6 Highly Recommended Atlanta OCD Therapists
- Kim Lareau
- Feb 9
- 5 min read
Updated: 12 minutes ago
If you’ve landed here, it’s likely that you or a loved one is grappling with the exhausting cycle of OCD. You may be experiencing relentless intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors that feel impossible to stop, and the anxiety that underlies it all.
Maybe you find yourself checking things repeatedly, seeking constant reassurance, or trapped in mental rituals that steal hours from your day. Perhaps you've tried to "just stop" these behaviors, only to feel the anxiety build until it's unbearable. You're not being dramatic, and you're definitely not alone. OCD is real, it's treatable, and the right therapist can make all the difference.
Finding Help for OCD: Your Journey Begins Here
Hi, I'm Kim Lareau, founder of Steady Hope Counseling, a therapy practice serving the greater Atlanta area. With over 14 years of experience as a therapist and practice owner, I understand how challenging it can be to find specialized care for conditions like OCD. I’ve seen how life-changing it is when you finally connect with the right provider. You deserve more than generic support—you deserve evidence-based OCD treatment from someone who knows exactly how to help.
At Steady Hope, we're passionate about connecting people with evidence-based care that truly works. While we’re proud to have an OCD specialist on our team, we also know that finding the right fit matters more than anything.
That’s why this post highlights one of our talented therapists who specializes in OCD treatment, along with five other trusted Atlanta-area resources. Whether you end up working with us or finding support elsewhere, what matters most is that you get the help you deserve.
Meet Our Atlanta Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Specialist
Brenley Wiley, M.A., LMFT, PMH-C
Brenley stands out among Atlanta OCD therapists for her unique ability to combine gold-standard Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) treatment with a trauma-informed lens. She recognizes that for many people, OCD doesn't exist in isolation but intersects with past experiences and family dynamics.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, she's specially trained in relationship dynamics. This enables her to expertly involve parents and partners in the treatment process. It ensures that you or your loved one gets the support needed outside of the therapy room, too.
Brenley also brings specialized training in perinatal mental health, making her an especially valuable resource for new parents struggling with OCD. No matter your specific situation, Brenley combines clinical excellence with genuine warmth to help people of all ages and life experiences heal from OCD.
Focus Areas: OCD and ERP, children and teens (ages 8+), young adults, perinatal mental health, couples, families, ADHD, anxiety, depression.
Other Trusted Local OCD Therapy Resources
While I wholeheartedly recommend Brenley as an OCD therapist, I also firmly believe in finding the right therapeutic fit for your needs. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of other OCD treatment resources, all of which I respect and have personally referred clients to. If you’re unsure whether our practice is right for you, contact us for a free consultation so we can discuss your situation directly.
Atlanta Anxiety Care
This local practice specializes exclusively in anxiety and OCD treatment, making it one of my go-to referral resources. They provide Exposure and Response Prevention, the gold standard of OCD treatment, along with complementary modalities like somatic therapy. This can be a game-changer for people looking to build skills around nervous system regulation, especially for those whose OCD themes center around body sensations and somatic obsessions.
In addition to treating OCD itself, Atlanta Anxiety Care also helps people with commonly co-occurring conditions, like Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors and Body Dysmorphia. If you’re experiencing either of these alongside OCD or are interested in incorporating somatic approaches into your treatment, I encourage you to reach out to this practice.
Tara McShane Pandarinath
Tara is another local OCD specialist who offers Exposure and Response Prevention therapy. What sets her approach apart is her training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This specialized trauma therapy modality helps people reprocess distressing memories, which can be particularly helpful for those with OCD who have also experienced trauma.
Tara isn’t just trained in EMDR—she’s an EMDRIA Certified Therapist™. This means she’s conducted EMDR sessions with at least 25 clients, participated in continuing education in this modality, and has garnered recommendations from other therapists. I highly recommend Tara’s practice if you’re interested in incorporating EMDR into your OCD treatment.
Dr. Jessica Goodnight
OCD can be a highly debilitating condition. Some people with OCD may experience self-harming behaviors and/or suicidal thoughts. If this sounds like you or your loved one, Dr. Goodnight’s practice could be a good fit. She’s one of the few local providers who specializes in OCD and suicidal thoughts, making her an invaluable resource in our community.
Of course, please contact 988 or visit your local emergency room if you’re in a crisis situation. However, many people experience suicidal thoughts of varying frequency and intensity. Ongoing therapy can help you cope with these thoughts and learn how to manage your OCD in a healthy, constructive way.
Atlanta CBT
Research suggests that those with OCD are nearly seven times more likely to be diagnosed with insomnia than those without. While it’s important to see your doctor to rule out medical conditions impacting sleep, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can also be an effective treatment for insomnia.
That’s where Atlanta CBT comes in. They specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, including CBT-I, an evidence-based protocol for insomnia. They also specialize in OCD therapy, making them a great fit for people looking for help with both sleep and mental health.
Restorative Counseling Services
Studies have shown that OCD and substance abuse disorders frequently co-occur. More research is needed, but it may be that some individuals with OCD use substances to cope with the intense anxiety that intrusive thoughts can cause.
If you’re looking for support for both OCD and addiction, I encourage you to contact Restorative Counseling. They offer Exposure and Response Prevention and provide sobriety support for those struggling with their relationship with substances. Their approach blends ERP with other evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to help you learn new coping skills.
FAQs About OCD Treatment
What is OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that create intense anxiety. This leads to repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) performed to reduce that distress. Unlike what popular culture depicts, it’s not just being “type A” or being neat and organized—it’s a cycle that can consume hours of your day and significantly impact your quality of life.
How is OCD different from other anxiety disorders?
While OCD falls under the anxiety umbrella, it's distinct because of its specific pattern: intrusive thoughts that trigger compulsive behaviors or mental rituals. Unlike generalized anxiety, which focuses on real-life worries, OCD involves often-irrational fears that feel impossible to ignore. The compulsions provide temporary relief but actually strengthen the cycle, which is why specialized treatment like ERP is so effective.
What OCD subtypes do you help with?
We work with various OCD presentations, including contamination fears, intrusive thoughts about harm, checking and reassurance-seeking behaviors, symmetry and ordering compulsions, and relationship OCD. Brenley's trauma-informed approach also addresses how past experiences may intersect with OCD symptoms. She’s skilled at helping families understand and support their loved ones through treatment.
What ages do you work with?
Brenley works with clients ages 8 and up, including children, teens, young adults, and adults. She's also trained to support couples when OCD is impacting the relationship. Her background in play therapy and working with younger clients means she can adapt evidence-based OCD treatment to be developmentally appropriate and engaging for kids and adolescents.
Is OCD treatment usually covered by insurance?
Yes, OCD treatment is typically covered by insurance, though exact coverage varies from plan to plan. Steady Hope is a private pay practice, meaning we don't accept insurance directly. However, many clients choose to use their out-of-network benefits and submit superbills for reimbursement. We're happy to discuss payment options during your free consultation.
Start Working with an OCD Therapist in Atlanta Today
Are you ready to take the next step? Finding the right support can feel overwhelming, but remember, you don’t have to do this alone.
