OCD Treatment

Living with a mind stuck on repeat…

The thoughts come out of nowhere: disturbing, disgusting, or terrifying images that feel completely against who you are. Then comes the desperate need to “fix” it, to make the anxiety go away through rituals that you know don’t make logical sense. Maybe you…

  • Wash your hands until they’re raw because you can’t shake the feeling that you’re contaminated

  • Check the door lock 15 times before bed, even though you know you locked it the first time

  • Have to arrange things in perfect order or repeat phrases in your head a certain number of times, or something terrible will happen…

The worst part isn’t even the rituals — it’s that voice in your head that says “you're not done yet” or “that didn't count, do it again.” You can spend hours stuck in bathroom routines, checking behaviors, or mental reviewing, while life passes you by.

You’re tired of your brain calling the shots when you know better. You’re smart enough to know the thoughts aren't realistic, but your brain treats them like life-or-death emergencies that demand immediate action.

The cycle is relentless: Disturbing thought → intense anxiety → compulsive behavior to reduce anxiety → temporary relief → stronger disturbing thought. Rinse and repeat, all day long.

You've probably started avoiding entire situations just to prevent the thoughts from starting. You don't drive certain routes, touch certain objects, or go certain places because you know it will trigger hours of rituals.

Your relationships suffer because you either hide your rituals (which is exhausting) or involve others in them (which pushes people away). You’re late to everything because you can't leave until the rituals feel “right.”

You've lost time, energy, and pieces of yourself to OCD.

You’ve Already Tried the traditional ocd treatment methods…

Traditional talk therapy — You talked about your thoughts and learned they were “irrational,” but understanding that didn’t make them stop. Insight doesn’t magically turn off OCD. your brain kept demanding the same rituals no matter how much you understood about the disorder.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — A therapist had you face your triggers without doing rituals. Maybe you made some progress, but it was brutal. You had to sit with excruciating anxiety for extended periods, and many people can’t tolerate it long enough to see results. Even when it worked temporarily, the obsessions often came back just as strong.

Medication — Medication might have taken the edge off, but you still have intrusive thoughts and still feel compelled to do rituals. The medication doesn’t address the root of why your brain gets stuck in these loops, and you don't want to depend on pills forever.

Mindfulness and acceptance approaches — You learned to observe your thoughts without judgment, but your OCD brain doesn’t care about mindfulness when it’s screaming that you need to check the locks again. Acceptance strategies can help some people cope, but they don’t stop the obsessive-compulsive cycle.

Cognitive restructuring: You practiced challenging your “irrational” thoughts and replacing them with realistic ones. But OCD thoughts aren’t based in logic. They’re driven by a malfunctioning alarm system in your brain that cognitive techniques can’t reset.

Why These Approaches Often Fall Short…

The reason these treatments frequently don’t provide lasting relief isn’t because you're “not trying hard enough” or because they're bad treatments.

It’s because OCD isn't fundamentally a thinking problem, a behavior problem, or a chemical imbalance problem — it’s a brain storage problem.

The Real Issue: OCD Thoughts Aren’t Regular Thoughts Gone Wrong

OCD thoughts feel different because they ARE different. They're not just "irrational thoughts" that you can logic your way out of. They're thoughts that have been neurologically tagged as emergencies in your brain's memory system.

When your brain encounters these specific thoughts, images, or scenarios, it doesn't treat them like normal thoughts you can dismiss. It treats them like urgent threats that require immediate action. That’s why they feel so compelling and why “just ignore them” doesn’t work.

Why Each Approach Has Missed the Mark…

Talk therapy assumes that understanding OCD will reduce its power. But OCD thoughts aren't driven by misunderstanding… they’re driven by how these thoughts are neurologically stored and triggered.

ERP tries to train your brain that these thoughts aren't dangerous through repeated exposure. While this can help some people, it's asking you to endure intense distress to potentially retrain a system that may need a different kind of repair.

Medication can reduce the intensity of OCD symptoms, but it doesn't change how the problematic thoughts and images are stored in your brain's memory system. When medication stops or becomes less effective, the same storage problems remain.

