Welcome to the
OCD & Anxiety Center of Minnesota

Evidence-based therapy for mastery over OCD, anxiety, and related disorders.

Evidence-based therapy for mastery over OCD, anxiety, and related disorders.

Ready to reclaim your life from OCD and anxiety? With compassion and a strong therapeutic relationship, we will work to tailor a treatment plan that best fits your needs and goals.

Our Team

Services We Offer

  • One-on-one therapy at our counseling office. Our approach is evidence-based, active, and goal-oriented. We value strong therapeutic relationships and create a safe environment that is free of judgement.

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  • Group is for anyone with OCD, regardless of what stage you are in treatment. In group, you will learn about the biological components of OCD, the nature of OCD and how it manifests itself, and techniques to combat OCD. Skills learned will vary from mindfulness-based approaches, exposure techniques, art therapy, and more.

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  • For individuals who may be unable to attend appointments in office for a variety of reasons, online therapy offers you the option of having a full counseling session via a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform.

  • Therapy sessions conducted outside the office that expose individuals to real-world situations to maximize exposure gains.

  • Recreational therapy serves as a supportive adjunct to traditional treatments for OCD and anxiety disorders, utilizing enjoyable activities like arts, mindfulness, and movement. This holistic approach not only aids in symptom management but also improves coping skills, self-esteem, and social interactions.

Treatment Methods

We use a variety of therapy protocols to treat OCD and anxiety disorders. Many are complementary and may be used in tandem.

  • ERP involves a structured approach to confronting obsessive triggers. During therapy, individuals intentionally expose themselves to distressing thoughts, situations, places, or objects that typically trigger their OCD symptoms. Simultaneously, they work on refraining from engaging in compulsive behaviors, rituals, or excessive rumination. Over time, this process helps individuals build tolerance to their anxiety and reduce the power of OCD, ultimately leading to greater symptom control and improved quality of life.

  • Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) is a research-supported treatment for OCD that focuses on understanding and resolving the specific doubts that trigger OCD symptoms. It views OCD as a disorder where sufferers have a distorted reliance on imagination and a lack of trust in their senses and common sense.

    The therapy aims to address these obsessional doubts by challenging the flawed reasoning process (Inferential Confusion) behind them. Central to I-CBT is the concept that OCD sufferers fear becoming someone they don’t want to be, the Feared Possible Self, and it works to realign their perception with reality

  • CBT is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that empowers individuals to challenge and change cognitive distortions, unhelpful thinking patterns, irrational assumptions, and negative self-beliefs. By fostering self-awareness and practical problem-solving skills, CBT helps individuals develop healthier coping strategies, manage their emotions, and address a wide range of mental health challenges for improved overall well-being.

  • Mindfulness therapy is a therapeutic approach that cultivates present-moment awareness, helping individuals develop a non-judgmental, accepting attitude toward their thoughts, emotions, and sensations. Through mindfulness techniques and practices, it promotes mental clarity, emotional resilience, and improved overall well-being.

  • SPACE, or Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions, is a parent-based treatment program created by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center. It is specifically designed to help children and adolescents who are dealing with anxiety disorders, including Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and related emotional challenges. While the children themselves do not attend SPACE sessions, they are the primary focus of the treatment as patients.

    This program has undergone rigorous testing through randomized controlled clinical trials, demonstrating its effectiveness. The core objective of SPACE is to empower parents with strategies and techniques to support their children's emotional well-being and address anxiety and OCD symptoms. As a result of successful SPACE treatment, children often experience reduced anxiety and improved overall functioning, highlighting the program's positive impact on their lives.

  • DBT is a comprehensive and evidence-based therapeutic approach that combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness and acceptance strategies. It is particularly effective in helping individuals with emotional regulation difficulties, borderline personality disorder, and other mental health challenges. DBT equips individuals with practical skills to manage intense emotions and improve interpersonal relationships.

  • Recreational Therapy offers structured, enjoyable activities, customized to meet each client's unique needs and goals. Our diverse program includes yoga and meditation, creative movement, leisure education, discussion-based activities, creative arts, and so much more to reach goals, establish/maintain a healthy leisure lifestyle, and improve overall quality of life. More than symptom management, it's about empowering individuals through achievement, enhancing self-esteem and confidence. Recreation Therapy sessions encourage the practice of mindfulness, helping to focus on the present and alleviate negative thought patterns.

    Additionally, we offer controlled exposure exercises in a supportive environment, effectively addressing specific fears and anxieties.

It takes 14-17 years for individuals to get the appropriate diagnosis of OCD and receive effective treatment.

We're working to change this statistic.