OCD Counseling in Virginia & Maryland
I help Catholics struggling with intrusive thoughts, rumination, and OCD to find peace by integrating faith and proven therapy, so they can reclaim control over their thoughts and deepen their connection with God.
What is OCD?
OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) can feel like being trapped in a cycle of intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that you can’t turn off. You may find yourself performing rituals or mental checks to ease the anxiety, only to feel caught in the same loop again. The thoughts feel intrusive and unwanted, and no matter how hard you try to stop them, the relief never lasts for long. You know you’re doing all you can, and some days it isn’t so bad, but it rarely feels like you can come up for air and stay where you want to live your life.
At Ora et Labora Catholic Counseling, we specialize in faith-based OCD therapy that integrates evidence-based treatment, including Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), with a Catholic understanding of healing and hope. Together, we’ll work to help you break free from compulsions, find peace in uncertainty, and grow in trust—both in God and in your ability to live fully again.
If you’re looking for OCD treatment in Virginia or want to work with a therapist who understands how faith and mental health connect, you’re in the right place. Healing from OCD is possible, and we’d be honored to walk with you on that journey.
How OCD Affects Your Life
When OCD is in charge, it’s hard to live life the way you want. You might feel trapped in your own thoughts or routines. Some common struggles include:
Intrusive thoughts: Your mind won’t quiet down. It can feel like you’re on a mental treadmill you can’t get off.
Shame and isolation: It’s exhausting to try to hide your anxiety or compulsions from others. You might feel like no one understands what you're going through.
Seeking reassurance: You might ask others for reassurance or check things over and over, but it never feels like enough.
Feeling trapped by routines: OCD rituals can take up so much time and energy, leaving you drained by the end of the day.
These patterns can keep you from being present with your family, enjoying hobbies, or just getting through your day without feeling worn out.
Catholic Counseling Approach To OCD
Drawing on our faith
At Ora et Labora, we blend professional therapy with Catholic values. For many of my clients, faith is central to their lives. They want to bring their faith into therapy, not leave it out. We can work together to address your mental health challenges while staying true to your spiritual beliefs.
Faith and mental healing are not opposed. Working on our mental health is one way in which we explore who we are and who we are created to be in the light of faith. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, OCD, or spiritual presentations like scrupulosity, we’ll create a plan that works for both your mind and your conscience.
What is Scrupulosity?
Scrupulosity can be a subtype of OCD where anxiety presents as a spiritual concern. It can make you doubt if you’re sinning or not being faithful enough. This can lead to repeated confessions or excessive prayer. You might worry constantly about your moral standing, even when there’s no reason to.
We can work through these thoughts and separate what’s coming from OCD from what’s a real spiritual concern. Together, we will find you the support you need within therapy for your mental health and discuss resources outside our work together to address spiritual needs in the appropriate ways. This way, your faith becomes a source of comfort instead of anxiety.
What to Expect from Counseling
You might feel unsure about starting therapy. Many people worry that their issues aren’t “bad enough” for help, or they’re afraid therapy won’t work for them. Therapy is for anyone who feels stuck and wants to improve their life.
In our sessions, we’ll work on real tools that you can use outside of therapy. We’ll address both your mental health struggles and any spiritual concerns you may have. You’ll learn how to manage anxiety, reduce compulsive behaviors, and live a life that feels more in control.
Faith-Based Healing
In our sessions, I’ll integrate your Catholic faith with therapy, so we can focus on both your mental health and your spiritual well-being.
Understanding Scrupulosity
I understand how OCD can affect your spiritual life, and I’ll help you work through those religious fears, so you can find peace.
Shared Values
As a fellow Catholic, I share your faith and values, which means I understand where you’re coming from and can support you in a way that feels right for you.
Whole-Person Care
We’ll look at both your mental and spiritual needs, helping you grow stronger in your mental health and deeper in your faith.
Why Choose Catholic Counseling for Anxiety and OCD?
To address anxiety and OCD, we’ll use methods like:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
These approaches are proven to help people with these issues. CBT helps you change the patterns of thinking that fuel anxiety. ACT focuses on redeveloping an approach to life centered around values and committed action. ERP helps you face the things that trigger your OCD without falling back into the rituals.
Over time, you’ll learn how to manage your intrusive thoughts and feelings without being controlled by them. Therapy won’t make your challenges disappear overnight, but it will help you change how you respond to them, giving you more freedom in your daily life.
How Therapy For Anxiety and OCD Can Help You
If you’re looking for therapy that truly respects your faith, Catholic counseling might be what you need. Your faith is a big part of who you are, and it should be part of your healing too. In our sessions, we’ll focus on what’s really going on in your life, whether it’s anxiety, OCD, or something else, without leaving your beliefs behind. You don’t have to separate your mental health from your faith.
Here, we’ll work through your struggles in a way that honors both. It’s not just about managing symptoms but finding a path that helps you grow mentally and spiritually. This is a space where you can feel fully understood—where both your faith and your mental health matter.
Breaking Free from the Weight of OCD
OCD can make you feel like you’re always on the edge of losing control. The constant worry, intrusive thoughts, the rituals, and the fear of failure can be overwhelming. You might be scared of letting others down or never breaking free from this cycle.
But it doesn’t have to stay that way. In therapy, we’ll focus on giving you tools to manage those thoughts and behaviors so they don’t control you. You can step away from the fear and start living in a way that feels more balanced and free from the weight of failure.
Ready to connect?
Start the conversation today.
The experience of OCD can make you feel like you’re losing control, but therapy can help restore you to a place of peace. At Ora et Labora Catholic Counseling, we’re here to support you. If you’re ready to start the journey toward a more peaceful, balanced life, reach out to schedule a free consultation. You don’t have to face this alone.