when your mind won’t give you a break

It feels like your brain is always “on.” Maybe you’re replaying conversations, worrying about what might go wrong, or running through every “what if” scenario you can think of. You tell yourself to relax, but your body stays tense and your thoughts keep spiraling.

If you have OCD, the cycle can feel even more exhausting. You know your fears might not come true, but the thoughts feel so real that you can’t shake them. You might find yourself doing mental rituals, avoiding certain situations, or checking things over and over just to feel safe for a moment…only for the anxiety to come back again later.

You might be wondering…

  • “Why can’t I just stop thinking about this?”

  • “Why do I feel so anxious when nothing is actually wrong?”

  • “What’s wrong with me that I can’t control my thoughts?”

Stormy waves hitting rocks symbolizing stress, worry, and the challenges of living with anxiety.

And when anxiety or OCD take hold, you might notice…

  • Constant worrying or dread, even when things feel like they should be fine

  • Racing thoughts or feeling like your mind won’t shut off

  • Panic attacks or sudden waves of fear

  • Intrusive thoughts that feel disturbing, scary, or out of character

  • Repetitive behaviors or mental rituals to feel safe (checking, counting, asking for reassurance)

  • Avoiding situations or people just to keep anxiety low

  • Feeling stuck, exhausted, and frustrated with yourself

You’re not broken, your brain is just doing what anxious brains do. And there are proven ways to get relief.

Choppy ocean waves illustrating anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and the overwhelm addressed in OCD therapy.

therapy for anxiety and ocd that works

No single approach will work for everyone, so I use evidence-based, research-supported treatments and tailor them to your needs:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety (CBT): Helps you understand and shift unhelpful thinking patterns that fuel worry and fear.

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Builds psychological flexibility, helping you focus on what matters most while reducing the struggle with difficult thoughts and feelings.

  • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD: A gold-standard treatment for OCD that helps you face fears gradually, reduce compulsions, and reclaim your time and mental energy.

  • Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT) for OCD: A specialized approach for OCD that targets the faulty reasoning behind obsessions and intrusive thoughts.

Together, we’ll create a plan that feels manageable and aligned with your goals, so you can experience relief and results that last.

Related Concerns We Can Address

Many people who experience anxiety or OCD also struggle with perfectionism and burnout, chronic sleep struggles, and depression and disconnection. If these are impacting you, we can integrate them into your therapy work.

ready to find relief from anxiety or ocd?

You don’t have to keep living with constant worry or intrusive thoughts. I offer online therapy in Missouri, Massachusetts, and PSYPACT states—book a free consultation to see if we’re a good fit and take the first step toward feeling better.