Cognitive approaches try to challenge OCD thoughts with logic and evidence. But OCD thoughts aren't logical conclusions that can be debated - they're emergency signals from a part of your brain that doesn't respond to reasoning.

Mindfulness teaches you to observe OCD thoughts without engaging. This can reduce suffering, but it doesn't address why these particular thoughts keep getting flagged as urgent when other thoughts don't.

The Core Problem They All Miss…

These approaches work with your conscious, logical mind, but OCD operates below that level. OCD happens in the automatic, unconscious part of your brain that processes memory storage and threat/danger detection.

You can’t think, expose, medicate, or mindfully observe your way out of a storage problem. You need an approach that works directly with how these specific thoughts and images are stored and triggered in your brain's memory system.

This explains why…

  • You can "know" your OCD thoughts are irrational but still feel compelled to act on them

  • ERP might work temporarily but symptoms often return

  • Medication helps but doesn't eliminate the underlying drive to ritualize

  • You can practice mindfulness but still get hijacked by obsessive thoughts

  • Multiple therapies might provide some relief but not complete resolution

If you’ve tried several approaches without long-term relief, the storage system that is creating these thoughts may still need to be addressed.

Long-term OCD Relief in Just 3-5 Sessions with Accelerated resolution Therapy...

Imagine your brain as a library where thoughts and experiences are stored like books. Your brain has two different ways to store information:

The Regular Bookshelf — This is where most of your thoughts and experiences go. These thoughts:

  • Come and go naturally without demanding attention

  • Feel like normal, everyday thoughts you can dismiss if they're not helpful

  • Don't trigger intense anxiety or the need to "do something" about them

  • Can be acknowledged and then put back on the shelf

  • Feel manageable and proportional to actual risk

The Emergency Alarm Bookshelf — This is where your brain puts thoughts it has mistakenly labeled as "EXTREME DANGER." These thoughts:

  • Feel urgent and demanding, like they require immediate action

  • Trigger intense anxiety that won't go away until you “fix” it with a ritual

  • Get pulled off the shelf over and over, even when you try to ignore them

  • Feel like they're about something terrible that WILL happen unless you act

  • Cause your body to react as if you're in real danger (racing heart, sweating, etc.)

Here’s what happened with OCD: Your brain's filing system got confused. Normal, everyday thoughts — like “Did I lock the door?” or “What if I get sick?” — got filed on the emergency alarm shelf by mistake.

Now every time these thoughts come up, your brain treats them like life-or-death emergencies. It screams “DO SOMETHING NOW!” even though logically you know the risk is tiny or nonexistent.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) helps you reorganize your brain’s filing system.

ART helps move these misplaced thoughts from the emergency alarm shelf back to the regular bookshelf where they belong.

The eye movements you do in ART help your brain reprocess these thoughts and file them correctly: as normal, manageable thoughts that don’t require an emergency response. The thoughts don’t disappear, but they stop setting off your brain's alarm system and demanding rituals. What a relief!

How ART Sessions Work…

I meet with my clients for ART sessions online only. I use a website that provides a visual tool that your eyes will follow during the eye-movement sets.

You and I will set aside 90 minutes for your session. This gives us enough time to finish the whole process. With that being said, sometimes we only need 60-75 minutes to complete a session.

Here is a general overview of the ART session process:

  1. Getting oriented: You'll sit in a comfortable chair where you can relax and have privacy. I’ll walk you through the entire process, and you’ll have full control over the whole session.

  2. Eye movements: During ART, you'll follow my hand with your eyes as it moves back and forth. This eye movement is similar to what happens naturally during REM sleep when your brain processes the day's events.

  3. Thinking about the memory: I will ask you to bring to mind an image from the difficult experience. Remember, you decide what is shared. You can keep it private if you want to or need to.

  4. Noticing feelings: As you think about this image, you’ll notice feelings and physical sensations in your body. Maybe your chest feels tight, or your stomach feels queasy. I’ll ask you to name these feelings periodically as we go along.

  5. Changing the pictures: I will guide you to change the images in your mind. You might make them smaller, blur them out, push them farther away, or replace them completely with something positive.

