OCD Therapy in Greensboro, NC
Helping you detach from the endless cycle of obsessions and compulsions
When your mind can’t let go of those “what if” thoughts
That recurring worry you have? You know the thought probably isn't true... probably. At least everyone tells you not to worry about it. And you’ve tried to talk yourself out of it too. Because part of you knows it’s not likely. But the other part of you can never be sure. Despite the top tier arguments, distractions, and redirections, those thoughts just keep coming back on an endless loop.
For many people with OCD, they find themselves arguing with their worries. Maybe your mind gets stuck on whether you locked the door, said something wrong, or accidentally caused harm you don't even remember. Maybe it's your health, a symptom that could mean something terrible, a contamination you can't quite rule out. Or, maybe it's your relationship, your sexuality, or your identity. Whether it’s your safety, your health, your relationships, your sense of self, or your moral compass, OCD finds a way to make the important things in life the things that you can never feel certain about. And certainty is all you want. Just to know. Just to feel sure, for once, that everything is okay.
What’s Actually Going On
OCD runs on a cycle that feels impossible to escape. The more you try to resolve it, the stronger it gets. It all starts with an single doubt, a simple "what if" thought. The next thing you know, your brain has taken that one possibility and turned it into a full-blown emergency that needs you to resolve it ASAP.
So you do something, anything, to make it stop. You check, recheck, research, get reassurance, mentally replay the situation, or perform a ritual that brings temporary relief. And it works. For a moment…
…but OCD doesn't honor the deal. The relief fades, the doubt returns, and the next round somehow feels even louder than the last. Over time, the compulsions that were supposed to help you feel safe end up reinforcing the cycle, keeping you stuck. Over time, that cycle can drastically impact your relationships, responsibilities, and experiences, drawing you even further into this exhausting mental loop.
How We Work Together
My first priority in therapy is to help you feel comfortable talking about OCD. I take a warm, inviting approach, especially as we begin therapy.
When you’re ready to dive in, we’ll begin treatment. I offer two types of therapies for OCD: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT).
ERP works by gradually facing the thoughts, situations, or objects that trigger your anxiety without engaging in compulsions (the mental or physical acts that you'd normally use to feel better). Over time, your brain learns that the anxiety will pass on its own and that you don't need the compulsions to be safe. ERP is one of the most well-researched and effective treatments for OCD.
I-CBT is a second evidence-based approach to treating obsessive-compulsive disorder. I-CBT works by targeting where OCD actually begins: the obsessional doubt itself. We’ll work together so you can disengage from the OCD narrative before it pulls you under. I-CBT can be a meaningful alternative to clients who found ERP too distressing, or who have tried ERP without lasting relief.
Together, We’ll Focus On:
Understanding how OCD manufactures doubt and why it feels so convincing
Learning to recognize and dismantle OCD’s tricks
Building trust in yourself and your ability to handle uncertainty
Reducing reliance on compulsions to feel safe
Reclaiming the parts of your life OCD has quietly taken over
OCD Treatment FAQs
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I work with a variety of different OCD themes including relationships, harm, religious/existential themes, morality, contamination, sexuality, and many more. Not sure what type(s) of OCD you have? Not even sure if you have OCD? Then you’re in the right place. During intake, we’ll complete a thorough evaluation to see exactly if, where, and how OCD is showing up in your life.
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Reaching out for support is a decision worth celebrating, so congrats! Click here to provide a few details about yourself. We’ll be in touch shortly to get the intake process started. We can’t wait to meet you!
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As part of the intake process, we’ll complete a thorough assessment of your symptoms to get a clear picture of what’s going on. Many people with OCD are misdiagnosed, even though OCD is the fourth most common mental health disorder. (source)
In-Person OCD Counseling in Greensboro, NC
Live Oak Counseling & Consulting is located at 1000 W Friendly Ave in Greensboro, NC. I am currently accepting new clients, and I offer a free 15-minute consultation. There’s no commitment, just a conversation to see if we’re a good fit.