Expert Care for OCD in Cincinnati, Ohio
With licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Rachel Thompson
Compassionate, evidence-based OCD treatment in Cincinnati, Ohio
The rituals aren't helping anymore.
You know the thoughts don't make sense. You know the compulsions are excessive. But knowing that doesn't make them stop.
Maybe you've been checking the door lock ten times before bed, convinced that if you don't, something terrible will happen. Maybe you're washing your hands until they crack and bleed. Maybe you're spending hours mentally reviewing conversations, looking for proof that you didn't say something wrong.
Or maybe your OCD doesn't look like the stereotypes at all. Maybe it's intrusive thoughts about harm, religion, or sexuality that make you question who you are. Maybe it's the constant need for reassurance that's exhausting everyone around you.
Here's what matters: OCD is treatable. And Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) works—when it's done right.
Dr. Rachel Thompson is a licensed clinical psychologist and one of Ohio's leading specialists in OCD treatment. She's been doing this work for over a decade, and she knows that OCD isn't about logic or willpower—it's about how your brain has learned to respond to uncertainty.
Dr. Thompson specializes in:
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)—the gold-standard treatment for OCD
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and OCD
Mindfulness-based approaches for tolerating discomfort
Self-compassion practices to counter the shame OCD creates
She's trained, experienced, and—importantly—she understands what it's like to sit with the anxiety that OCD generates. She won't minimize your experience or push you faster than you're ready to go.
Evidence-Based OCD Treatment in Cincinnati
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a neurobiological condition where your brain gets stuck in loops of doubt and fear. It's not about being neat or organized—it's about being tormented by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and feeling compelled to do certain behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) to make the anxiety go away.
The problem? The compulsions only provide temporary relief. Then the doubt comes back, often stronger, and you're trapped in the cycle again.
Common OCD themes include:
Contamination: Fear of germs, illness, or being "dirty"
Harm: Intrusive thoughts about hurting yourself or others
Checking: Needing to verify that doors are locked, appliances are off, etc.
Symmetry/Ordering: Everything has to be "just right" or something bad will happen
Sexual/Religious: Intrusive thoughts that conflict with your values or identity
Relationship: Constant doubt about whether you're with the right person or truly love them
Existential/Philosophical: Getting stuck on unanswerable questions about reality, meaning, or death
OCD is exhausting. It steals time, energy, and peace of mind. But it doesn't have to control your life.
What is OCD, really?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the most effective treatment for OCD. Here's how it works:
Exposure: You gradually face the situations, thoughts, or objects that trigger your obsessions—without doing the compulsions. This teaches your brain that the feared outcome either doesn't happen or that you can tolerate the uncertainty.
Response Prevention: You resist the urge to do the compulsive behavior. This breaks the cycle and allows your anxiety to naturally decrease over time.
It's not about white-knuckling through panic. Dr. Thompson works with you to create a hierarchy of exposures—starting with what feels manageable and building up gradually. You're in control of the pace.
What ERP helps you learn:
The anxiety will peak and then come down on its own (you don't need the ritual)
You can tolerate uncertainty better than you think
The feared outcome is either unlikely or something you can handle
You're not defined by your intrusive thoughts
ERP isn't easy. But it works. And Dr. Thompson will be with you every step of the way.
How ERP actually works
What You Might Be Experiencing
Intrusive thoughts that feel disturbing, dangerous, or completely out of character
Compulsive behaviors you can't stop even though you know they don't make sense
Mental rituals like counting, praying, or repeating phrases to neutralize the thoughts
Avoidance of people, places, or situations that trigger obsessions
Constant need for reassurance from others
Hours lost each day to checking, washing, organizing, or mental reviewing
Shame about the thoughts or behaviors
Difficulty concentrating on anything else
Exhaustion from the mental gymnastics OCD demands
If this sounds familiar, Dr. Thompson can help.
Why Get Treatment Here with Dr. Rachel Thompson?
She specializes in OCD.
Not all therapists are trained in ERP, and not all who claim to be actually implement it correctly. Dr. Thompson has over a decade of experience specifically treating OCD. This isn't a side interest—it's a core part of her practice.
She's licensed across 40+ states.
Dr. Thompson offers therapy in-person in Cincinnati and via telehealth to clients in any PSYPACT-participating state. That means you can access expert OCD treatment from wherever you are.
She integrates mindfulness and self-compassion.
OCD often comes with intense shame and self-judgment. Dr. Thompson helps you approach your experience with curiosity instead of criticism, which makes the work of ERP more sustainable.
She's patient and collaborative.
You won't be forced into exposures you're not ready for. Dr. Thompson works with you to design a treatment plan that fits your goals and comfort level.