Unwanted thoughts and repeated rituals can take up more of your day than you want them to. We offer in-person care for adults with OCD in West Hartford, including exposure and response prevention, or ERP, when appropriate.
Treatment starts with understanding your experience and choosing a plan together.
ERP is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy used to treat OCD. With your clinician, you approach situations that bring up obsessions and practice reducing compulsive responses. The work is planned and gradual, with goals connected to your daily life.
The aim is to change how you respond to unwanted thoughts and uncertainty. An exercise can be useful even if anxiety does not disappear immediately. Your clinician helps identify both visible rituals and mental habits that may be maintaining the cycle.
Medication may be considered alongside ERP or as part of an individualized plan. Some people need a more intensive OCD program than weekly outpatient visits. We can discuss referral options when that level of support is appropriate.
A conversation about what has been happening and what you would like to change.
We discuss intrusive thoughts, rituals, avoidance and the time these take. You can share at a pace that allows an accurate assessment and explain if embarrassment makes something hard to describe. We ask about previous treatment and discuss whether ERP, medication or a different level of care fits your needs.
We explain the options, answer your questions and discuss follow-up based on your needs. You can ask about benefits, possible risks and other approaches before making a decision.
All visits are in person at 10 Princeton St, Ste N, West Hartford, CT 06110. We do not offer telehealth.
An evaluation considers the full picture, including other concerns that may overlap.
OCD can involve obsessions, compulsions or both. Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, images or urges that cause distress. Compulsions are repeated behaviors or mental acts done to reduce distress or prevent something feared. The relief can be brief, leaving the cycle to begin again.
Compulsions can include checking, reviewing memories, counting, seeking reassurance or silently repeating words. Intrusive thoughts can involve themes a person finds deeply upsetting. An assessment looks at the pattern and its impact rather than judging the content of a thought.
These examples can help you describe what you are experiencing. They are not a self-diagnosis.
If symptoms are affecting daily life, relationships or your ability to look after yourself, it is reasonable to ask for support. You do not need to be certain about a diagnosis before contacting us.
Notes about when symptoms happen, what makes them better or worse, and what you have already tried can help start the conversation.
Request an appointmentPractical answers to help you decide on your next step.
An unwanted thought is not the same as an intention. OCD can involve thoughts that conflict strongly with a person's values. A clinician will ask about your experience and safety as part of a careful assessment.
No. Some compulsions happen mentally, such as reviewing, counting or trying to neutralize a thought. Diagnosis requires assessing the full pattern rather than a single symptom.
No. ERP helps you respond differently to uncertainty and reduce rituals. Repeated reassurance can become part of the OCD cycle, so treatment looks at that pattern too.
Care here is provided through outpatient appointments. If you need more frequent or specialized support, we discuss a referral to an appropriate program.
All appointments are in person at our West Hartford office for adults 18 and over. We do not offer telehealth.
You can request an appointment directly. Insurance requirements vary, so the office can help check whether your plan requires a referral or authorization and discuss expected costs. Contact us about coverage or self-pay before scheduling.
Explore a service or concern that may be part of your care.
Sources: NIMH: OCD, International OCD Foundation: ERP. This page provides general information. Your clinician can help determine what applies to you.
Contact our West Hartford office to request an in-person visit. You can tell us what has been difficult and ask about the next step.
