🎯 Specialties • OCD

OCD Therapy in Charlotte, NC

If OCD has been running your day from the moment you wake up, you're not alone. Whether it's checking, washing, reassurance-seeking, or mental reviewing you can't shut off, it can feel like your brain won't give you a break.

Support is available in Charlotte and online across North Carolina and South Carolina.

Schedule Free Consultation Learn About OCD

Hi, I'm Anna

If you're reading this, you're probably exhausted.

Maybe you've been stuck in the same loops for months, or years. Checking. Washing. Reviewing. Seeking reassurance. Trying to figure out if you're a dangerous person. Doubting your relationships. Afraid you'll lose control.

You may know logically that your fears don't make sense, but that doesn't stop the anxiety. And the compulsions that used to help? They're not working anymore. They're just taking up more and more of your life.

Here's what I've learned from working with hundreds of OCD clients: You're not broken, and you're not alone. OCD is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions, even by therapists who mean well but don't have specialized training.

OCD can show up in so many ways: contamination fears, harm obsessions, intrusive sexual thoughts (including POCD), religious scrupulosity, relationship doubts, existential fears, and themes so specific people are terrified to say them out loud.

What most people don't realize is that OCD isn't really about the content of your obsessions. It's the cycle of doubt, anxiety, and compulsive responses that keeps you trapped. That cycle can be broken. With specialized OCD treatment, you can reclaim your life.

Understanding

What is OCD?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. The hallmark symptoms of OCD can worsen over time and cause significant impairment in everyday functioning.

We can divide OCD into three main components:

Obsessions

Intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause anxiety and distress

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors or mental acts done to reduce anxiety or prevent feared outcomes

Distress

Significant interference in daily functioning across social, work, or personal life

The "O" in OCD: Obsessions

OCD obsessions can show up as intrusive and recurring thoughts, mental images, and urges. They are unwanted and ego-dystonic. This means they go against the individual's values and who they are as a person.

We may all experience strange and unwanted thoughts from time to time, but thoughts like these feel very significant and threatening to the person with OCD. As a result, they cause anxiety and distress. These feelings fuel the "C" in OCD: compulsions.

The "C" in OCD: Compulsions

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or rituals that an individual is compelled to perform in response to the anxiety or distress caused by the obsession. The function of a compulsion is to reduce these feelings or to prevent a feared outcome from coming true.

These behaviors can be overt physical acts that others can observe, but they can also be internal mental rituals. Examples include mentally reviewing, counting, praying, and rumination.

Compulsions are generally bothersome and time-consuming. The individual doesn't want to be doing them but feels like they have to.

The "D" in OCD: Distress and Disorder

The "D" stands for the distress and dysfunction OCD causes. For a diagnosis, symptoms must cause significant distress or interfere with daily life, relationships, work, or school.

OCD is not about being neat, organized, or preferring things a certain way. It's about being trapped in a cycle that takes over your thoughts and your time.

The good news: OCD is treatable. With the right approaches, the cycle can be interrupted and weakened. You can learn to respond differently to intrusive thoughts and reduce the power compulsions have over your life.

OCD Presentations

OCD Types & Themes

While symptoms of OCD always come in different flavors, OCD is composed of the same underlying pattern but can show up in varying OCD types or themes.

Sometimes one OCD type is predominant, but it's also possible for individuals with OCD to have more than one OCD type at the same time. It's also possible for the various OCD themes to shift in strength over time.

Important to understand: Don't think your symptoms have to fall into one specific type. You likely can see yourself in more than one type regardless of the OCD theme.

Treatment tends to be similar no matter the OCD subtype, triggers, or fears, though it will look different from client to client based on your specific patterns.

It's also important to note that one could still meet criteria for OCD even if their symptoms don't fit any of these commonly seen OCD themes. OCD is known to latch on to nearly anything and can show up in very unique ways.

Common OCD Types & Themes

🧼

Contamination OCD

Obsession Example

"I might get sick and die."

Common Compulsions

Wipes hands with a disinfectant wipe, washes hands in a ritualistic manner in a pattern of 3's, with 3 pumps of soap, while counting to 3, for a total of 3 hand washes, keeps hands out of pockets, avoids "dirty" and "clean" areas and avoids cross-contamination.