  6. Image replacement: I’ll guide you in changing how the memory looks and feels to you. It’s like being the director of your own movie and creating a new, better ending.

  7. Checking in: I will regularly check how you're feeling. Our goal is to reduce the distress until the memory or thought no longer bothers you.

How Many ART Sessions You Might Need For OCD…

The most definitive research on OCD and ART comes from a peer-reviewed study published in Military Medicine (2019) by Schimmels and Waits, which documented two OCD cases:

Case 1: 36-year-old male with severe contamination OCD (15+ years duration)

  • Sessions required: 4 ART sessions

  • Breakthrough: Significant symptom relief after the 3rd session

  • Outcome: Maintained improvement without medication for 24+ months

Case 2: 39-year-old male with OCD and excoriation disorder

  • Sessions required: 4 ART sessions

  • Outcome: Over 75% symptom reduction

  • Follow-up: Remained symptom-free and medication-free for 9+ months

Additional clinical evidence from Dr. Mark Chamberlain's 2024 presentation at the IS-ART Conference documented rapid OCD resolution in “just a few sessions,” including an 11-year-old with severe mobility-limiting OCD who achieved significant improvement within the standard ART timeframe.

Relief with Accelerated Resolution Therapy happens in 70-85% fewer sessions than traditional ERP or CBT approaches — typically 3-5 ART sessions.

What Makes ART for OCD Different…

  • It’s private and doesn’t require explanation: You don’t have to talk at length about obsessions or compulsions

  • It's fast: Many people see results in just 1-5 sessions, unlike talk therapy that often takes months or years.

  • You stay in control: You decide how much to share and how to change the images.

  • It works with your brain's natural healing: The eye movements help your brain process information similarly to how it does during sleep.

  • You don't forget what happened: The facts of what happened stay intact, but the emotional reaction changes. It's like the memory goes from being in vivid technicolor to a calm black-and-white sketch.

  • It's straightforward: There's no homework between sessions or complicated exercises to practice.

What People Typically Experience After ART for OCD…

  • Intrusive thoughts lose their power and stop demanding immediate action

  • You can touch “contaminated” objects without the overwhelming urge to wash your hands

  • You check the door once and walk away, instead of going back 15 times

  • The drill sergeant voice in your head that says “you're not done yet” or “that didn't count” finally goes quiet

  • You can leave the house without lengthy ritual routines

  • Less time spent arranging, counting, or repeating behaviors

  • Freedom to go places you’ve been avoiding because they trigger obsessions

  • Your relationships improve because you're not hiding rituals or involving others in them

  • You feel like yourself again instead of being controlled by compulsions

ART doesn’t erase your ability to be cautious or aware. You’ll still notice potential risks and take reasonable precautions. ART simply helps your brain stop treating normal thoughts as emergencies that require immediate ritual responses.

get started today

 hi there

I’m ALLYSON

allyson-clemmons-licsw

I’m not the type of therapist who believes you need to spend months or years in therapy to experience deep healing and long-lasting change — even from OCD.

That’s why I offer Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) to my clients for problems like trauma/PTSD, grief and bereavement, OCD, and phobias.

ART is a refreshing alternative to traditional talk therapy — it is structured, focused, efficient, and designed to create meaningful change in just a few sessions (1-5 sessions, to be exact!).

One thing that sets ART apart is its ability to resolve painful, upsetting experiences without requiring you to relive the experience or rehash the details. In other words, unlike in traditional talk therapy, you actually don’t have to talk about the experience at all (weird, right?).

By working with your brain's natural healing processes, you and I will address your painful emotions, images, sensations, and experiences — all while keeping you firmly anchored in the present. You’re in control every step of the way.

 FAQs About WOrking with Me…

  • This is for people whose OCD is controlling their life and who want fast results without months of grueling exposure therapy. If you’re tired of spending hours on rituals and ready to break free from the obsession-compulsion cycle, ART can help you experience real relief in just 3-5 sessions instead of the 12-20 sessions typically required with traditional approaches.

