You know those thoughts aren’t really you. The endless checking, the rituals, the way OCD has hijacked your brain—that’s not who you are. With specialized ERP therapy, you can learn to let intrusive thoughts exist without letting them control you.
Our clients in Temple typically see significant improvement within 12-20 sessions. They go from spending hours each day trapped in compulsions to engaging fully in work, relationships, and activities they value. The shame lifts. The isolation ends. Life becomes manageable again.
This isn’t about positive thinking or general coping strategies. It’s about proven, targeted treatment that teaches your brain a different way to respond to uncertainty and intrusive thoughts.
We bring world-class OCD treatment to Temple through both virtual and in-person sessions. Our team includes nationally known researchers, published clinicians, and advocates—many with lived experience of the conditions we treat.
We’re not general therapists who occasionally see OCD. This is our specialty. Our clinicians have shaped international treatment guidelines and written foundational books for the field. We understand that Temple’s growing community of 96,000+ residents deserves access to the same caliber of care available in major metropolitan areas.
What sets us apart in the Temple area is our combination of clinical authority and deep empathy. We’ve worked with thousands of people experiencing the exact thoughts and compulsions you’re dealing with. Nothing you share will shock us.
First, we’ll conduct a thorough assessment to understand your specific OCD presentation. Whether you’re dealing with harm obsessions, contamination fears, symmetry compulsions, or postpartum intrusive thoughts, we create a personalized treatment plan.
ERP therapy works by gradually exposing you to situations that trigger obsessions while preventing the compulsive response. This isn’t about flooding you with your worst fears—it’s a systematic, supportive process where you build confidence step by step.
During sessions, we’ll practice exposures together. You might hold a “contaminated” object without washing your hands, or write down an intrusive thought without performing mental rituals. Between sessions, you’ll practice these exercises at home. Over time, your brain learns that the anxiety naturally decreases without compulsions—and that the thoughts can’t actually hurt you.
The goal isn’t to eliminate all intrusive thoughts (everyone has them), but to change your relationship with them so they lose their power over your life.
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We offer both virtual telehealth sessions and in-person appointments to serve Temple’s diverse community. Our treatment approaches include traditional ERP, Inference-based CBT (I-CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for obsessive thoughts.
For Temple residents dealing with specific challenges, we provide specialized treatment for harm OCD (those disturbing thoughts about hurting others), postpartum OCD (intrusive thoughts about your baby), symmetry and orderliness compulsions, and contamination fears. We also offer intensive four-day treatment programs for those seeking faster results.
Given Temple’s status as a regional medical center with Baylor Scott & White as the largest employer, we understand the unique stressors facing healthcare workers and their families. Our flexible scheduling accommodates shift work and demanding professional schedules. We accept most major insurance plans and are transparent about all costs upfront—no surprises, no hidden fees.
The key difference is how much time and distress these thoughts cause. Normal worries come and go, but OCD thoughts feel “sticky”—they keep coming back despite your efforts to dismiss them. You might spend hours each day performing rituals or avoiding situations because of these thoughts.
If intrusive thoughts are interfering with your work, relationships, or daily activities in Temple, it’s worth getting evaluated. Many people with OCD describe feeling like they’re “going crazy” or that they’re the only person having these thoughts. The reality is that OCD affects about 2-3% of the population, and the thoughts you’re experiencing are much more common than you think.
Initially, yes—ERP can increase anxiety because you’re intentionally facing your fears instead of avoiding them. But this is temporary and expected. Think of it like physical therapy after an injury: it might be uncomfortable at first, but it’s necessary for healing.
The difference with ERP is that you’re not facing these fears alone. Your therapist will guide you through each exposure, starting with easier exercises and building up gradually. Most Temple clients find that within a few weeks, they’re surprised by how manageable the anxiety becomes. The temporary discomfort is worth the long-term freedom from OCD’s control.
Most people see significant improvement within 12-20 ERP sessions, though this varies based on severity and individual factors. Some Temple clients notice changes within the first few weeks, while others need more time to fully break free from long-standing patterns.
The beauty of ERP is that the improvements tend to be lasting. Unlike medication, which only works while you’re taking it, ERP teaches you skills you’ll have for life. We also offer intensive four-day programs for those who want faster results or have limited time for weekly sessions due to work or family commitments in the Temple area.
Absolutely. Harm obsessions are one of the most common—and most distressing—forms of OCD. These thoughts feel so real and frightening, but having them actually indicates you’re the opposite of dangerous. People who truly intend harm don’t feel distressed by violent thoughts.
We specialize in treating harm OCD and understand how isolating these thoughts can feel. Many Temple residents have told us they were afraid to seek help because they thought their thoughts meant they were “bad people.” The truth is, these intrusive thoughts are symptoms of OCD, not reflections of your character. We create a completely safe space where you can discuss these thoughts without judgment.
Yes, perinatal and postpartum OCD are specialties of ours. New parents in Temple often experience intrusive thoughts about accidentally or intentionally harming their babies. These thoughts are terrifying but extremely common—research shows that up to 90% of new parents have some form of intrusive thoughts about their babies.
The key difference between normal new parent anxiety and postpartum OCD is the intensity and frequency of these thoughts, plus the compulsive behaviors they trigger (like excessive checking, avoiding being alone with the baby, or constantly seeking reassurance). We provide specialized treatment that helps you bond with your baby while managing these intrusive thoughts safely and effectively.
Most therapists use general talk therapy approaches that can actually make OCD worse by encouraging you to analyze or “figure out” your thoughts. We use ERP, which is specifically designed for OCD and backed by decades of research showing 80% success rates.
Our team includes nationally recognized OCD researchers and clinicians who have shaped international treatment guidelines. Many of our staff have lived experience with OCD themselves, providing a level of understanding that general therapists simply can’t match. We also offer innovative treatment options like intensive programs and combine multiple evidence-based approaches (ERP, I-CBT, ACT) based on your specific needs. For Temple residents, this means accessing world-class OCD treatment without traveling to major metropolitan areas.
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