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OCD Therapy

OCD Therapy in Florida

OCD is often misunderstood, even by people living with it. Andrea Baskin, LMHC, provides ERP-based OCD therapy by secure telehealth to adults across Florida, targeting the actual cycle that keeps obsessions and compulsions going.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is not about being tidy or particular. It is a cycle of unwanted, intrusive thoughts and the urgent need to do something, mentally or physically, to make the discomfort go away. That cycle can take over hours of a day and touch nearly any area of life.

This page explains how OCD actually works, the evidence-based treatment most often recommended, and how to tell OCD apart from general anxiety or everyday worry.

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What is OCD really?

OCD is a cycle made up of two parts: an obsession, which is an intrusive, unwanted thought, image, or urge that causes distress, and a compulsion, which is a behavior or mental act done to reduce that distress or prevent a feared outcome. The compulsion brings brief relief, which reinforces the cycle and makes the obsession more likely to return.

This is why OCD tends to get worse with more compulsions rather than better. The relief a ritual provides is temporary, and it teaches the brain that the obsession was actually dangerous and the compulsion actually necessary, which strengthens the loop over time.

What are the common types of OCD?

OCD can attach to almost any theme, but some patterns are especially common:

  • Contamination OCD: fear of germs, illness, or dirtiness, often paired with excessive washing or cleaning
  • Harm OCD: intrusive fears of accidentally or intentionally hurting yourself or someone else
  • Relationship OCD (ROCD): persistent doubt about whether your relationship or feelings for a partner are real or right
  • Religious or moral OCD (scrupulosity): fear of having sinned, offended God, or acted immorally
  • "Just right" OCD: needing things to feel or look a certain way until the discomfort resolves
  • Health anxiety OCD: recurring fear of having a serious illness despite reassurance or medical evidence

Why does reassurance make OCD worse?

Reassurance, whether from a loved one, a search engine, or a mental review, functions the same way a physical compulsion does: it temporarily relieves anxiety and therefore reinforces the underlying obsession. Over time this means you need reassurance more often and the doubt returns more intensely, which is why constantly asking "are you sure?" tends to feed OCD rather than resolve it.

This is one of the more counterintuitive parts of OCD treatment. It can feel caring or responsible to keep reassuring someone with OCD, but doing so consistently often makes their OCD stronger. Learning to sit with uncertainty, rather than resolve it through reassurance, is a core part of recovery.

What is ERP and how does it work?

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the evidence-based treatment most commonly recommended for OCD. It involves gradually and deliberately facing the situations or thoughts that trigger obsessions, while resisting the urge to perform the compulsion that normally follows, so the brain learns the feared outcome does not happen or the anxiety passes on its own.

ERP is built step by step, not thrown at you all at once. Early in treatment, you and Andrea build a hierarchy of triggering situations, ranked from mildly to severely distressing. You start with more manageable exposures and build up gradually as your confidence and tolerance grow.

A typical exposure might involve touching something you consider contaminated without washing your hands afterward, writing out a feared intrusive thought without seeking reassurance, or sitting with uncertainty about a relationship without checking for reassurance. Each time you resist the compulsion, the obsession's grip weakens a little, and that effect compounds over repeated practice.

Can ERP be done over telehealth?

Yes. ERP adapts well to secure video sessions, and telehealth has some real advantages for this type of treatment, since exposures can be practiced directly in the environment where the OCD shows up, such as your own kitchen, bathroom, or workspace.

Andrea provides ERP-based OCD therapy exclusively by secure telehealth to clients throughout Florida, which allows for real-time coaching through exposures in the actual settings tied to your obsessions.

How is OCD different from generalized anxiety?

Generalized anxiety tends to involve broad worry about real-life concerns like finances, health, or relationships, without a repetitive ritual attached. OCD involves a specific obsession-compulsion cycle: an intrusive thought paired with a distinct behavior or mental act done specifically to neutralize it.

Because the two can look similar on the surface, especially health anxiety and scrupulosity, an accurate assessment matters. Treating OCD like general anxiety, or general anxiety like OCD, can slow progress, which is why identifying the actual pattern early on is an important part of the first few sessions.

What role does family accommodation play in OCD?

Family members and partners often get pulled into OCD without realizing it, through providing reassurance, participating in rituals, or helping someone avoid triggers altogether. This is called accommodation, and while it comes from a place of love, it tends to maintain the OCD cycle.