    If you’ve read through the relevant Therapy Service page and the information doesn’t answer your question, or if you want to double-check that a service is the right fit before scheduling, please use the Contact Form below to reach out to me.

  • Great question! You don't need to be a strong visualizer for ART to work. The three things needed for a successful session are: the ability to move your eyes comfortably left and right, the ability to hold a thought or image (even a vague one), and motivation to resolve the issue.

    Many clients worry about this, but you can 'think your way through' the problematic scene or thought rather than needing vivid mental pictures. ART works with whatever way your mind naturally processes information.

  • Weekly ART sessions are 90 minutes to ensure we have enough time to complete the full process without feeling rushed. While some sessions may only take 60-75 minutes, others require the full 90 minutes if we discover additional “scenes” or underlying issues during the process.

    This longer timeframe allows for thorough resolution rather than having to stop mid-process and continue in another session. You'll only be charged the flat $700 fee regardless of whether we use 60 or 90 minutes.

  • ART works best for people who are genuinely ready to resolve their issue. If there are secondary benefits to keeping the problem (like avoiding certain responsibilities or getting extra attention/care), or if someone isn’t fully committed to or ready for change, ART may not be effective.

    ART is most successful when clients are motivated to put the issue behind them.

  • Most issues are resolved in just 1-5 sessions, depending on complexity. Simple issues like needle phobia or a single traumatic incident typically only need 1 session, while more complex issues like complex PTSD, social phobia, or OCD may take 4-5 sessions.

    Each session is 90 minutes long, and we'll typically meet weekly to start. This gives us enough time to complete the full ART process without feeling rushed.

    For clients who want faster results, ART intensives are also available. An intensive is 4+ hours in one day and can address multiple "scenes" or complex issues all at once. There is a cost difference for intensives, but they allow you to complete your entire treatment in a single day or a weekend, rather than spreading it across several weeks.

  • I'm so glad you're interested in working together!

    I don't offer consultation calls due to my scheduling constraints.

    Instead, I've included comprehensive information about working with me on my website so that you can get all your questions answered immediately.

    I am also in the process of adding video content to my Therapy Service pages as an alternative way of consuming the information (and so that you can get a feel for what it's like to work with me on video!).

    Of course, there will always be unique circumstances. If you don't know which service best fits your situation, or you have a question that isn't answered on the Therapy Service pages, please feel free to reach out via the Contact Form below.

  • Unfortunately, no. I live in Mexico, and therefore ALL of my work is 100% online. I use HIPAA-compliant video software to meet with clients, so we’ll be able to see each other during the session.

  • My fee is $700 for a 90-minute ART session. For ART intensives, please see session pricing options HERE.

  • No, I am not in network with any insurance company. (You may sometimes see my name on outdated provider lists, but I left insurance networks in 2022.)

  • Yes, but please be aware that insurance reimbursement varies significantly by plan, and my 90-minute sessions may not fit standard insurance session length expectations (typically 60 minutes). You are responsible for paying at the time of service, and my record system will email you a Superbill automatically once per month (by request only).

  • When you schedule a session, payment is required at the time of booking to hold your spot. For any additional sessions I schedule for you, your card will be automatically charged within 24 hours prior to the appointment time. Credit cards are securely stored in your private client chart.

  • I am currently seeing ART clients on Thursdays from 6am to 4pm Pacific Time. I will be opening additional session options as they become available.

    ART intensives are available outside of my typical Thursday schedule but will need about 2 weeks' notice to arrange.

  • Once you request a session either via email or using the self-scheduling widget above, I will send you over your new client forms. (These forms come from my electronic record system, not my email.) You’ll be responsible for reviewing and digitally signing them at least 72 hours in advance of your scheduled appointment to avoid an auto-cancellation. If you don’t receive these forms, please reach out to me at allyson@bridgetownclinical.com.

  • Please use my self-scheduling link HERE to schedule your first session.

reach out

Contact Me

If you have any questions that aren’t already answered below in the FAQ section, please send me a message using the contact form.

Email

allyson@bridgetownclinical.com

ONLINE IN

MASSACHUSETTS
WASHINGTON
OREGON