OCD Therapy for Adults in Decatur & Atlanta, GA
I provide OCD therapy for adults in Decatur and the greater Atlanta area, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), an evidence-based treatment for OCD.
What OCD Can Look Like
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that feel distressing and hard to ignore. To cope with the anxiety, many people feel driven to perform compulsions; physical or mental behaviors meant to reduce fear or prevent something bad from happening.
While compulsions may bring temporary relief, they keep OCD stuck over time. The good news is, OCD is highly treatable, and with the right support, you can learn to respond differently to intrusive thoughts and reclaim more freedom in your life.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy is a specialized form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). ERP is the first-line, evidence-based psychological treatment for OCD and is also highly effective for many phobias and panic-related disorders.
With ERP, you’ll gradually face feared thoughts, sensations, or situations while learning to respond differently to anxiety. It isn’t about forcing yourself to confront your worst fears or making uncomfortable feelings disappear. Instead, you’ll learn, gradually and collaboratively, that you can experience uncertainty and discomfort without needing to rely on compulsions or avoidance. With practice, confidence grows, anxiety becomes more manageable, and you can begin to live with greater freedom.
It helps with:
Intrusive unwanted thoughts, images, and urges
Compulsions and safety behaviors such as checking, washing, reassurance-seeking, mental reviewing, researching, rumination, or avoidance
Perfectionism, moral OCD, contamination fears, harm OCD, and more
ERP for Phobias
Phobias are intense fears that feel overwhelming and out of proportion to the actual danger. Even when you know a fear doesn’t make sense, your body reacts as if it’s unsafe, triggering anxiety, panic, and avoidance.
Over time, avoiding feared situations can make phobias stronger and more limiting. Phobias respond well to therapy, and with specialized treatment, you can learn to face fears with confidence and regain your freedom.
ERP is highly effective for fears such as:
Fear of flying, driving, or public transportation
Medical or needle phobias
Fear of enclosed spaces or open spaces
Fear of crowds or leaving home
Animal or situational fears
By gradually facing feared situations without avoidance, your brain learns that discomfort does not equal danger.
ERP for Panic & Health Anxiety
Panic disorder involves sudden, intense waves of fear, often called panic attacks, that can make your own body feel dangerous. Symptoms like a racing heart, dizziness, or shortness of breath can feel alarming and may lead you to fear that something is seriously wrong. Many people begin avoiding places, sensations, or activities to prevent another attack. Over time, fear of having another panic attack can lead to avoidance and constant monitoring of your body. Panic disorder is very treatable, and with the right approach, you can learn to trust your body again.
ERP for panic disorder and health anxiety helps you:
Reduce fear of physical sensations (racing heart, dizziness, shortness of breath)
Stop constant monitoring and reassurance-seeking
Regain confidence in your body and nervous system
As fear of panic decreases, panic attacks often reduce or stop altogether.
A Compassionate, Integrative Approach
ERP is central to my work with OCD. When appropriate, I also draw from ACT, DBT, MSC and EMDR, and IFS-informed parts work to support a more individualized approach.
OCD Therapy in Decatur & Online Across Georgia and Florida
I offer in-person therapy in Decatur and online therapy for adults throughout Georgia and Florida. If you're unsure whether OCD therapy or ERP is right for you, we can start with a free consultation to talk about what you're experiencing and whether my approach would be a good fit.