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ERP Therapy for OCD in Tennessee
Intrusive thoughts and rituals can take over your day, but OCD is treatable. At ScienceWorks Behavioral Health, we offer ERP Therapy for OCD via secure telehealth across Tennessee, with care that is neurodivergent-affirming and grounded in science. Ready to get started? Schedule a consultation to talk about next steps.
Want to understand the process first? Learn how ERP for OCD works below.
You might be a good fit for ERP for OCD if:
You experience upsetting intrusive thoughts (about harm, contamination, relationships, moral or religious themes, or "what if I'm a bad person?") that feel impossible to shake.
You find yourself doing compulsions or mental rituals-checking, confessing, praying, replaying events, Googling, or seeking reassurance-just to feel a little less anxious.
OCD is starting to interfere with school, work, parenting, or relationships, even if nobody else can see how much time it takes.
You are neurodivergent (ADHD, autism, or other) and want OCD treatment that respects your brain rather than telling you to "just stop overthinking."
You are looking for a clear, structured ERP plan instead of open-ended venting or generic coping skills.
When ERP for OCD Can Help
People in Tennessee often consider ERP for OCD when worry stops feeling like "just anxiety" and starts running the show. Maybe you are spending more and more time trying to neutralize scary thoughts, avoid triggers, or feel "certain enough" before you can move on. ERP is a structured, evidence-based way to change how you relate to OCD thoughts and urges, so they have less power over your life.
ERP for OCD may be helpful if you are experiencing:
Intrusive thoughts about harm, contamination, health, relationships, sexuality, religion, or "bad things happening" that feel sticky and alarming.
Compulsions like checking, washing, repeating, arranging, confessing, or replaying memories until they feel "just right."
Mental rituals-like analyzing every detail, silently praying, counting, or reviewing conversations-to feel less guilty or unsafe.
Avoiding people, places, objects, or topics because they might trigger disturbing thoughts or urges.
Spending so much time on OCD that it affects your sleep, focus, school or job performance, or relationships.
Feeling like you "should know" the thoughts are not real, but your body reacts with anxiety, dread, or disgust anyway.
Trying talk therapy in the past that helped you vent, but did not shift the obsessive-compulsive cycle itself.
You are not dangerous, broken, or attention-seeking. OCD is a brain-based condition that latches onto what you care about most. With the right tools and support, your nervous system can learn a different way to respond.
How ERP for OCD Works at ScienceWorks
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard, research-backed treatment for OCD. We combine ERP with cognitive-behavioral tools and inference-based CBT (I-CBT) to help you notice how OCD stories get started, step out of compulsions, and move toward the life you care about. Sessions are adapted for neurodivergent brains, sensory needs, and real-world executive function challenges.
What Sessions Look Like
1. Mapping Your OCD and Intrusive Thoughts
We start with a collaborative assessment of your history, current symptoms, and daily life. Together we map out obsessions, compulsions, avoidance, and reassurance-seeking, including how they interact with ADHD, autism, or other neurodivergence if that is part of your story. If you are also exploring diagnosis, we can coordinate with psychological assessment services at https://www.scienceworkshealth.com/psychological-assessments.
2. Building a Personalized ERP and I-CBT Plan
Next, we co-create an exposure hierarchy-a stepwise ladder of situations that trigger OCD-and design ways to approach those triggers while practicing response prevention. We weave in CBT and inference-based CBT to gently question OCD's "what if" stories and build more trust in your own judgment and values. This plan includes practical home practice options that fit your schedule, energy, and executive function.
3. Doing Exposures Together, At a Pace That Respects Your Nervous System
In sessions, we practice exposures live-both imaginal and real-life-while you experiment with not performing compulsions. We problem-solve sensory overload, burnout, or masking demands, and adjust the difficulty as we go. Between sessions, you will have clear, realistic ERP home practice so that skills translate into daily life, not just the therapy hour.
4. Generalizing Gains and Planning for the Future
As OCD loosens its grip, we expand exposure work into new situations, focus on values-based living, and create a relapse prevention plan. We look at what actually helped-so you leave with tools you can keep using long after therapy ends.
ERP with us is collaborative, not coercive. You have choice and consent every step of the way. We will never surprise you with exposures, shame you for getting stuck, or push "flooding" approaches that overwhelm your system. Instead, we move at a pace that your nervous system can handle, with plenty of check-ins, accommodations, and humor along the way.
Who We Help in Tennessee and Across the State of Tennessee
We provide ERP for OCD via secure online therapy to adults and teens with OCD and intrusive thoughts looking for structured ERP treatment who are physically located in Tennessee at the time of session. Many of our clients have lived with OCD, anxiety, or intrusive thoughts for years, and are ready for a more structured, skills-based approach that still honors their neurodivergence, trauma history, or chronic health conditions.
We commonly work with:
Adults and teens with OCD whose days are shaped by checking, washing, counting, confessing, or mental reviewing.
Neurodivergent folks (including ADHD and autistic adults and teens) who want OCD treatment that respects sensory needs, processing style, and executive function realities.
People dealing with intrusive thoughts about harm, sexuality, morality, or relationships who worry "What kind of person does this make me?"
