OCD Specialist in Tampa

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment in the Tampa Bay Area

Are you dealing with irrational obsessions and exhausting compulsions? Do intrusive thoughts keep showing up, and does it feel like you’re spending more and more time trying to manage them? If so, you may be facing the challenges of OCD. According to the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), this condition affects an estimated 2–3 million adults in the U.S.

You may have already tried therapy without much progress, or perhaps your symptoms worsened. That’s not uncommon when care isn’t specific to OCD. Working with an OCD specialist in Tampa means you’ll receive the kind of targeted support that’s essential. Our clinicians have the training and experience to help you move forward. If you’re ready to start living in a way that reflects your goals and values, you’ve found the right place.

According to the DSM-V, OCD includes:

Obsessions:

  • Repeated, persistent thoughts, urges, or images that feel intrusive and distressing

  • Attempts to suppress or neutralize these thoughts through mental or physical actions (compulsions)

Compulsions:

  • Repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (e.g., washing, checking, counting, praying) performed in response to obsessions

  • These actions are done to reduce anxiety or prevent something bad from happening, even if the connection is illogical or the behavior is excessive

To meet the diagnosis, these symptoms must:

  • Be time-consuming (e.g., over an hour daily) or cause major distress in work, social, or personal life

  • Not caused by a substance or another medical issue

  • Not be better explained by another mental health condition

About OCD

OCD is a disorder marked by unwanted, recurring thoughts, images, or impulses (obsessions) that trigger a strong urge to perform certain behaviors or rituals (compulsions) to ease the resulting anxiety or discomfort. These behaviors—such as handwashing, checking, or organizing—often take up time and interfere with work, relationships, and daily functioning.

This cycle between intrusive thoughts and repetitive actions forms the basis of obsessive-compulsive behaviors, which can stand in the way of living a full and functional life. An OCD specialist in Tampa can help you understand and interrupt these patterns through evidence-based treatment approaches.

Symptoms of OCD

Different Types of OCD and OCD Therapy in Tampa

OCD is not only what is portrayed on film and television. Due to the nature of obsessions, OCD is often accompanied by feelings of guilt and shame, which leads to the secrecy of symptoms and difficulty in accurately diagnosing the disorder. As a result, the average individual with OCD may take 14–17 years to find proper treatment from the time symptoms begin (International OCD Foundation, 2019). Through OCD therapy in Tampa, individuals can begin to better understand their symptoms and seek support from experienced professionals.

The following are some of the most common subtypes of OCD that you may be struggling with:

Contamination OCD

  • Obsession: Fear of being dirty or contaminated and that contamination will bring harm to oneself or loved ones.

  • Compulsions: Excessive handwashing, grooming (showering, toothbrushing), ritualized toilet routines, excessive cleaning of household items, or extreme measures to avoid or remove contaminants.

Perfectionism OCD

  • Obsession: Fear of making mistakes; an intense need for things to be “perfect” or done correctly.

  • Compulsion: Checking for completion, accuracy, or perfection; re-doing; re-writing; inability to begin or complete activities due to fear of imperfection.

“Just Right” OCD

  • Obsession: Fear of causing harm to oneself, loved ones, or others.

  • Compulsion: Assessing for safety, reassurance seeking, and removing objects that can cause harm but are otherwise commonplace (knives, pillows, etc.).

Pedophile OCD

  • Obsession: Fear of being or becoming a pedophile.

  • Compulsion: Avoiding children; avoiding places where children may be; checking for arousal; testing oneself.

Relationship OCD

  • Obsession: Fear that one is in the wrong relationship.

  • Compulsion: Preoccupation and doubt regarding the relationship; monitoring/checking feelings; comparing with other relationships; recalling “good” memories for proof; consulting friends/family for reassurance.

Symmetry/Orderliness OCD

  • Obsession: Fear of items not being lined up or organized in a particular way.

  • Compulsion: Re-organization; re-aligning; avoidance of items already arranged; re-checking for order.

Harm OCD

  • Obsession: Fear of causing harm to oneself, loved ones, or others.

  • Compulsion: Assessing for safety, reassurance seeking, and removing objects that can cause harm but are otherwise commonplace (knives, pillows, etc.).

Sexual Orientation OCD (HOCD)

  • Obsession: Fear and doubt over one’s long-standing sexual orientation.

  • Compulsion: Checking for arousal or attraction; reassurance-seeking; testing oneself; avoidance of specific genders.

Scrupulosity OCD (Religious/Morality OCD)

  • Obsession: Fear of doing something bad, wrong, immoral, or blasphemous.

  • Compulsion: Praying; asking for forgiveness; apologizing; checking; seeking reassurance; neutralizing behaviors.

Somatic OCD

  • Obsession: Intrusive thoughts focused on automatic body processes and functions, like breathing, blinking, or physical sensations.

  • Compulsion: Hyperawareness of automatic body functions; avoidance of awareness; monitoring or counting breaths/blinks; distraction from bodily sensations.

At Anxiety Center of Tampa, we provide personalized options that support your current stage of progress. Our therapists understand that every person’s treatment path is different. We offer everything from brief 30-minute maintenance sessions to standard 50-minute weekly visits, and even intensive, one-on-one outpatient treatment.

Depending on the type of obsessions you’re experiencing, part of your therapy may involve exposures outside the office. In these cases, our therapists can meet you in community settings when in-office exposure work isn’t sufficient. Together, you and your therapist will decide the best schedule and setting for your progress and continue adjusting the plan based on your needs throughout your care.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and OCD Therapy in Tampa

If you’re ready to face OCD head-on, our therapists offer ERP in Tampa, FL.

ERP is a type of CBT and is considered the gold-standard treatment for OCD. During the Exposure phase, you and your therapist will gradually confront the thoughts, images, objects, or situations that trigger your anxiety or obsessions. The Response Prevention part refers to resisting the compulsive behaviors that usually follow—behaviors that may seem to reduce anxiety but actually reinforce the OCD cycle. Over time, your therapist will encourage you to take on these ERP exercises on your own, helping the work done in therapy extend into daily life. If you’re seeking OCD therapy in Tampa, ERP is one of the most effective ways to break free from the patterns of obsession and compulsion.

Anxiety Center of Tampa’s Approach to OCD Treatment

Begin Treatment with an OCD Specialist in Tampa

Our therapists are here to help you take steps toward gaining control over your life. Treatment starts with a 1.5-hour intake session, available either in-person or virtually. To schedule your intake with an OCD specialist in Tampa, please call us at 813-773-5807 or submit a contact request using the form below.