💭

Emotional Contamination

Description

Emotional contamination is a subtype in which the OCD sufferer fears their triggers (people, places, things) will impact their personality after coming into contact with the trigger or being near people for excessive amounts of time. They may fear taking on someone else's negative personality traits or negative qualities. This subtype overlaps with magical thinking and superstitious beliefs.

🌌

Existential OCD

Obsession Example

"Maybe the life that I'm living is not real."

Common Compulsions

Engages in testing behaviors to convince themselves that their loved ones exist, pinches themself to prove that they are real, and spends hours ruminating and mentally analyzing the situation.

⚠️

Forbidden/Taboo OCD

Obsession Example

"Are these the kinds of sexual thoughts that mean I actually want to do it?"

Common Compulsions

Mentally argues with the thoughts, avoids eye contact, cancels plans when thoughts intensify, and reviews messages or memories for certainty.

🔪

Harm OCD

Obsession Examples

"What if I suddenly 'lose it' and hurt my mother?"

"What if I lose control in the car when driving?"

Common Compulsions

Avoids standing too close to loved ones, keeps hands in fists near sharp objects, isolates to reduce risk, engages in "just right" rituals, and seeks repeated reassurance.

👶

Pedophile OCD (POCD)

Obsession Example

"What if I am secretly attracted to children and become a pedophile?"

Common Compulsions

Avoids places where children might be, avoids hugs, mentally reviews proof it's not true, repeats "you're a good person," and neutralizes thoughts.

✨

Magical Thinking OCD

Obsession Example

"If I don't tap the door frame three times, something bad will happen to my family."

Common Compulsions

Repeats actions a specific number of times, avoids certain numbers or colors, performs rituals to "undo" bad thoughts, seeks reassurance that nothing bad will happen, and arranges objects in a particular order.

Description

OCD can create a sense of responsibility to keep yourself and others safe, paired with intolerance for uncertainty. Magical thinking is cyclical when someone believes their thoughts, wishes, or actions influence events, and compulsions are used to prevent negative outcomes.

💔

Relationship OCD (ROCD)

Obsession Example

"What if I don't really love my partner and our relationship is based on a lie?"

Common Compulsions

Reviews past events for certainty, checks feelings constantly, and analyzes actions to prove the relationship is "real."

🙏

Scrupulosity OCD (Moral or Religious)

Obsession Example

"Was that obscene thought I had something that makes me an immoral person?"

Common Compulsions

Replays events, seeks reassurance, apologizes excessively, and spends excessive time praying to clear guilt.

🌈

Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD)

Obsession Examples

"What if I'm gay and I don't even know it?"

"Does that thought mean I want to hurt myself?"

Common Compulsions

Avoids friends, checks for signs of arousal, seeks reassurance, reviews memories, and engages in mental "proof" rituals.

Note: There will be variations in how OCD presents for each person, even within the same OCD theme. It is also important to note that one could still meet criteria for OCD even if their symptoms don't fit any of these commonly seen OCD types. OCD is known to latch on to nearly anything and can show up in very unique ways.

Evidence-Based Care

OCD Treatment in Charlotte, NC: How I Help

Anna Schneiderman explaining OCD treatment approaches at whiteboard in her Charlotte, NC therapy office

The first thing we do together is map your OCD cycle. Not just the theme, but the pattern: what triggers the obsessions, what compulsions show up (including mental compulsions), and where the loop keeps tightening.

Once we understand your specific pattern, I use evidence-based approaches including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The approach depends on what we discover in the assessment and what you're ready for.

This is collaborative. We figure out together what makes the most sense for you.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

ERP is a well-established treatment for OCD. If you're avoiding public restrooms because of contamination fears, we build a systematic exposure hierarchy starting where you can succeed and gradually stretching your tolerance, while resisting the compulsions that keep the cycle alive.

You face the trigger (exposure) while resisting the compulsion (response prevention). With repeated practice, your brain learns that anxiety naturally comes down without compulsions, and you gain your life back.

Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT)

I-CBT takes a different approach. Instead of centering exposure, it targets the reasoning process that creates obsessional doubt in the first place. It can be especially helpful when the compulsions are mostly internal: rumination, mental reviewing, analyzing, and "figuring it out."

