A persistent feeling that something is off, incomplete, or not quite right — until it is.
Excessive Doubt
An unrelenting feeling that you can't be certain — Did I lock the door? Did I say the wrong thing? Did I do something wrong? — no matter how many times you check or replay the moment.
Harm OCD
Intrusive thoughts about accidentally or intentionally hurting yourself or someone you love.
Relationship OCD
Constant doubt and questioning about your relationships, feelings, or whether you truly love someone.
Perinatal OCD
OCD that emerges or intensifies during pregnancy or the postpartum period — often featuring distressing intrusive thoughts about harm coming to your baby, making an already vulnerable time feel unbearable.
Sexual Obsessions
Unwanted, distressing intrusive thoughts about sexual topics — including fears about one's orientation, identity, or inappropriate urges — that feel completely contrary to who you are.
TREATMENT THAT WORKS
There is a way through. It’s called ERP.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard, evidence-based treatment for OCD. It's not about eliminating anxiety — it's about changing your relationship with it so it no longer runs your life.
Here's the truth about OCD: every time you do a compulsion to escape discomfort, you're teaching your brain that the threat was real and that you need to keep protecting yourself. ERP gently — and at your pace — interrupts that cycle to allow for new learning. Over time, your brain and body will learn that your OCD fears are not threats — you will learn how to tolerate discomfort & uncertainty. And the best part? These are skills you get to take with you, so you know how to handle it if OCD shows up again.
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We map out your specific obsessions, compulsions, and triggers — so we know exactly what we're working with.
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Together, we create a ladder of situations — starting with mildly uncomfortable and working toward more challenging ones. You're never pushed faster than you're ready to go.
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This is the work: staying in discomfort without reaching for the compulsion. It sounds hard because it is — but it gets easier, and the relief you feel is real and lasting.
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Over time, the alarm signal weakens. The thoughts may not disappear, but they lose their grip — and your life gets bigger.
This work is hard. You don’t have to do it alone.
I specialize in OCD because I've seen what happens when people finally get the right treatment — and it changes everything.
Working with me means you'll get someone who speaks OCD fluently. I won't accidentally reinforce your compulsions by offering reassurance. I won't confuse OCD with "just anxiety." I know the difference, and that matters enormously for your progress.
Sessions are collaborative and honest. I'll challenge you — kindly — and I'll celebrate every step you take, because in OCD work, every small step is genuinely huge.
I work with adults who are ready to divorce their OCD and start living their lives on their terms. If that's you, I'd love to connect.
You deserve a life that’s bigger than your OCD.
Recovery is real. People get better from OCD every day — not by fighting their thoughts harder, but by learning a different way to relate to them. That life is available to you. Let's find it together.