About obsession
On this page you can browse therapists who list obsession among their specialties, including help with persistent intrusive thoughts and related distress. Review therapist profiles below to compare approaches, credentials, languages and experience.
What to compare in entries
| Credentials | A US state licence, or membership of a professional body such as BACP or NCPS. They are different kinds of thing; each profile shows what was supplied. |
|---|---|
| Focus | Whether obsession is listed as a main focus or among the wider list of areas. Entries show both. |
| Way of working | The approaches named on the entry. Two people working with the same concern can describe very different sessions. |
| Time in practice | Years in practice, as supplied. A fact to weigh, not a ranking. |
| Language | The languages sessions can be held in, where that matters to you. |
Common questions
How were these entries chosen?
Everyone listed on this page has obsession among the areas they told the platform they work with. They are not ranked, rated or endorsed by this directory, and the order is not a recommendation.
Do I need a referral to start?
No. You can contact a therapist through their entry directly. A GP referral is not required for independent online therapy.
What if the first therapist is not right?
Changing therapist is normal and expected, and can be done at any point. One session is a small sample of how someone works.
Entries for obsession
Pietro (Pete) Martucci, LPCC
Ref 37848
Calm guidance for stress and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingAngela Neary, BACP
Ref 109659
Experienced person-centred counsellor with practical support
Works with: Addictions, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingMalak Alsaidi, LCSW
Ref 203999
Supportive New York LCSW focused on healing
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingYumi Lemaster, LCSW
Ref 2633
Skilled, practical therapy for real-life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingWilliam Signey, BACP
Ref 113870
Practical, person-focused counselling for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingJonetta Wakely, LPC
Ref 124539
Practical, listening-focused counseling for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingWendy Mayfield, BACP
Ref 100144
Practical, steady support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingJonathan Stuart, NCPS
Ref 175272
Practical, respectful support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingBrittany Elledge, LPCC, LMHC
Ref 11729
Practical, client-centered support for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingWendi Makus, LPC
Ref 48129
Practical therapy for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingBrandi Kelly, LA Psychologist
Ref 201932
Experienced Louisiana psychologist focused on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Parenting, Depression Languages: English
View listingKatelyn McCrady, LPC
Ref 345230
Calm, practical counseling for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingShannon Mott, LCSW
Ref 108724
Compassionate, practical therapy for life transitions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingTammy Russell, LMHC
Ref 181426
Compassionate, practical therapy for real-life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingKeith Evans, LPC
Ref 312237
Faith-informed counselor focused on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingDarwin Allen, LCPC
Ref 125869
Direct, practical counseling for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingAnnie Taylor, NCPS
Ref 153305
Experienced client-centred counsellor
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English
View listingEthel-Caroline Miman, AASW
Ref 259803
Gentle, practical therapy for life’s big challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingAnna Gilmore, BACP
Ref 109642
Compassionate counsellor for complex life challenges
Works with: Trauma and abuse, Grief, Eating Languages: English
View listingNicholas Taylor, BACP
Ref 242465
Practical person-centred counselling for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression Languages: English
View listingJill Malcolm, BACP
Ref 231136
Gentle practical support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingJennifer Mcpherson (Norman), BACP
Ref 161239
Experienced relationship and trauma counsellor
Works with: Relationship, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingMark McConnell, BACP
Ref 208651
Practical support for stress and change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingDawn Redwood, NCPS
Ref 137085
Client-centred counsellor focusing on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, ADHD Languages: English
View listingLouis Blea, LPC
Ref 277410
Practical, strengths-focused counseling for common struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDarla McAdams, LPC
Ref 58935
Practical, person-focused counseling in Missouri
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, LGBT Languages: English
View listingFarah Southwell, LPC
Ref 203059
Practical, experienced therapist for life’s hard moments
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English, Haitian Creole
View listingSandra Johnson, LMFT, LPC
Ref 16121
Practical, skill-focused therapy for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingKerrie McCabe, BACP
Ref 128546
Compassionate counsellor blending listening with practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingDonna Khan, LMSW