With I-CBT, you learn to separate what you can actually observe from what OCD is imagining and insisting might be true. Over time, you build the ability to trust your senses and values rather than OCD's stories.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on changing your relationship with intrusive thoughts rather than trying to eliminate them. For many people with OCD, the struggle to control thoughts becomes another way the disorder stays in charge.

ACT helps you learn how to notice intrusive thoughts without engaging in analysis, reassurance, or mental debate. Instead of organizing your life around avoiding discomfort, the emphasis is on taking action based on your values—showing up for work, relationships, and daily life even when uncertainty is present.

When integrated thoughtfully, ACT supports both ERP and I-CBT by reducing mental resistance and helping compulsions lose their grip. The goal is not to like intrusive thoughts or agree with them, but to stop letting them dictate your choices.

Which Approach Will We Use?

It depends on you. During our assessment, I'm paying attention to your symptoms, the nature of your compulsions, and what feels doable right now. Some clients benefit most from ERP, others from I-CBT, and some find ACT helpful for changing how they relate to intrusive thoughts.

What Changes Look Like

You learn how to disengage from the OCD cycle instead of feeding it
You become aware of compulsions you didn't even realize you were doing
You develop the ability to sit with intrusive thoughts without spiraling
You get back to doing the things that matter: showing up at work, being present in relationships, leaving your house without hours of checking

The goal isn't to make intrusive thoughts disappear entirely. The goal is for those thoughts to lose their power over you, so compulsions stop running your life.

That shift is possible for you too. It takes the right approach and support that's built for OCD, not generic anxiety.

Additional Support

OCD Resources

Here are trusted, evidence-based resources for individuals experiencing OCD and their families:

International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) — The leading OCD nonprofit offering treatment directories, educational materials, and the annual OCD Conference
The OCD Stories Podcast — Long-running podcast featuring interviews with OCD specialists and people sharing their recovery journeys
Freedom from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – Jonathan Grayson, PhD — A practical guide to understanding OCD and applying ERP, written by a leading OCD specialist and IOCDF Lifetime Achievement Award recipient
IOCDF Books & Resources — A curated reading list of evidence-based self-help books for individuals and families affected by OCD and related disorders

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About OCD

How do I know if I have OCD or just anxiety?

OCD has a specific pattern: intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) followed by repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) done to reduce anxiety. Generalized anxiety involves excessive worry about many things without the compulsion component. If you find yourself stuck in loops of "what if" thoughts that drive rituals or mental reviewing, that's more indicative of OCD.

Is my OCD theme too disturbing to talk about?

No. I've worked with clients across all OCD subtypes, including themes people find most disturbing: harm obsessions, sexual obsessions (including POCD), violent thoughts, religious scrupulosity, and more. Nothing you share will shock me. Intrusive thoughts aren't your desires. They're OCD noise.

How long does OCD treatment take?

The timeline varies based on OCD severity, how long symptoms have been present, how many themes are involved, and how consistently you practice skills between sessions. Many people start noticing meaningful changes as they learn the right tools and apply them steadily over time. If needed, more structured or intensive options can also help accelerate progress.

Can I do OCD treatment online?

Yes. ERP and I-CBT can both be effective via telehealth. Many exposures happen outside of sessions anyway, and we meet online to plan exposures, process your experiences, and adjust the treatment plan. I provide OCD treatment throughout North Carolina and South Carolina via secure telehealth.

What if I've tried therapy before and it didn't work?

If you tried generic talk therapy or CBT without specialized OCD treatment, that can explain why it didn't help enough. OCD usually requires specific approaches such as ERP or I-CBT delivered by a therapist with specialized training. Many people who feel like they "failed" therapy simply didn't receive OCD-specific care.

Where can I learn more about OCD?

A reliable resource is the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). Many people find it helpful to read about OCD patterns and treatment options while they're getting started.

OCD Doesn't Have to Keep Robbing Your Life

When you have the right support and an approach built specifically for OCD, symptoms can improve significantly. Let's talk about what you're dealing with and what help could look like.

Schedule Free Consultation

Specialized ERP, I-CBT, and ACT for OCD • In-person in Charlotte, NC • Telehealth across NC & SC • Ages 16+