Support for Anxiety and OCD
Anxiety and OCD are among the most common mental health concerns people face. Whether you’re dealing with persistent worry, intrusive thoughts, or compulsive behaviors that feel impossible to control, you don’t have to just push through. Therapy offers real, practical tools for understanding what’s happening and then making meaningful change.
If any of this sounds like what you’re dealing with, we’re here to help.
What can I expect from therapy?
- Develop a clearer understanding of your thought patterns and how they’re affecting your mood, behavior, and relationships.
- Build practical skills for managing anxiety and reducing the grip of obsessive thoughts.
- Learn to recognize and interrupt unhelpful cycles before they escalate, whether that’s avoidance, rumination, or compulsive behaviors.
- Strengthen your ability to tolerate difficult emotions without being overwhelmed by them.
- Move toward a greater sense of stability, confidence, and control in your daily life.
How do you approach treatment?
Treatment for anxiety and OCD at Northside is tailored to your specific experience and goals. Our therapists use a combination of talk therapy and evidence-based approaches to help you gain insight into the thoughts, experiences, and patterns that may be contributing to how you’re feeling. This might include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help identify and shift unhelpful thinking, mindfulness-based strategies to support emotional regulation, or talk therapy to help find support and understand that you’re not alone. For OCD specifically, we use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). This is the gold-standard, evidence-based treatment for OCD, which works by gradually and safely helping you face feared situations without engaging in compulsive responses. Your therapist will work with you to find the right combination of approaches for your needs.
Our Anxiety & OCD Therapists
Stephanie Mowery
- Eating disorders
- Codependency & relationship issues
- Anxiety & OCD
- Grief & loss
Lis Kessler Gibboney
- Anxiety & depression
- Life changes
- Codependency & relationships
- Addiction
Amanda Owen
- Couples counseling
- Individuals & families
- Discernment counseling
- Anxiety, depression, & PTSD
Kamarra Buening
- Trauma recovery
- Anxiety & depression
- Relationship & interpersonal issues
- Neurodivergence (ADHD)
Lucy Campbell Morrison
- Athletic counseling
- Social anxiety
- Relational issues
- Life transitions
Frequently Asked Questions
See below for some frequently asked questions about anxiety and OCD therapy at Northside Mental Health.
While these conditions can overlap, they’re distinct. Anxiety typically involves persistent worry, fear, or a sense of dread about future events or situations. OCD involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to manage the distress those thoughts cause. A therapist can help you understand what you’re experiencing and what kind of support makes the most sense.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the most well-researched and effective therapy for OCD. It works by gradually exposing you to the thoughts or situations that trigger your obsessions, while supporting you in resisting the urge to engage in compulsive responses. Over time, this helps reduce the power those triggers hold. It can sound intimidating, but ERP is always done at a pace you’re comfortable with, and your therapist will prepare you thoroughly before beginning.
No. Many people come to therapy feeling anxious or overwhelmed without a formal diagnosis, and that’s completely okay. A diagnosis is never a requirement for getting support.
OCD is frequently misunderstood and misidentified. It doesn’t always look like excessive hand-washing or checking locks. Intrusive thoughts can take many forms, and the compulsions that follow aren’t always visible behaviors. If you’re experiencing persistent, unwanted thoughts that cause significant distress and result in you feeling compelled to do something to relieve that distress, it’s worth talking to a therapist.
It varies depending on the individual and the concerns being addressed. Some people notice meaningful improvement within a few months, while others benefit from longer-term support. Your therapist will regularly check in on your progress and adjust the approach as needed.
Yes. Everything discussed in therapy is kept strictly private. The only exceptions are legally required situations involving safety concerns, which your therapist will explain clearly at your first appointment.
When You're Ready, We're Here
Getting started is as simple as reaching out. Contact us to schedule your first appointment, and we’ll help connect you with the right therapist for what you’re going through.