Medically reviewed by Gabriela Asturias, MD on May 23, 2025If you’re in Columbia and deciding to seek help for OCD, that’s a big step. This page explains OCD in plain language and offers guidance for finding local therapists, with options that can fit your needs and schedule.
Psychologist
6402 Odana Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53719
Keri Brown is a Psychologist in Madison, Wisconsin and has been in practice for 20 years. They treat OCD, Trichotillomania (hair pulling), Performance Anxiety.
We offer a compassionate, inclusive space where individuals with OCD and anxiety feel truly understood, accepted, and empowered to grow.
Psychotherapist, Psychologist
255 South 17th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
Hider Shaaban is a Psychotherapist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They treat OCD, Gender Identity, Physical Assault.
Your emotional wellbeing is our priority. We will work together to not just get you unstuck, but help you thrive and flourish.
Psychologist, Sport Psychologist
1918 Bonita Avenue, Berkeley, California 94704
Auran Piatigorsky, PhD, LP, CMPC is a Psychologist in Berkeley, California and has been in practice for 30 years. They treat OCD, Psychosis, Body Image.
Licensed Clinical Sport Psychologist. I serve high-performance athletes, coaches, teams, and sports medicine staff.
Psychologist
218 North Lee Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314
DESIREE PEARSON is a Psychologist in Alexandria, Virginia and has been in practice for 20 years. They treat OCD, Trauma, Sleep Concerns.
*IMMEDIATE OPENINGS AVAILABLE. I know college can be a time of transition and struggle. I welcome and affirm patients of all backgrounds and identities.
Psychologist
246 Oliver, Wichita, Kansas 67208
Kassy Johnson is a Psychologist in Wichita, Kansas and has been in practice for 15 years. They treat OCD, Bullying, Sex Addiction/Pornography Concerns.
Dr. Johnson is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with expertise working with children, adolescents and adults with a variety of difficulties.
Psychologist
3100 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22201
Lauren Levine is a Psychologist in Arlington, Virginia and has been in practice for 7 years. They treat OCD, Panic, Anxiety.
I offer a free 30-minute phone or in-person initial consultation so we can see whether I am a good fit for you.
OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is a mental health condition that causes unwanted thoughts or fears and repeated behaviors or mental acts meant to ease them. Common signs include intrusive worries, checking, cleaning, counting, repeating, or needing things to feel “just right.” In Columbia, these symptoms can make it hard to focus at work or school and can strain relationships when routines, reassurance, or rituals take up a lot of time. It can also interfere with getting places on time or staying flexible with daily plans.
This section outlines common signs of OCD to help readers spot concerns early and decide whether it may be worth talking with a professional. Symptoms can look different from person to person, but noticing a pattern of unwanted thoughts and repeated behaviors can be a helpful signal to check in.
OCD often develops from a mix of influences rather than a single cause. In many people, it reflects an interaction between inherited vulnerability, brain-based differences, and life stress. Symptoms can also be shaped by learned coping patterns and repeated anxiety relief behaviors over time. This means the condition is usually best understood as multifactorial.
OCD has proven treatments that can help reduce intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Many people improve with therapy, medicine, or a combination of both. In Columbia, getting care may take some planning because traffic, parking, and bus service can vary, but telehealth may make appointments easier. Costs can also differ by provider, so sliding-scale or community clinics and insurance coverage may affect access.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you notice unhelpful thoughts and learn new ways to respond to them.
• Exposure and response prevention gradually helps you face triggers without doing the usual compulsion, so the anxiety can shrink over time.
• Medication, especially certain antidepressants, can lower OCD symptoms and make therapy easier to use.
• Family therapy can help people close to you understand OCD and support treatment in a helpful way.
• Self-help strategies like keeping a routine, tracking symptoms, and practicing skills from therapy can support progress between visits.
• Telehealth visits can be a practical option if transportation, parking, or neighborhood bus service makes travel difficult.
