Take control of your OCD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is more than just unwanted thoughts or repetitive behaviors. It can leave you feeling trapped in an exhausting cycle of doubt, fear, and the need to find certainty. Whether you're repeatedly checking, seeking reassurance, mentally reviewing events, or avoiding situations that trigger anxiety, OCD can begin to take over your daily life.
I understand how overwhelming OCD can feel. My goal is to help you break free from the cycle so you can spend less time consumed by intrusive thoughts and more time living the life you want.
What is OCD? What are the symptoms?
OCD is characterized by obsessions—unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges—and compulsions, which are the behaviors or mental rituals people perform to reduce anxiety or gain certainty. While compulsions may provide temporary relief, they ultimately strengthen OCD over time.
OCD can look different from person to person. You may experience:
Intrusive thoughts that feel disturbing or difficult to dismiss
Excessive doubt or uncertainty
Repeated checking
Reassurance seeking
Mental reviewing, analyzing, or trying to "figure it out"
Fears about contamination or illness
Concerns about harming yourself or others
A need for things to feel "just right"
Avoiding situations that trigger intrusive thoughts
Many people with OCD recognize that their fears are unlikely, yet still feel compelled to perform rituals because the uncertainty feels unbearable. This cycle can become exhausting and interfere with work, relationships, and daily life.
The good news is that OCD is highly treatable with evidence-based therapy.
How Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) helps treat OCD
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard treatment for OCD. Rather than trying to eliminate intrusive thoughts or make anxiety disappear, ERP helps you change how you respond to them. Over time, this breaks the cycle of obsessions and compulsions that keeps OCD going.
In therapy, you'll learn to:
Understand how OCD creates and maintains the cycle of obsessions and compulsions
Recognize both obvious and subtle compulsions, including rumination, reassurance seeking, and mental reviewing
Face feared situations, thoughts, images, or sensations in a gradual and supportive way
Resist compulsions so your brain can learn that anxiety and uncertainty naturally decrease on their own
Build confidence in your ability to tolerate uncertainty without relying on rituals for relief
The goal of ERP isn't to stop having intrusive thoughts. It's to help you stop giving them so much power, so they no longer dictate how you live your life
Benefits of OCD therapy
Evidence-based treatment can help you regain your time, confidence, and peace of mind. Through therapy, you can:
Spend less time trapped in obsessive thinking and compulsions
Feel less controlled by uncertainty and fear
Reduce reassurance seeking, checking, and other rituals
Learn to respond to intrusive thoughts with greater confidence
Return to the activities, relationships, and goals that matter most to you
Recovery doesn't mean never having an intrusive thought again. It means learning that you don't have to respond to every thought your brain produces
About me: your CBT Therapist
Hi, I'm Whitley Lassen, a licensed psychologist in Colorado specializing in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard treatment for OCD.
I understand that reaching out for OCD treatment isn't always easy. Many people worry they'll be judged for their intrusive thoughts or fear that talking about them will somehow make them true. Others have spent years hiding their symptoms because they feel embarrassed, ashamed, or misunderstood.
In therapy, you'll find a warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental space where you can talk openly about your experiences. Together, we'll develop a personalized treatment plan that helps you face OCD's fears, reduce compulsions, and regain confidence in your ability to tolerate uncertainty.
OCD can have a profound impact on your life, but it is also highly treatable. With evidence-based ERP, you can spend less time trapped in obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors and more time focused on the people, activities, and goals that matter most to you.
How to start working with me
Complete the contact form to request a free consultation.
We’ll meet for a free 10-15 minute phone consultation to discuss your goals.
We will meet for therapy weekly until you’re ready to try your panic attack coping skills on your own.
Schedule a consultation with me today, and let’s work together to create a plan that helps you achieve your goals and live the life you deserve.
