OCD Therapy in Sacramento, CA
and online across california
Compassionate, research-backed therapy for teens, college students, and adults
Are you always worried about something bad happening, even if you know it’s unlikely?
Do you constantly second guess yourself because you’re afraid you can’t trust your own memory?
Do you spend hours researching, ruminating, or going over the details of something that’s already happened?
If so, you might be struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
OCD is commonly mistaken for just being clean or tidy, but it’s so much more complex than that. It takes an average of 15 years to be diagnosed with OCD and receive proper treatment, largely because many mental health professionals don’t have the training to diagnose and treat it properly. Thankfully, we do.
How do I know if I have OCD?
Does this sound familiar?
You have sudden, unwanted thoughts, images, or impulses that are scary and don’t sound like the real you
You spend lots of time doing repetitive actions such as reading emails over and over again, going up and down the stairs multiple times, washing your hands every time you touch something you think might be dirty, or going over the details of a conversation you had days ago
No matter how much work you do in therapy, your anxiety never seems to improve
You don’t want to tell other people about what’s going on in your mind out of fear they’ll think you’re crazy or dangerous
You feel ashamed and confused by how your brain works, and you worry you’re a bad person for the thoughts you have
You often doubt yourself and your memory, and you feel better when other people reassure you that you’re not a bad person or that you did something correctly
Because OCD is so complex, it takes a qualified professional to properly diagnose and treat it. OCD can present in so many different ways, and many people go years, even decades, without knowing they have it.
OCD isn’t a quirk, It’s Debilitating, Scary, and lonely
OCD steals precious moments of your time that you would give anything to get back. It can turn relationships into a source of anxiety instead of comfort. It can turn time with your kids into an afternoon of spiraling thoughts instead of quality bonding time. Or turn a homework assignment that should take 15 minutes into something that takes 5 hours and leaves you crying yourself to sleep.
OCD is incredibly isolating and can make you feel like a terrible person for having the thoughts you do. It can be hard to open up when what’s replaying in your mind is something awful and alarming. As OCD specialists, we’ve heard every intrusive thought imaginable and we never judge.
We know your thoughts don’t define you, and we’re here to help you understand that, too.
Many of our clients come to us feeling paralyzed by intrusive thoughts and not knowing where to start.
We’ve helped them learn to manage their OCD, cope with the underlying anxiety, shame, and self-doubt, and get back to spending their time on the things that matter most.
Why choose OCD therapy at Evoluer Counseling?
Research-backed care that is considered the gold standard for OCD treatment: We offer Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which is considered the most effective form of therapy for OCD. Clients generally see results quickly and experience long-lasting relief with this treatment. We also supplement with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), two therapy modalities that also have a strong evidence base for treating OCD.
Advanced training: All of our therapists have received advanced training and supervision in OCD treatment, including how to work with the more complex and covert subtypes and how to navigate common challenges that arise during OCD therapy.
First hand experience: Most of our therapists have experienced OCD themselves, so when we say we get it, we really do. Feel free to share your weirdest, most taboo intrusive thoughts with us, we’ve heard it (or had it) all before.
All ages and life stages: We provide OCD therapy for kids, teens, college students, adults, and moms experiencing perinatal OCD, so for any stage of life you or your loved one is in, we’re here to help.
Inclusive, holistic care that goes beyond symptom reduction: As a Native-owned company, we welcome clients of all cultures, religions, sexual orientations, and walks of life. We customize your care based on your values, beliefs, and traditions, and see you as a person first, not a diagnosis. Furthermore, we look at the whole picture of what might be contributing to your OCD, such as work or school stress, family dynamics, and trauma history, just to name a few. This allows us to get to the root of why you’re struggling, which can lead to deeper, longer lasting healing.
What can I expect from OCD treatment?
Our team uses a variety of evidence-based modalities to help you understand and break the OCD cycle that’s keeping you stuck in the endless fear and self-doubt. We draw from Exposure and Response Prevention, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to create a custom treatment plan that’s tailored to your life, preferences, and therapy goals. Read below for a brief introduction to each method.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) - ERP helps you break the cycle of obsessions and compulsions that keep OCD going. If you’ve done ERP before, you know how life-changing it can be. If you haven’t, it’s understandable that the idea of doing exposures can feel intimidating. But there’s a reason ERP is considered the “gold standard“ for OCD: it’s highly effective and works quickly. The hardest part is getting started, and our OCD therapists offer a compassionate, gentle approach to ERP. We only move at the pace with which you feel comfortable. For a more in-depth look at how and why ERP works, check out our article on it here.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - ACT can teach you how to notice your intrusive thoughts without feeling consumed by them (this may feel impossible right now, we know!) and focus your time and attention on the things you value most. This allows you to engage in healthy, balanced lifestyle choices, no matter what thoughts or emotions are coming up.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) - I-CBT is a great alternative to ERP and shows similar effectiveness in research studies, although few people know about it. It offers a way to break free from the OCD cycle without engaging in exposures, by helping you understand how your intrusive thoughts cause doubt in the first place.
Many clients come to us after trying other types of therapy that haven’t worked or have even made OCD worse. If previous therapists have tried to teach you to use logic to rationalize away your thoughts, or use coping skills to calm your anxiety without actually getting to the root cause, you may be feeling hopeless and like nothing is ever going to work.
We’ve been successfully treating OCD for years we’re here to show you there’s a better way.
OCD Therapists at Evoluer Counseling
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![Heather Brown, LCSW is an OCD therapist for teens, college students, and adults in Sacramento, CA. She offers ERP, ACT, and I-CBT.]()
Heather Brown, LCSW
Teens, college students, adults
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
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![Jessica Michaels-Erickson, ASW is an OCD therapist for preteens/teens, college students, adults, and pregnant and postpartum moms in Sacramento, CA. She offers ERP and ACT.]()
Jessica Michaels-Erickson, ASW
Preteens/teens, college students, adults, pregnant and postpartum mothers
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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![Sarah LaCasse, APCC is an OCD therapist for college students and adults in Sacramento, CA. She offers ERP and ACT.]()
Sarah LaCasse, APCC
College students, adults
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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![Christine Price, AMFT is an OCD therapist for teens, college students, adults, and LGBTQIA folks in Sacramento, CA. She offers ERP and ACT.]()
Christine Price, AMFT
Teens, college students, adults, LGBTQIA2S+, neurodivergent folks (ADHD, Autism, AuDHD)
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
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Yes! The treatment for all subtypes of OCD are the same and we’ve worked with all the different ways in which OCD presents (including Pure O, ROCD, POCD, Harm OCD, and many more). We offer the same quality, compassionate care regardless of what themes your OCD attaches to.
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Yes! We know how hard it can be to find a therapist who specializes in treating OCD, so we created a practice full of them! All of our therapists have been trained in ERP and ACT and have experience treating OCD.
All of our therapists also have personal experience with OCD, either because we ourselves have experienced it, or have a loved one who has it. So when we say we understand, we really do.
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We completely understand. There are many reasons why you may not feel ready to dive into exposures just yet, but that doesn’t mean you have to put off starting OCD therapy altogether. We can still help you work on managing your intrusive thoughts and compulsions in the meantime. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and/or Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be great alternatives to Exposure and Response Prevention.
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Yes! We love working with kids and teens. Both ERP and ACT have proven to be effective for all ages.
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Yes! Our office is located in Campus Commons neighborhood of Sacramento, about 5 minutes from Sac State. We also offer virtual sessions to anyone in California.
Are you ready to break free from OCD and reclaim hours of your day lost to intrusive thoughts and debilitating compulsions?