Ref 29669
Experienced social worker focused on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJosephine Sultana, AASW
Ref 309775
Compassionate social worker blending therapy and lifestyle care
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Sleeping Languages: English
View listingLoire Bennett, LMHC
Ref 25344
Experienced Florida LMHC focused on practical growth
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Grief Languages: English
View listingDeborah Youngblood, LCSW
Ref 229
Compassionate LCSW offering practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingSidonia Stiles, BACP
Ref 101572
Experienced counsellor for relationships and grief
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Grief Languages: English, Portuguese
View listingLouise Wood, BACP
Ref 128568
Support to manage stress, trauma and change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingReuben Alexander, NCPS
Ref 212721
Practical, focused therapy for anxious and stuck feelings
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Sleeping, Depression Languages: English
View listingKalpna Kerai, BACP
Ref 165701
Calm, practical counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingMaria "Patti" Lorenzo, LCPC
Ref 26902
A practical, compassionate approach to emotional change
Works with: Trauma and abuse, Self esteem, Coping with life changes Languages: English
View listingEdward Mcguinness, BACP
Ref 263954
Practical, respectful support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJay Cook, NCPS
Ref 200361
Compassionate counsellor focused on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Relationship Languages: English
View listingDebby Sawyer, LIMHP
Ref 236392
Experienced, practical help for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingDaniel Windemer, NCPS
Ref 173238
Calm, practical counselling to help you move forward
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingRobert Marshall, BACP
Ref 116379
Person-centred counsellor with practical focus
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingCatherine Kearns, BACP
Ref 183397
Practical, person-focused therapy for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingAngeline Walton (Tabbada), NCPS
Ref 201900
Compassionate support for stress, grief and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Family Languages: English
View listingSophia Mas, LMHC
Ref 91155
Compassionate counselor with practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English, Spanish
View listingLorelle Busby, BACP
Ref 182380
Practical counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingLouise Fielder, BACP
Ref 137857
Calm client-centred counselling for practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingMore about obsession
Understanding obsession and how it can affect your life
Obsession often refers to recurring, unwanted thoughts, images or urges that feel intrusive and difficult to dismiss. For many people these thoughts are distressing because they conflict with personal values or appear to emerge without warning. Obsessive experiences are varied - they can center on fears about harm, moral or religious concerns, contamination, relationship doubts, or repetitive mental rituals. You may notice that the thoughts occupy large amounts of mental energy, interrupt daily routines, cause you to avoid certain situations or lead you to perform actions intended to reduce anxiety. Over time, that pattern of avoidance or neutralizing behavior can maintain the cycle of distress, making it harder to move past intrusive content.
Living with obsession is not a sign of weakness. It can have real effects on your concentration, sleep, work performance and relationships. You may find yourself constantly monitoring your own thoughts or seeking reassurance from others, which can feel tiring or isolating. Understanding how obsession functions - as thoughts that trigger emotional responses and coping behaviors - is an important step. Therapy often focuses on reducing the power of those thoughts and helping you reclaim daily activities without being driven by them.
Signs that therapy for obsession might help you
You might consider seeking therapy if intrusive thoughts are frequent, cause significant distress, or interfere with your ability to function in work, school or relationships. Signs to look for include feeling compelled to perform mental or physical actions to quiet a thought, spending excessive time trying to rule out possibilities raised by a thought, avoiding people or places that trigger the thought, or experiencing escalating anxiety whenever an intrusive image appears. If these reactions make it difficult to complete tasks, maintain social connections or enjoy everyday activities, targeted support can provide new ways of responding.
Another indicator that therapy could be helpful is when coping strategies you have tried on your own are not producing lasting relief. You may have noticed that reassurance, distraction or checking behaviors reduce anxiety briefly but the distressing thoughts return or intensify. Therapy offers techniques that address the patterns that maintain obsession, rather than only attempting to suppress symptoms. It also gives you an opportunity to explore how stress, mood changes and life events interact with intrusive thoughts so you can develop a more sustainable approach to managing them.