Individuals managing both OCD and other conditions like generalized anxiety, phobias, insomnia, or trauma responses.
Students, professionals, parents, and caregivers in Tennessee whose OCD is impacting school, work, or family life.
Sessions are offered via secure telehealth by clinicians licensed in Tennessee. You can access care from anywhere in the state-as long as you are physically in Tennessee during appointments-whether you are in a larger city or a smaller community.
Why Choose ScienceWorks for ERP for OCD?
Neurodivergent-Affirming OCD Care
Evidence-Based Treatment for OCD
Gentle Exposure at Your Pace
Practical Home Practice and Real-Life Support
We recognize that OCD often shows up differently in neurodivergent people. We expect sensory sensitivities, time blindness, masking, and demand avoidance-not as problems to erase, but as realities to work with. We adapt ERP so it is doable for your brain, not just theoretically ideal.
Our work is grounded in exposure and response prevention (ERP), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and inference-based CBT, delivered through thoughtful telehealth psychotherapy. We stay current with OCD research and integrate it with your lived experience instead of offering one-size-fits-all "coping skills." You can read more about our specialized therapy approach at https://www.scienceworkshealth.com/specialized-therapy and our OCD-specific services at https://www.scienceworkshealth.com/ocd.
We respect that doing exposures is hard. Instead of pushing you into the scariest situations first, we build a ladder together and climb one step at a time. We listen when something feels too fast, celebrate small wins, and adjust homework so it fits your capacity, energy, and life demands.
OCD lives in the real world, so treatment has to, too. We help you design home practice that fits into your actual routines-using checklists, visual supports, timers, or other tools as needed. When helpful, we can also connect you with groups or coaching options, such as the executive function coaching described at https://www.scienceworkshealth.com/executive-function-coaching or group offerings at https://www.scienceworkshealth.com/groups.
Getting Started with ERP for OCD in Tennessee
Beginning OCD treatment can feel intimidating, especially if you have tried other approaches before. We will walk you through the process step by step-you do not have to have the perfect words or a fully formed story before you reach out.
1. Reach Out
Share a bit about what you are dealing with and what you are hoping for. You can use the contact form at https://www.scienceworkshealth.com/contact or explore more about us at https://www.scienceworkshealth.com/.2. We Match You with an OCD-Focused Clinician
We match you with a therapist who has training and experience in ERP for OCD and who is licensed in Tennessee. You can learn more about our team at https://www.scienceworkshealth.com/meet-us-1, including clinicians like Dr. Kiesa Kelly and others who care deeply about neurodivergent-affirming care.3. Begin Sessions and Build Your Plan
In the first few sessions, we will clarify your goals, map out your OCD cycle, and start creating your ERP hierarchy. You will leave early sessions with a sense of direction and some initial tools-not just more information about OCD. From there, we adjust pace and focus based on your feedback and what is working.
If you are in Tennessee-whether in Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, Chattanooga, or a smaller community-and OCD is taking more than it gives, you do not have to do this alone. Schedule a consultation to explore whether ERP for OCD at ScienceWorks could be a good fit for you. The first step is simply reaching out.
FAQs About ERP for OCD in Tennessee
Q: Is ERP for OCD available entirely online?
A: Yes. All of our ERP for OCD services are provided via secure telehealth to clients who are physically located in Tennessee at the time of each session. Online care can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy schedule, reduce travel barriers, and sometimes even allow you to practice exposures in your real-life environment.
Q: Do I need an official OCD diagnosis before starting ERP?
A: No formal diagnosis is required to begin treatment. Many people come in saying "I think this might be OCD" or "I have intrusive thoughts and rituals and I am not sure what it is." We will help you sort through your symptoms and discuss whether ERP is the right fit. If a more in-depth evaluation would be helpful, we may recommend an assessment through our psychological assessment services at https://www.scienceworkshealth.com/psychological-assessments.
Q: Will ERP force me to do exposures I am not ready for?
A: Our approach is collaborative and consent-based. We will never spring exposures on you or insist that you do something that feels unsafe. We will talk through options, adjust the difficulty, and honor trauma histories, neurodivergent needs, and other conditions such as OCD, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, compulsions, phobias. The goal is to help your brain learn that anxiety and uncertainty are survivable-not to overwhelm you.
Q: How long does ERP for OCD usually take?
A: It depends on your goals, symptom severity, and what else you are carrying in life. Some people notice meaningful changes in a few months of weekly or biweekly sessions; others prefer longer-term support, especially when OCD overlaps with trauma, neurodivergence, or chronic illness. We will talk openly about frequency, timeline, and cost so you can make informed decisions that fit your circumstances.
About ScienceWorks Behavioral Health
ScienceWorks Behavioral Health is a Tennessee-based practice focused on neurodivergent-affirming, evidence-based care. We provide specialized therapy, psychological assessments, executive function coaching, and groups for people navigating concerns such as OCD, anxiety, trauma, insomnia, ADHD, and other complex experiences. Our clinicians bring both scientific training and deep respect for lived experience, including those whose stories do not fit neatly into checkboxes.
You can learn more about our services at https://www.scienceworkshealth.com/ and about our team, including Dr. Kiesa Kelly and other clinicians, at https://www.scienceworkshealth.com/meet-us-1.