When appropriate, therapy can include guidance for loved ones on how to reduce accommodation supportively, which often makes a meaningful difference in someone's progress.

Frequently asked questions

What treatment is most often recommended for OCD?

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Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a specific form of cognitive behavioral therapy, is the treatment most commonly recommended for OCD. It works by gradually reducing compulsions while facing triggering situations.

How much does OCD therapy cost in Florida?

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Sessions with Andrea Baskin are $125, and she accepts major insurance plans including Aetna, AvMed, Cigna, and Florida Blue/BCBS, which may lower your cost depending on your plan.

Is ERP therapy uncomfortable?

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ERP does involve facing uncomfortable feelings on purpose, but it is done gradually and collaboratively, starting with more manageable exposures. Most people find the discomfort is temporary and decreases with practice, while avoidance tends to keep OCD strong indefinitely.

Can OCD be treated without medication?

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Yes, ERP therapy alone is effective for many people with OCD. Some people also use medication, typically an SSRI prescribed by a physician or psychiatrist, alongside therapy. Andrea does not prescribe medication but can discuss whether that might be a helpful addition to treatment.

How do I know if it's OCD or just generalized anxiety?

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OCD involves a specific obsession paired with a compulsion done to relieve it, while generalized anxiety tends to be broader worry without a repetitive ritual attached. A thorough assessment in the first sessions can help clarify which pattern fits what you are experiencing.

Does ERP work over telehealth?

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Yes, ERP can be delivered through secure video sessions, and that can even be an advantage since exposures can be practiced directly in your home environment with real-time guidance.

What if my family keeps giving me reassurance?

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This is common and understandable, but ongoing reassurance can reinforce the OCD cycle. Therapy can include guidance for family members or partners on how to reduce this pattern in a supportive way.

How many sessions does OCD treatment usually take?

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ERP is a structured, active treatment, but there's no set timeline. Everyone's experience is different, and progress depends on your individual needs, goals, circumstances, and treatment plan.

Read more on this

OCD

What Is ERP Therapy for OCD?

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a structured form of cognitive behavioral therapy that helps people with OCD gradually face feared thoughts or situations while resisting the urge to perform compulsions. Over time, this process reduces the anxiety tied to obsessions and weakens the compulsive cycle. ERP is considered the leading evidence-based treatment for OCD.

OCD

Are Intrusive Thoughts Normal?

Yes, intrusive thoughts are extremely common and most people experience them at some point, including unwanted violent, sexual, or disturbing thoughts that don't reflect their actual desires or character. What distinguishes a clinical concern like OCD isn't having the thought itself, but the distress it causes and the compulsions used to neutralize it.

OCD

OCD or Anxiety: What's the Difference?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves persistent, diffuse worry about many areas of life, while OCD involves specific, distressing intrusive thoughts paired with compulsions performed to reduce anxiety. The key distinguishing feature is the presence of compulsions and rigid thought patterns focused on specific themes in OCD, versus broad worry without a compulsive ritual in GAD.

Therapy Basics

Does Insurance Cover Therapy in Florida?

Many insurance plans in Florida provide some coverage for mental health therapy, since federal law generally requires mental health benefits to be comparable to medical benefits, but the specifics, including copays, deductibles, and which providers are in-network, depend entirely on your individual plan. The best way to know exactly what's covered is to call the member services number on your insurance card and ask directly. Many therapists, including practices that accept major insurers like Aetna, AvMed, Cigna, and Florida Blue, can also help verify benefits before your first session.

Therapy Basics

Is Online Therapy as Effective as In-Person Therapy?

Online therapy is a well-established format, and many people find it works as well for them as meeting in an office, particularly for anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns. The right choice often comes down to personal preference, comfort with technology, and logistical needs like scheduling and privacy at home. Many people also choose to combine both formats over time depending on what's happening in their lives.

Therapy Basics

What Happens in a First Therapy Session?

In a first therapy session, your therapist will ask about what brought you in, your current symptoms or concerns, and relevant background such as your health history and past experiences with therapy. There's no pressure to have everything figured out; the goal is to start building an understanding of your situation and to see whether the therapist feels like a good fit for you.

Related services

Anxiety therapy for generalized worry and panic

Trauma-focused therapy for past distressing experiences

Insurance and session cost information

Ready to take the first step?

Reach out for a free 15-minute consultation. We'll explore whether we're a good fit and how I can support you.

Schedule a Free Consultation (954) 866-8846