OCD Therapist in Austin
Specializing in Exposure and Response Prervention (ERP)
OCD Therapist in Austin: Struggling with Intrusive Thougts?
Jessica Fink, LCSW-S is an OCD therapist in Austin.
You have thoughts that disgust you. Or scare you. They are 100% not who you are. You also know these thoughts are irrational. But there is some tiny part of you that thinks…well, what if? It’s possible. It could happen.
The Vicious Cycle of OCD
So you do your best to suppress, ignore, or neutralize these awful thoughts. And you get a little bit of relief. At least until the next thought comes. Rinse. Repeat.
These thoughts make you feel like you have to do something.
Either something to keep a bad outcome from happening or just something to not feel so damn awful. And you know you aren’t actually fixing anything. But you just can’t not do the thing. And it takes up so much of your time. It’s a vicious ride you can’t get off.
OCD: A Misunderstood Condition
I love this meme as an illustration for OCD. OCD grabs onto that sliver of a chance and magnifies it. Get time back by working with an OCD therapist in Austin. Reach out today to schedule your free consultation.
It’s not quirky or endearing. People casually say “I’m so OCD” because they like things a certain way and it minimizes how life-interfering OCD is.
Living with Obsessions and Compulsions
Living with obsessions (disturbing thoughts, images, or urges that intrude without warning) and compulsions (the actions, either visible or mental, you feel compelled to do in an attempt to quiet the distress) makes even the simplest of tasks difficulty. OCD eats up ungodly amounts of your time. And the compulsions don’t even make you feel good! They just make you feel less bad temporarily. Until the next obsession shows up.
Is there effective treatment for OCD?
Yes! But it takes grace and patience with yourself. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) helps break the OCD cycle. It doesn’t promise comfort, but you will get your life back.
Want to take back the time OCD has taken from you? Reach out today to schedule a free phone consultation with an OCD therapist in Austin.
How ERP Can Help You Overcome OCD
Over 17-20 sessions, you and I will work collaboratively to face your fears without performing the compulsions. You gradually learn that you can tolerate the anxiety and that the feared outcome rarely, if ever, comes true. And you get time back.
Start your Journey to Freedom with an OCD Therapist in Austin
Let’s talk. If you’re ready to start freeing yourself from OCD’s grip, reach out to schedule a phone consultation with an OCD therapist in Austin.
FAQs for an OCD Therapist in Austin
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Anxiety is characterized by worries whereas OCD is characterized by obsessions.
If we think of distress on a 0-10 scale, worries come on at around a 3. You can work yourself up to a 10 on that scale but it doesn't start there. Worries tend to be about ordinary, everyday things like finances, being late, losing your job.
Obsessions come at an 8-9 so they are more distressing than worries right out the gate. Obsessions tend to be about things that are highly unlikely or impossible, like losing intelligence from standing next to a less intelligent person.
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OCD does not respond to general talk therapy. It also doesn’t respond to many of the recommended tools for anxiety like examining evidence or challenging negative thoughts. If you have OCD, you need a therapist knowledgeable about OCD and trained in Exposure and Response Prevention. I am an OCD therapist in Austin.
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OCD is treated with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP.) ERP is a form of CBT designed specifically to address OCD. If you have OCD, you need to see an OCD therapist with training in ERP.