SCIENCEWORKS
BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE
Complete Care for all Neurotypes
Therapy | Assessments | Coaching
Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT) for Autistic and ADHD Adults with OCD in Tennessee
OCD plus an autistic or ADHD brain can feel like a nonstop mental tug-of-war. At ScienceWorks Behavioral Health, we offer inference-based CBT (I-CBT) for autistic and ADHD adults across Tennessee so you can relate to intrusive thoughts differently, without masking your neurodivergence or forcing yourself into someone else's rules.
You might be a good fit for I-CBT for autistic and ADHD adults if:
You feel stuck in loops of "what if" thoughts, mental reviewing, or reassurance seeking that never really settles your doubt.
Your OCD rituals are tangled up with sensory needs, routines, or special interests that other people do not understand.
You have tried ERP or traditional CBT before but felt misunderstood, flooded, or pressured to move too fast.
Masking, burnout, and executive function challenges make it hard to follow through on rigid homework plans.
You want an OCD therapist who actually understands autism, ADHD, and neurodivergent nervous systems.
Top Statistics Related to I-CBT for autistic and ADHD adults with OCD
Stat 1: 2.3%, U.S. adult lifetime OCD prevalence (National Comorbidity Survey Replication). 2001-2003. Source: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd
Stat 2: 11.8%, prevalence of co-morbid ADHD in OCD-affected individuals (review). 2019. Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00557/full
Stat 3: 50%-70%, estimated rate of ADHD among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (review). 2022. Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.837424/full
Stat 4: 26.48%, Tennessee adults (18+) with any mental illness in the past year. 2022-2023 annual average. Source: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt57247/2022-2023-nsduh-sae-tables-percent.pdf
Stat 5: 37.4%, remission after inference-based CBT (I-CBT) at posttreatment in a multisite RCT (20 sessions). Study recruitment 2019-2023; published 2024. Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11614422/
Stat 6: 37.0%, U.S. adults who used telemedicine in the past 12 months. 2021. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db445.htm
When I-CBT for Autistic and ADHD Adults Can Help
People usually reach out for I-CBT when OCD has started to run the show: decisions are driven by fear and doubt, daily tasks take longer because of rituals, and intrusive thoughts feel like "evidence" that something is wrong with you. For autistic and ADHD adults in Tennessee, these patterns often show up alongside sensory overload, masking, and chronic exhaustion. I-CBT helps you examine how you are interpreting your thoughts in the first place, instead of focusing only on resisting compulsions.
I-CBT at ScienceWorks may be helpful if you notice:
Intrusive thoughts about harm, contamination, identity, relationships, or morality that feel constant and disturbing.
A strong need to mentally review conversations, memories, or sensations until they feel "just right" or safe.
Compulsions that mostly happen in your head, so other people underestimate how exhausting OCD is for you.
Executive function challenges that make structured ERP plans feel overwhelming or impossible to maintain.
Masking at work, school, or home while also hiding how distressed you feel inside.
Burnout, shutdown, or sensory overload when therapy does not respect your neurodivergent needs.
You are not broken, dramatic, or "too much". Your brain is working overtime to keep you safe based on the stories OCD is telling it. We focus on changing those stories, not fixing your personality.
How I-CBT Works at ScienceWorks
Inference-based CBT (I-CBT) is an evidence-based approach to OCD that targets how you arrive at scary conclusions in the first place. Instead of asking you to prove your fears wrong over and over, we explore how doubt takes over, how you shift from reality-based reasoning into OCD-based thinking, and how your autistic or ADHD brain has learned to cope. At ScienceWorks Behavioral Health, we adapt I-CBT, CBT, and ERP-informed CBT to honor sensory needs, information processing style, and executive function so the work is sustainable. You can also read more about our OCD treatment approach at scienceworkshealth.com/ocd.
What Sessions Look Like
1. Collaborative assessment. We map out your OCD themes, sensory profile, autistic or ADHD traits, and past treatment experiences. You can share as much or as little history as feels safe, at your own pace.
2. Understanding OCD logic. We walk through how your brain moves from a normal doubt or sensation into an OCD story, using I-CBT models that make sense for visual, verbal, or concrete thinkers.
3. Building new inference habits. Together, we practice alternative ways of reasoning about intrusive thoughts, uncertainty, and responsibility so you rely less on checking, reassurance, or mental rituals.
4. Gentle experiments in real life. When it is helpful, we add ERP-informed exercises designed with sensory and executive function in mind, so any exposure work is predictable, collaborative, and adjustable.
Our style is collaborative, curious, and paced with your nervous system. We do not force surprise exposures, demand eye contact, or frame special interests and stimming as problems to eliminate. Instead, we co-create a plan that respects your neurodivergence while still actively treating OCD.