Start by looking for therapists in Columbia who specifically list OCD as a condition they treat, since focused experience can make a difference. Then narrow your options by insurance acceptance, appointment availability, and the therapy approach that feels most suitable for your needs. Personal fit matters too, so pay attention to whether the therapist’s communication style, pace, and overall manner help you feel comfortable. In Columbia, traffic can fluctuate near campus and downtown, parking may be limited, and bus service varies by neighborhood, so telehealth can also be a practical option. MiResource makes comparing options easier, especially when you are trying to balance cost, access, and the right match.
In Columbia, it can help to plan OCD appointments around college-town traffic fluctuations and the busier times near campus and downtown. Parking can be limited in The District, East Campus, North Village Arts District, The Broadway Corridor, and Stadium Boulevard, so leaving extra time can reduce stress. If you live farther out, such as Old Hawthorne, Rock Bridge, Grindstone, or Village of Cherry Hill, many residents still drive to appointments, and bus service varies by neighborhood. Scheduling sessions outside peak campus hours may make trips smoother. When your week is tight, telehealth can be a practical way to keep therapy and psychiatry visits consistent without adding travel or parking concerns.
Start by clarifying whether the main need is therapy, psychiatric medication support, student counseling, or help finding a lower-cost option, then gather basics like insurance, availability, and whether telehealth would help. When you contact a place, ask whether they work with OCD, what type of services they offer, how long the waitlist is, and whether they accept your insurance or offer sliding-scale care. Burrell Behavioral Health, University of Missouri Counseling Center, and Boone County Community Services are examples of local places to contact, and students can also ask about support services through the University of Missouri. If the first option is not a fit, ask for another referral or check with NAMI Missouri and True North of Columbia for more direction. College-town traffic fluctuations and limited parking near campus and downtown can affect in-person visits, so bus access and driving may vary by neighborhood.
Use emergency services if OCD symptoms become a crisis, such as when anxiety, panic, or compulsive behavior makes it hard to stay safe, care for yourself, or get through the day. If there is immediate danger, call 911 right away. If you need urgent mental health support but are not in immediate danger, call 988 or the Missouri Crisis Line, and use the Mobile Crisis Response Team via Burrell Behavioral Health if available. In Columbia, you can also go to University Hospital, Boone Hospital Center, or Capital Region Medical Center for urgent evaluation.
Q: When should someone with OCD see a therapist? A: It can be helpful to see a therapist when OCD symptoms start taking up a lot of time, cause distress, or interfere with work, school, or relationships. If obsessions or compulsions are becoming harder to manage on your own, reaching out sooner may make treatment easier. In Columbia, it can be reasonable to look for help even if symptoms feel “mild” but persistent.
Q: What if the first therapist is not a good fit? A: That can happen, and it does not mean therapy will not help. It is reasonable to look for someone else if you do not feel understood, comfortable, or confident in their approach to OCD. You can ask for referrals, try a different style of therapy, or choose another therapist who has more experience with OCD.
Q: Can virtual therapy help with OCD? A: Yes, virtual therapy can help many people with OCD, especially when access or travel is difficult. It may be a practical option in Columbia if traffic, parking, or neighborhood bus access makes in-person visits harder. Some people still prefer in-person care, but telehealth can be a useful place to start.
Q: What should I ask when choosing a therapist for OCD? A: You can ask whether the therapist has experience treating OCD and what methods they use, such as exposure and response prevention. It may also help to ask about session frequency, insurance or self-pay options, and whether they offer in-person or virtual visits. Asking how they track progress can also give you a sense of their approach.
Q: Does therapy for OCD help over time? A: Therapy can help many people with OCD develop better coping skills and reduce the impact of symptoms over time. Progress is often gradual, and some people notice improvements sooner than others. Ongoing practice and consistency usually matter, and some people benefit from combining therapy with medication or other supports.
MiResource can help you search for clinicians in Columbia, MO who treat OCD. You can filter by insurance, specialty, and availability to find someone who fits your needs.
Recovery is possible. With early intervention, a supportive community, and the right professional care, you can overcome challenges and build a fulfilling life. We’re here to help you find the support you need.
