Call: 612-875-1890
Call: 612-875-1890
Request A Free Consultation

Anxiety and OCD Institute St. Paul

Stop Fighting OCD Alone

Expert ERP therapy from someone who survived OCD himself. Finally get the specialized treatment that actually works in St. Paul, MN.
Request A Free Consultation
Call: 612-875-1890

OCD Survivor Specialist

Published OCD Researcher

Gold Standard ERP

Minnesota OCD Leader

OCD Therapy St. Paul

Finally, Someone Who Gets It

You’ve tried therapy before. Maybe multiple therapists who meant well but didn’t understand OCD. They told you to challenge your thoughts or practice relaxation. It didn’t work because OCD doesn’t respond to regular therapy approaches.

ERP therapy is different. It’s designed specifically for how OCD operates. When done by someone who understands both the science and the lived experience, it can give you your life back. Not manage your symptoms—actually break free.

William Schultz Counseling St. Paul

Why Experience Matters More Than Training

Most therapists learned about OCD from textbooks. William lived it for a decade. He knows what it’s like when people tell you to “just stop thinking about it” or “focus on positive thoughts.” He understands the shame, the exhaustion, and the way OCD convinces you that your specific fears are different—more real and dangerous than anyone else’s.

After achieving his own recovery through ERP, William dedicated his career to OCD research and treatment. His work appears in academic journals and helped shape international treatment standards. But here’s what matters more: he’s guided hundreds of people to freedom using the same evidence-based approach that worked for him.

ERP Treatment Benefits

What Changes When OCD Loses Control

Real freedom from the thoughts and behaviors that have been running your life for too long.
  • You stop losing hours every day to checking rituals and compulsive behaviors that never actually help.
  • Intrusive thoughts become background noise instead of emergency sirens that control your entire day.
  • You can leave your house, touch things, and live normally without elaborate safety rituals.
  • Relationships improve when you're not constantly seeking reassurance or avoiding normal interactions.
  • You develop real confidence in handling uncertainty without falling back into old patterns.
  • Sleep comes easier when you're not lying awake replaying the day's obsessions and compulsions.

Exposure Response Prevention Therapy

How ERP Actually Breaks the OCD Cycle

ERP isn’t about throwing you into your worst fears. It’s a systematic, collaborative approach where you gradually learn to respond differently to the thoughts and situations that trigger your OCD. You’ll never be surprised or pressured into anything.

Together, we design exposures that challenge OCD while building genuine confidence. Research shows most people see substantial, lasting improvement after 60-100 exposures with response prevention. The difference is having someone guide you who understands both the neuroscience and the personal experience of breaking free.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

Support is here. Our counselors provide a safe space to talk, heal, and move forward—at your pace.

Request A Free Consultation
Call: 612-875-1890

Common questions about Anxiety And Ocd Institute

ERP is the gold standard treatment for OCD precisely because it works for all types—contamination fears, checking behaviors, intrusive thoughts, perfectionism, you name it. The approach targets the underlying mechanism that drives all OCD: the cycle of obsession, anxiety, and compulsion. If you’re spending significant time on repetitive behaviors, avoiding normal situations, or feeling controlled by intrusive thoughts, ERP can help. During your free consultation, we’ll discuss your specific symptoms and how ERP addresses them, regardless of what form your OCD takes.
Never. You will never be surprised, pressured, or forced into any exposure. Every single one is planned collaboratively, and you’ll understand exactly why it’s important before choosing to do it. We start with challenges you can handle and gradually work toward more difficult ones as your confidence grows. You maintain complete control over the pace and direction of your treatment. The goal is empowerment, not overwhelm. If an exposure doesn’t feel right, we adjust the approach until it does.
While everyone’s timeline is different, research consistently shows that most people experience substantial improvement after completing 60-100 exposures combined with response prevention. This typically means several months of consistent work, though some people progress faster. The biggest factor in your timeline is willingness to complete daily exposure practice between sessions. We’ll discuss realistic expectations during your assessment and adjust them based on your specific situation, goals, and the severity of your symptoms.
Yes, we provide both in-person sessions at our downtown St. Paul office and virtual sessions for clients in Minnesota, Texas, and Wisconsin. Many people find virtual ERP therapy just as effective as in-person treatment—sometimes more so because you can practice exposures in your actual environment. The choice depends on your preferences, schedule, and what works best for your specific OCD presentation. During your consultation, we’ll discuss which format would be most beneficial for your recovery.
The combination of lived experience and specialized expertise. William survived severe OCD himself—he knows what it’s like to be trapped by obsessions and compulsions for years. But he’s also a recognized researcher whose work has shaped international OCD treatment standards. He’s president of OCD Twin Cities and has published extensively on OCD treatment approaches. This means you get evidence-based treatment from someone who truly understands both the science of recovery and the personal experience of living with OCD. You’re not just another case study.
This is a fee-for-service practice, meaning payment is due at the time of each session. As an out-of-network provider, superbills are provided for you to submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement—many clients receive partial coverage for out-of-network mental health services. HSA and FSA cards are accepted, along with cash and credit cards. The investment in specialized OCD treatment typically pays for itself quickly through improved quality of life, better relationships, and time no longer lost to symptoms and avoidance behaviors.
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