Understanding OCD
Effective Treatment Options and Support

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder torments gentle, fun, loving people to think that they may be the type of person they fear most (e.g., sexually deviant, dangerous, helpless, out of control, damaged).

Living with OCD can be difficult and overwhelming. Receiving the wrong therapy can be discouraging, or even make things worse.

The good news is that with the right science-backed approach, OCD is treatable.

At ScienceWorks, we specialize in OCD - and we're here to help.

What is OCD?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a mental health condition where unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) trigger intense anxiety or shame - leading to repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce distress and prevent feared outcomes.

Beyond simple perfectionism, OCD creates a debilitating cycle where temporary relief from compulsions actually strengthens obsessive patterns over time.

With proper diagnosis and specialized treatment, individuals can break free from these thought-action loops and reclaim their lives.

OCD by the numbers

Without specialist intervention, it can take 10+ years to receive an accurate OCD diagnosis

People with untreated OCD spend an average of 3-8 hours daily on compulsive behaviors

People with untreated OCD are 3x more likely to be unemployed and can also experience relationship difficulties

90%+ of people with OCD have co-occurring conditions such as Trauma and Insomnia

The prevalence of OCD is many times higher for LGTBQ+ folks, neurodivergent folks, and college students

With proper treatment, 80%+ of people achieve a significant reduction in symptoms

Starting treatment as soon as possible can prevent the entrenchment of OCD patterns and improve results

Effective OCD Therapy
Personalized Approaches for Lasting Relief

For OCD, traditional talk therapy is not the most effective approach.

Explore specific strategies built just for you.

Specialized Treatment

For OCD

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Complete Care

For Anxiety & Depression

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Complete Care

For ADHD & Autism

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Specialized Treatment for OCD
We use modern evidence-based treatments that are gentle, accessible, and efficient.

Available via telehealth in Tennessee

(Free Consultation)

Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT)

I-CBT is a research-backed therapy for OCD that helps clients understand how OCD disrupts the reasoning process that gives rise to the OCD doubts from the start.

By learning how to resolve the inferential confusion in OCD, we learn to see compulsions as irrelevant.

Provided By

Kiesa

Catherine

Exposure-Response Prevention (ERP)

Justice-Based Exposure-Response Prevention is effective at breaking the obsessive-compulsive cycle and helping the brain to learn new responses to intrusive thoughts.

Our approach to ERP is values-based and affirming.

Provided By

Kiesa

Catherine

Ryan

For OCD with Trauma

OCD and Trauma often occur together, but require distinct therapeutic techniques.

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With our unique skills and experience, we can gently blend your OCD treatment with EMDR, CPT, and other trauma-focused strategies to create a holistic therapeutic combination that meets your needs.

Provided By

Kiesa

Ryan

For OCD with Insomnia

When OCD and Insomnia co-occur, we use CBT-I to target healthy sleep while simultaneously treating your OCD.

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is a scientific framework for understanding and disrupting the barriers that make sleep elusive.

Provided By

Kiesa

Ryan

Complete Care

Treating OCD means treating all of you. Our custom treatment plans include targeted therapies for co-occurring conditions to provide a comprehensive and effective therapy experience. That's the ScienceWorks difference.

For OCD with Anxiety & Depression

(Free Consultation)

OCD's cycle of obsessive thoughts and relief behaviors often create intense anxiety. The constant pattern of OCD can be exhausting - increasing the risk of depression.

We have expertise across a range of science-backed strategies that can be blended seamlessly with your OCD treatment to help you conquer OCD, anxiety, and depression with one holistic plan.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

At its core, CBT is designed to identify, explore, and reframe the patterns of unwanted thoughts and behaviors.

While I-CBT applies these techniques specifically to OCD symptoms, general CBT is a great compliment that can be applied more broadly to address secondary concerns like anxiety and depression.

Provided By

Kiesa

Catherine

Ryan

Neurocounseling (NC)

Neurocounseling is a therapeutic approach that combines evidence-based treatment strategies with deeper neurological insights for anxiety and depression.

With NC, you'll learn the science of how your brain works to gain new perspectives on your experiences and your therapy - allowing you to move forward with focus and clarity.

Provided By

Ryan

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT helps you meet the difficult cycle of OCD with purpose and compassion rather than avoidance, anxiety and depression.

By developing mindfulness skills and connecting with your core values, you'll learn to increase your control over OCD and reduce its impact on daily living.

Provided By

Kiesa

Catherine

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Change is hard. Motivational Interviewing consists of structured, collaborative conversations between you and your therapist to identify your unique values and capabilities.

With MI, you'll uncover the strategies and personal drive to break the cycle of OCD and increase the efficacy of your treatment.

Provided By

Kiesa

Ryan

For OCD with ADHD & Autism

(Free Consultation)

When OCD is present with ADHD and/or autism, the result is often a complex web of symptoms that overlap with one another. This can create negative feedback loops that exaggerate their impact and significantly impair daily functioning.

For example:

The sensory needs of autism can mask or distort underlying OCD symptoms, making the right treatment difficult to target
The impulsivity of ADHD can worsen OCD compulsions and drive higher rates of anxiety

At ScienceWorks, we combine our expertise across OCD, ADHD, and autism to provide the effective care you need.

Our collaborative team will work with you to:

Untangle difficult co-occurring symptoms
Identify specific needs and objectives
Build an individualized treatment plan that combines a range of dedicated strategies that are matched to clearly defined goals
Provide comprehensive support to help you experience relief and improvement in all aspects of your life

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

At its core, CBT is designed to identify, explore, and reframe the patterns of unwanted thoughts and behaviors.

For ADHD and autism, CBT strategies can be used to individualize the delivery your OCD therapy in a way that aligns with your strengths and learning style.

Provided By

Kiesa

Catherine

Ryan

Neurocounseling (NC)

Neurocounseling is a therapeutic approach that combines evidence-based treatment strategies with deeper neurological insights for anxiety and depression.

With NC, you'll learn the science of how your brain works to gain new perspectives on your experiences and your therapy - allowing you to move forward with focus and clarity.

Provided By

Ryan

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT can help you separate the reality of your strengths and values from the harsh internal narratives that can develop from living unsupported in a neurotypical environment.

With ACT, you'll learn to focus on what matters rather than trying to fix what isn't broken.

Provided By

Kiesa

Catherine