Who We Help in Tennessee and Across the State
We provide secure online I-CBT for adults physically located anywhere in Tennessee. Most of the people we work with are autistic and/or have ADHD, and they are navigating OCD, intrusive thoughts, chronic doubt, masking, and burnout. Telehealth makes it easier to attend sessions from a sensory-friendly space without commuting or sitting in a bright, noisy office.
Some of the people who often work with us include:
Autistic adults whose OCD has been dismissed as "rigidity" or "quirks" by past providers.
ADHD adults who feel trapped in mental loops while also juggling deadlines, relationships, and executive function overwhelm.
Late-identified or self-identified neurodivergent folks rethinking old labels like "perfectionistic" or "too sensitive".
People in tech, healthcare, education, or creative fields who need OCD treatment that fits their real schedules.
Adults navigating burnout, shutdown, or recovery from invalidating therapy experiences.
All services are provided via secure telehealth. Our clinicians are licensed to see clients who are physically located in Tennessee at the time of session, so you can join from home, your parked car, or another private space that works for your brain and your life.
Why Choose ScienceWorks for I-CBT for Autistic and ADHD Adults
Neurodivergent-affirming OCD care
We recognize that autism and ADHD are not problems to cure. We do not ask you to stop stimming, act "less autistic", or hide your needs to make others comfortable. Instead, we focus on easing OCD distress while honoring your sensory profile, routines, and communication style.
Evidence-based and flexible
Our work is grounded in inference-based CBT, CBT, and ERP-informed CBT, but we adapt the structure to your executive function, energy level, and learning style. We use clear visuals, written summaries, and practical tools so skills are easier to remember and use between sessions.
Collaborative, non-blaming style
You are the expert on your brain. We bring OCD and neurodiversity expertise, but we do not sit in judgment of your coping strategies or past choices. Together, we experiment, adjust, and celebrate small wins without shaming you for setbacks or missed homework.
Telehealth across Tennessee
Because we work online, you can access specialized I-CBT for OCD without needing to live in a major city. If you are in Tennessee and want a therapist who understands both OCD and neurodivergence, you do not have to settle for generic care.
Getting Started with I-CBT for Autistic and ADHD Adults in Tennessee
Starting therapy does not have to be another overwhelming task. We keep the process straightforward and transparent so you know what to expect before your first session.
1. Reach out. Share a bit about what is going on using our secure contact form at scienceworkshealth.com/contact. If forms are hard, you can mention that and we will keep follow-up simple.
2. We match you. Our team reviews your information and matches you with a clinician who understands OCD and neurodivergence and is licensed in Tennessee.
3. Begin sessions. In the first few meetings, we focus on understanding your OCD story, your strengths, and what a "good enough" life looks like for you, not for anyone else.
If you are an autistic or ADHD adult in Tennessee and OCD is taking up too much mental space, we would be honored to support you. Schedule a consultation to see whether I-CBT at ScienceWorks is a good fit.
FAQs About I-CBT for Autistic and ADHD Adults in Tennessee
Q: Is this service online or in person?
A: Our I-CBT services are fully online via secure video for clients who are physically located in Tennessee at the time of session. Telehealth often works well for autistic and ADHD adults because you can control lighting, noise, and sensory input.
Q: Do I need a formal autism or ADHD diagnosis?
A: No. Many of our clients are self-identified or exploring their neurodivergence. As long as you are an adult living in Tennessee and looking for support with OCD or intrusive thoughts, you are welcome here.
Q: What if I have had difficult experiences with ERP or therapy before?
A: That is very common. We move at a pace that your nervous system can handle and focus on building trust first. We will talk openly about what did not work in the past so we can avoid repeating it.
Q: How long will I need I-CBT?
A: Length of treatment varies, but many people start to notice shifts in how they relate to thoughts and doubt within the first few months. We will check in regularly about goals, progress, and whether the frequency of sessions still fits your life and budget.
About ScienceWorks Behavioral Health
ScienceWorks Behavioral Health is a neurodivergent-affirming practice offering therapy, inference-based CBT (I-CBT), ERP-informed CBT, psychological assessments, executive function coaching, and skills groups for people whose brains do not fit the "typical" mold. Our clinicians draw on evidence-based approaches to support people navigating OCD, anxiety, trauma, autism, ADHD, insomnia, chronic health challenges, and more. We work online with clients throughout Tennessee so that care is more accessible, sensory-friendly, and sustainable.
You can learn more about our approach to specialized therapy at scienceworkshealth.com/specialized-therapy, our assessment services at scienceworkshealth.com/psychological-assessments, and our team at scienceworkshealth.com/meet-us-1.
