OCD Treatment for Adults
Evidence‑based help for intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors
OCD is common, serious, and highly treatable with the right approach. In December of 2025, The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) published a report on the OCD crisis in America. In it they state that OCD affects up to 10 million Americans and an estimated 240 million people worldwide, yet only a small fraction of those individuals receive accurate diagnosis and effective care. Adults, in particular, often go years without appropriate treatment: although roughly 3% of people are expected to experience OCD, only 0.7% are identified in clinical records, and just 2% are documented as receiving exposure and response prevention (ERP)—the gold‑standard therapy. Full Report - America's OCD Care Crisis
At Burnett CBT we specialize in treating adults with OCD and related disorders. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to help you reduce distress, interrupt compulsions, and reclaim time and energy from OCD. These are the very treatments highlighted by the IOCDF as effective but underutilized nationwide.
What OCD Is (and Isn’t)
As someone who works with individuals with OCD every day, I find it frustrating to repeatedly hear inaccurate stereotypes. When I have the chance to educate someone who hasn’t been exposed to what OCD actually is, I genuinely value the opportunity to broaden their understanding. Sometimes I’m speaking with people who have no personal experience with anxiety disorders—and other times I’m talking with people who do have OCD but were misdiagnosed for years.
When I meet an adult who can clearly describe the OCD they struggled with as a teen, I often feel a mix of emotions. Part of me wishes I could have supported their younger self who was silently battling these symptoms. And another part of me feels grateful to be working with them now, helping them finally get the care they deserved all along.
OCD isn’t about personality quirks or being “particular.” It involves:
Intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that trigger anxiety, guilt, disgust, or doubt.
Compulsions—either outward behaviors or mental rituals—done to feel safer, calmer, or more certain in the moment.
A reinforcing cycle where rituals offer short-term relief but ultimately keep OCD stronger and more restrictive over time.
Many adults don’t realize what they’ve been dealing with is OCD. They may have spent years feeling stuck in their heads, preoccupied by “what‑ifs,” or telling themselves they’ve “always been a worrier.” Over time, the anxiety becomes more paralyzing, the rituals more demanding, and life more limited. In reality, they may have been accommodating OCD for years—without recognizing how much it has affected their relationships, finances, career choices, daily routines, and peace of mind.
How I Treat OCD
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is the backbone of all OCD therapies. We clarify how interpretations, avoidance patterns, and rituals maintain the OCD cycle. Then we use structured behavioral experiments to shift these patterns in a way that is measurable, collaborative, and rooted in evidence‑based care.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
ERP, a subtype of CBT, is the gold‑standard behavioral treatment for OCD. We gradually face triggers—whether they are thoughts, images, sensations, situations, or internal cues—without engaging in compulsions or mental rituals.
This process retrains your brain to tolerate uncertainty, reduces fear over time, and loosens OCD’s grip. ERP, with or without medication, is recognized in treatment guidelines as the recommended first‑line approach for OCD.
Cognitive Work for Intrusive Thoughts
Many adults with OCD struggle with the meaning of their thoughts far more than the thoughts themselves. We challenge distorted beliefs such as:
“Having a thought means I might act on it.”
“I need to feel 100% certain before I can relax.”
“Neutralizing my thoughts keeps other people safe.”
Our work focuses on teaching you skills for living with uncertainty, not eliminating thoughts—which ultimately gives you more freedom and less fear.
Collaborative, paced care
ERP is never “flooding.” We create a shared plan, move at a pace that matches your life, and adjust as needed. Treatment is active and structured, but also compassionate and grounded. We focus on values-based choices and long‑term changes you can maintain.
About Medication (and How I Support Clients Using It)
Although I am not a prescriber, I fully support clients who want to explore medication as part of their OCD treatment. The ideal starting point is a psychiatric provider—a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner—because they are trained to prescribe medications at doses and schedules appropriate for OCD. However, access can be limited, and many adults face long waitlists, insurance gaps, or geographic barriers.
Because of this, some clients work with their primary care physician (PCP) for medication management. PCPs prescribe SSRIs very regularly and are often comfortable managing them, especially when supporting anxiety‑related conditions. When this is the most accessible long‑term option, I help clients make sure their PCPs have accurate, OCD‑specific information.
I encourage clients to share the IOCDF’s medication guidelines with their prescriber.
The International OCD Foundation offers clear, accessible prescribing guidance for OCD, including SSRI dose ranges and typical titration strategies used by OCD‑focused psychiatrists. Clients often bring these materials to their PCP to support more informed decision‑making. You can find these guidelines at: International OCD Foundation | OCD Treatment Guide: Best Evidence-Based Therapies, Medications, and New Advances
I collaborate with prescribers of all backgrounds
I am happy to coordinate care with psychiatrists, NPs, or PCPs depending on the client’s access, insurance, and preferences. My role is to help you understand how medication and ERP fit together, what to expect, and what questions to ask during a medication evaluation.
I fully support clients who choose not to use medication
Medication is not required for ERP to be effective. Some people benefit from it, some choose not to use it, and ERP remains a strong standalone treatment. We always center the plan that works best for your body, your preferences, and your life.
OCD Subtypes I Treat
OCD content varies from person to person, but the underlying process is the same. If you recognize yourself in any of the themes below, you’re not alone—and treatment is available.
Harm OCD: worry about violent/accidental harm, fear of losing control
Contamination OCD: related to germs, illness, disgust, fear, blood, toxins, residues, or “can’t feel clean/right”
Relationship OCD (ROCD): doubt about partner/relationship, reassurance loops
Intrusive Thoughts / “Pure O”: mental compulsions, covert checking/neutralizing
Scrupulosity: moral or religious fears, fear of being “bad/wrong/sinful”
“Just‑Right” / Perfectionism OCD: symmetry, evenness, exactness, internal “not‑just‑right” feeling
Sexual/identity‑related OCD & POCD: bothersome thoughts related to sex and sexual identity
Health or Somatic OCD: hyper‑monitoring, reassurance‑seeking, doctor‑hopping
Checking & Reassurance‑Seeking: locks, appliances, memory checking, confession
Combined OCD Themes: Combined themes like moral contamination, magical thinking contamination, just-right and contamination themes
ERP‑informed care is effective, yet the IOCDF’s national findings show it remains dramatically underutilized. If you’ve tried therapy before and didn’t address the OCD cycle directly, this may feel very different.
If OCD is interfering with your life, treatment works—and you don’t have to do this alone. Reach out for a free 15-minute discovery call to talk about OCD treatment.