When a thought won't let go of you, it can start to feel like it's running the show. Maybe you're stuck in loops of "what if," checking and re-checking, or replaying a thought over and over trying to make sense of it. Maybe anxiety has narrowed your world — avoiding situations, seeking constant reassurance, or feeling like you can never quite relax. These patterns are treatable. I work with adults navigating OCD and the exhausting mental loops that come with it.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder can show up as intrusive thoughts, doubts that won't let go, or compulsions and rituals that take up more and more of your day. OCD can attach itself to almost anything: relationships, health, morality, harm, identity, and it often shows up as a demand for certainty in a world that rarely offers it. The rituals and mental checking might buy a few minutes of relief, but they also feed the cycle, teaching your brain that the only way to feel okay is to keep doing the compulsion. Many people carry a lot of shame about the content of their thoughts, and worry that having them means something about who they are. It doesn't.
We'll work together to help you feel less controlled by it, and to build a different relationship with uncertainty and doubt.
I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold standard for OCD treatment, to help you gradually face the thoughts and situations that trigger anxiety without relying on compulsions or avoidance. We build a plan together, starting with what feels manageable and building from there, so you're never thrown into the deep end. I also draw on EMDR and Brainspotting, which can really complement the exposure work. The goal isn't just symptom management — it's helping your mind feel like a safer place to live.
Alongside ERP, we'll work on your relationship with uncertainty itself, learning to tolerate not "knowing for sure," rather than chasing a feeling of certainty that OCD promises but never actually delivers. Over time, the urge to check, ask, or ritualize loses its grip because you no longer need it to feel safe. This helps you feel less controlled by OCD and more able to trust yourself again.