OCD Therapy in Sacramento, CA
And online across California
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 often seen as a form of anxiety, but it’s 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 is more than a quirk
It can be life-altering. From relationships, to work, to school, OCD steals precious moments of your time that you would give anything to get back.
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 all types of intrusive thoughts 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 the cycle of OCD and not knowing where to start.
We’ve helped them learn to manage intrusive thoughts, cope with the underlying anxiety, shame, and discomfort, and get back to spending their time on the things that matter most to them.
Why choose OCD therapy at Evoluer Counseling?
Research-backed care that is considered the gold standard for OCD treatment: We use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you learn to manage your OCD. ERP has been proven to be effective for all age groups (including kids and teens) and cultural backgrounds. You can read more on both these types of therapy below.
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: All of our therapists have a personal connection to OCD. Either we’ve experienced it ourselves or we have a loved one who has. 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 all before.
Specialized populations: 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
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 and have helped clients achieve lasting results.
What can I expect from OCD treatment?
The cycle of OCD (obsessions which lead to compulsions which lead to more obsessions) gets broken when you learn the tools to stop engaging in compulsions. This can feel very anxiety-provoking at first, but ultimately leads to lasting relief and a much calmer mind. We help you build these tools by using research-based therapy approaches including:
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) - We use exposure therapy to help 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 daunting and scary. 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) - We also use ACT to 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.
Feeling intimidated by all this therapy jargon? Don’t worry, we’ll walk you through it one step at a time.
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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 OCD therapy altogether. We can still help you work on managing your intrusive thoughts and compulsions in the meantime.
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Yes! We love working with little ones and tailor our approach to OCD therapy depending on your child’s age. Both ERP and ACT have proven to be effective for treating children and teens with OCD. We may also incorporate games, art, sand tray work, and other fun activities to keep your child engaged and motivated to participate in therapy.
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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 the cycle of OCD and reclaim hours of your day lost to intrusive thoughts and debilitating compulsions?