What to expect in therapy sessions focused on obsession
When you begin working with a therapist about obsessive thoughts, initial sessions often focus on understanding your experience in detail. You and the therapist will talk about the content and frequency of thoughts, how you respond to them, and how those responses affect your daily life. The aim is to build a shared picture of the pattern you want to change and to set practical, measurable goals for therapy. Your therapist will usually invite you to track specific thoughts and behaviors between sessions so you both have concrete examples to work from.
Subsequent sessions typically introduce strategies tailored to those patterns. You can expect a mixture of learning, guided practice and reflection. The therapist may coach you through exercises in session, and then support you as you try them in real life. Progress is often incremental - you may notice reduced intensity of distress, greater willingness to tolerate uncertainty, or more time being free from ritualizing thoughts. Throughout the process your therapist should explain the rationale for techniques and invite you to give feedback so the work aligns with your values and daily responsibilities.
Common therapeutic approaches used for obsession
Several therapeutic approaches are commonly used to address obsessive thoughts, and therapists vary in which ones they list among their approaches. Cognitive behavioral strategies are frequently used to help you examine the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviors and to develop new response patterns. Exposure-based methods, including exposure and response prevention, are often described by therapists who focus on helping people face distressing thoughts without performing neutralizing behaviors, thereby reducing the hold those thoughts have over time. Some therapists who list acceptance and commitment therapy among their approaches emphasize changing your relationship to thoughts by clarifying values and increasing willingness to experience discomfort while acting in meaningful ways.
Other approaches you may encounter include mindfulness-informed work that helps you observe thoughts without immediate reaction, and psychodynamic or interpersonal methods that explore how past experiences or relationship patterns relate to current thought patterns. If you are curious about complementary tools such as relaxation training or stress management, many therapists incorporate those elements to address the emotional arousal that often accompanies obsession. It is common for therapists to combine elements from different modalities, and when reviewing profiles on this page you will see practitioners who list a range of approaches rather than single, fixed methods.
How online therapy works for obsession and what to consider
Online therapy has become a practical option if you prefer remote sessions or need greater scheduling flexibility. In remote work you and the therapist typically meet through video, phone or messaging, depending on the format they list as part of their practice. You can expect conversations similar to in-person therapy - a focus on assessment, goal-setting and guided practice - with adaptations for the virtual environment. Some people find that practicing exposures or coping strategies at home with the therapist watching online feels especially relevant because it happens in real-life contexts.
When you prepare for online sessions, consider where you will attend from so you have a quiet, comfortable environment that supports focused work. Think about how you will handle moments of strong emotion between sessions - your therapist can help create a plan that includes immediate grounding techniques and contacts for urgent support if needed. Communication about technology preferences and boundaries tends to be part of the intake conversation, and many therapists outline how they manage scheduling, messaging and session length in their profiles. Remote therapy can broaden your choices when looking for a match, but the core therapeutic tasks - learning, practicing and reflecting - remain the central elements of the work.
Choosing the right therapist for obsession
Finding a therapist who feels like a good fit for this work matters. Start by looking at profiles to see whether therapists list obsession, intrusive thoughts or related concerns among their specialties and note the approaches they describe. You may prefer a therapist who lists exposure-based work if you want a hands-on practice-oriented approach, or someone who lists mindfulness and acceptance strategies if you are drawn to changing your relationship with thoughts. Also take into account practical factors such as languages spoken and experience with populations similar to yours.
Initial contact with a therapist can be an opportunity to ask about how they typically structure sessions for obsession, what kinds of between-session work they recommend, and how they measure progress. It is reasonable to inquire about how they coordinate care with other providers if you are seeing a prescriber or medical professional, or to ask how they address overlapping issues such as anxiety or relationship stress. Trust your impressions after a few sessions - you should feel respected and heard, and the techniques should make sense to you. If the work is not helping you move toward your goals, it is appropriate to discuss adjustments or to look for someone whose approach better matches your needs.
Therapy for obsession is a process that often involves learning new ways of responding to thoughts, tolerating uncertainty and gradually reclaiming activities that matter to you. With thoughtful guidance and consistent practice you can reduce the control that intrusive thoughts exert over your life. Use the listings below to explore profiles, compare approaches and find a therapist whose style and experience align with the kind of work you want to do.