OCD & Intrusive Thoughts Therapy
In Santa Barbara & Throughout CA
OCD and intrusive thoughts can pull you into something that’s hard to step out of.
A thought shows up, and instead of passing, it sticks.
It asks for your attention. It feels like something you need to resolve.
So you try. You think it through. You go back to it.
You try to get to a place where it finally feels settled.
But it doesn’t stay that way for long.
If this keeps happening, if your mind keeps reopening the same question or doubt,
it doesn’t have to keep working like this.
You can learn how to step out of the loop,
so the thoughts stop pulling you back in the same way.
This Might Feel Familiar
Your thoughts keep going, even when you want them to stop
You revisit things later and wonder if you got them wrong
It’s hard to fully relax, even when nothing is immediately wrong
There’s a constant sense that something isn’t quite settled
You feel tense without always knowing why
You’re doing your best, but it doesn’t feel like it’s working
You Don’t Have to Stay Stuck in This
Anxiety can start to turn inward.
And as it does, it can begin to feel like the problem is you.
That you’re too sensitive, not handling things well enough,
or just not doing life the way you should.
But that’s not actually what’s happening.
Many thoughtful, capable people struggle with anxiety.
And with the right support, it is possible to understand what’s going on in your mind,
respond to it differently, and begin to feel more steady and at ease.
How Therapy With Me Helps
I’m Alex, a licensed therapist based in Santa Barbara,
and anxiety is what I specialize in.
Anxiety isn’t one-size-fits-all, and neither is therapy.
Some people come in knowing exactly what they’re dealing with.
Others just know something feels off.
Wherever you are, we start there.
My approach is structured, thoughtful, and active.
We take the time to understand how your anxiety actually operates
in your thoughts, your body, and your patterns.
Then we begin changing what’s keeping it in place.
Working together might include:
Working directly with difficult or distressing thoughts
Gradually reducing avoidance
Challenging rigid expectations
Practicing exposure when fear is running the show
Learning to tolerate uncertainty
Building a steadier relationship with your own mind
I use ACT, CBT, and ERP when appropriate, especially for OCD and repetitive mental loops.
Everything is tailored to how your anxiety actually functions.
Therapy with me is not about talking in circles.
It’s about helping you feel more solid in yourself.
Start Here
Choose a time that works for you
Fee: $185 for a 50-minute session
Private Pay. Superbills available. HSA/FSA accepted.
Common Questions About Anxiety
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A lot of people come to therapy feeling confused about this.
You might notice waves of anxiety showing up in situations that don’t seem particularly stressful. Or you might feel unsettled even when your life looks relatively stable from the outside.
That disconnect can make you wonder if something is wrong with you. In reality, anxiety often has deeper patterns behind it that aren’t always obvious at first.
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Most people who struggle with anxiety have already spent a lot of time trying to manage it on their own.
You might try to push the feeling away, figure it out, reassure yourself, or look for ways to make it stop. While those efforts are completely understandable, they can sometimes keep the mind locked onto the anxiety itself.
Over time this can create the frustrating feeling of being stuck in the same cycle.
Therapy helps you step out of that cycle so anxiety no longer has the same hold on your mind.
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Panic attacks can feel incredibly intense in the moment.
People often experience a sudden rush of physical sensations like a pounding heart, shortness of breath, shaking, dizziness, or nausea. Because the experience is so strong and unfamiliar, many people initially think something is seriously wrong with their body.
Although panic attacks feel frightening, they are not dangerous. With the right understanding and support, people can learn how to respond to them in ways that reduce their power over time.
