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News and Research
Science-backed Information for Better Care
ScienceWorks is a modern telepsychology practice offering evidence-based care for: Autism & ADHD, Anxiety & Depression, OCD, Trauma, Insomnia, Kids & Families, and more.
These conditions frequently co-occur, can be difficult to diagnose, and also difficult to treat - often requiring specialist knowledge and direct clinical experience to achieve the best possible outcomes.
That's why research and training are the foundation of our work.
Our goal is sharing our knowledge with our friends, clients, and partners to build a stronger, more informed mental health community.
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Reassurance OCD: Why It Doesn't Work and What Does
Last reviewed: 03/11/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re stuck in reassurance OCD, you probably know the pattern: you ask, check, Google, or replay the question in your head, feel better for a moment, and then the doubt comes roaring back. That doesn’t mean you’re doing OCD “wrong.” It means the relief itself is part of what keeps the loop going. In this article, you’ll learn: What reassurance seeking can look like (including the silent, mental version) Why reassuranc

Ryan Burns
Mar 1112 min read


Why ERP Didn't Work Before: Pacing, Fit, and What's Next
Last reviewed: 03/11/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re thinking, “ERP didn’t work for me,” you’re not alone. Many people try Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, feel overwhelmed or misunderstood, and leave believing they “failed” treatment. In reality, ERP therapy not working often points to a pacing problem, a planning problem, or a provider-fit problem, not a character flaw. In this article, you’ll learn: Why a bad-fit experience can create shame (and

Ryan Burns
Mar 1110 min read


High Y-BOCS Score? Understanding Y-BOCS score meaning, next steps, and when to seek specialized OCD therapy
Last reviewed: 03/11/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly A high number on the Y-BOCS can feel alarming. If you’re searching for y-bocs score meaning, you probably want clarity about severity and a path to help, without getting pulled into more reassurance-seeking. In this article, you’ll learn: What the Y-BOCS measures (and what it doesn’t) How score ranges are typically interpreted When it’s time for OCD-specialized care What treatment planning can look like after a high score

Ryan Burns
Mar 117 min read


Online OCD Therapy in Tennessee: Does Telehealth ERP Work?
Last reviewed: 03/11/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re searching for online OCD therapy in Tennessee, you might be wondering a very practical question: can exposure and response prevention (ERP) really happen over video, and does it actually help? For many people, yes, when telehealth is structured well and you’re working with a licensed OCD therapist in Tennessee who has OCD-specific training. Research on remotely delivered CBT for OCD (including video, phone, and.

Ryan Burns
Mar 118 min read


OCD Therapy in Tennessee: What the First Month of ERP Looks Like
Last reviewed: 03/11/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly Starting OCD therapy can feel like signing up for a month of panic. Many people delay because they assume they’ll be thrown into the hardest exposure on day one, or that therapy will turn into endless reassurance seeking. Most evidence-based OCD treatment is more structured, gradual, and collaborative than that. In this article, you’ll learn: What typically happens before treatment officially starts What your first OCD th

Ryan Burns
Mar 117 min read


How to Choose an OCD Therapist in Tennessee: ERP and I-CBT
Last reviewed: 03/11/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re searching for an ocd therapist tennessee, you’re probably past the “Do I need help?” stage. You want to know: Who actually treats OCD well, and how do I tell before I invest my time, money, and hope? In this article, you’ll learn: Why OCD often needs specialized therapy (not just supportive talk therapy) What ERP and I-CBT are, and how they’re different How to spot an OCD specialist who can treat mental compulsi

Ryan Burns
Mar 119 min read


OCD Therapy vs Anxiety Therapy: Why Intrusive Thoughts Differ
Last reviewed: 03/09/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re stuck in a loop of intrusive thoughts and “what ifs,” it’s easy to assume you just have anxiety. Sometimes that’s true. But sometimes the engine underneath is OCD—and OCD therapy works differently than general anxiety therapy. Here’s the tricky part: OCD doesn’t always look like handwashing or being “super organized.” For many people, the compulsions are mostly internal: mental checking, replaying, analyzing, co

Ryan Burns
Mar 911 min read


When Intrusive Thoughts Start to Feel Constant
Last reviewed: 03/04/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re dealing with constant intrusive thoughts, it can feel like your brain is stuck on a station you never chose. The thoughts may be disturbing, “out of character,” or just plain exhausting. And the harder you try to make them stop, the louder they can seem. In this article, you’ll learn: Why intrusive thoughts can multiply when you pay them extra attention How rumination and other mental rituals can keep thoughts “

Ryan Burns
Mar 59 min read


Why OCD Attacks the Things You Care About Most
Last reviewed: 03/05/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’ve ever wondered why OCD attacks what you care about, you’re not imagining a pattern. Obsessive-compulsive disorder often latches onto the people, values, and identities that matter most to you, then demands certainty that you’re “safe,” “good,” or “sure.” When intrusive thoughts hit what you love most, it can feel deeply personal. And it can also be a treatable OCD pattern. In this article, you’ll learn: Why OCD t

Ryan Burns
Mar 58 min read


Pure O and OCD Mental Compulsions: Why Screeners Can Miss It
“Pure O” can look like “just thoughts,” but OCD mental compulsions often happen silently: rumination, mental checking, reviewing, and reassurance seeking. Here’s why screeners can miss it and what to do next.

Ryan Burns
Feb 199 min read


ROCD: Relationship OCD Signs, Cycle, and What Helps
ROCD (relationship OCD) can make normal relationship uncertainty feel urgent and dangerous, pulling you into “Do I really love them?” loops. This guide breaks down common ROCD symptoms, the obsession–compulsion cycle, and how ERP and I-CBT help you relate to doubts differently.

Ryan Burns
Dec 21, 20259 min read


Pure O and Mental Rituals: When Compulsions Are Invisible
Pure o ocd often looks like nonstop thinking—checking your feelings, replaying conversations, praying “until it feels right,” or debating with yourself for certainty. These mental rituals are compulsions, even when no one can see them. Here’s how to spot them and what evidence-based treatment (ERP and I-CBT) looks like.

Kiesa Kelly
Dec 21, 202514 min read


Evidence-Based OCD Treatment: ERP, I-CBT, and Specialized Care
Despite affecting 2-3% of the population, OCD remains widely misunderstood, with half of cases misdiagnosed by frontline medical workers and generalist mental health providers. This paper demonstrates how specialized care significantly improves outcomes through evidence-based treatments like ERP and I-CBT. By understanding OCD's diverse presentations, comorbidities, and effective treatments, providers can ensure timely referrals and offer their patients the most effective car

Ryan Burns
May 14, 202526 min read
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