Maybe you’ve noticed that your feelings of anxiety are getting steadily worse, despite validation from friends and loved ones. Maybe no matter how much your partner tells you they love you, there is something that sows that seed of doubt. Maybe you are worried that you accidentally did something terrible, and in checking, the worry comes back again and again.

If you have been treating this as anxiety, it may be time to consider it may be OCD.

People with OCD can often wait 10+ years to receive a proper diagnosis from the time they first start showing symptoms. Not only that, but due to the content and nature of OCD thoughts, starting therapy can bring up anxiety and fear. After all, what of my therapist thinks I’m “crazy”?

As a counselor with lots of experience around OCD, I know that it can show up in some surprising and terrifying ways. OCD can especially love to target what we love or we are afraid of. Together in therapy, we can start addressing these thoughts in an open, non-judgmental space. We will also identify which thoughts feel like you are more ready to start addressing, and which ones need to wait until you are more practices with the therapy skills we will build together.

OCD therapy can be stressful, especially in the beginning. I will work with you to create ways to manage the stress and come down after sessions so you can still feel confident that while the therapy is difficult, you are being supported throughout the process. I also take your own individual therapy needs into account, and will shift focus as needed to take sure that and trauma history or personal life stressors are getting the attention and care they need as well.