How to Find the Best Anxiety and OCD Therapist for You

Every therapist treats anxiety. It is the broadest topic in psychology. After all, why would you come to a therapist for marriage counseling, addiction, or play therapy if you were not ultimately anxious about something? Anxiety drives action.

There are many highly trained therapists in Mississippi who offer excellent services for trauma, codependency, personality disorders, and more. They use models like Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, and Emotionally Focused Therapy. But even with those qualifications, I regularly work with clients who have seen those therapists for anxiety disorders and still feel stuck. They keep running into the same patterns and cannot figure out how to break them.

So when I help those clients make progress, does that mean I am the best therapist in Mississippi? Absolutely not. Not even close.

I help people with anxiety disorders and OCD because I focus on those issues. I spend tons of my time thinking about how to help people not just cope, but actually overcome them. I study every detail and every small advantage that might help someone break through. If you’ve been stuck with anxiety for a long time, you are looking for something similar. Here are three ways to find the best therapist for anxiety or OCD in your area.

1. Look for Someone Who Talks About Anxiety Disorders and OCD Repeatedly

There is a car repair place in Ridgeland, Mississippi called CarShop. They focus on Hondas and Toyotas. Everyone I know who goes there loves it. They know it is more expensive than other shops, but they do not mind.

When you take your car there, you talk to someone who drives a 2010 Toyota Sienna with almost 300,000 miles on it. When they recommend service, it feels honest. You know they work on these exact cars every single day, and they are going to help you drive yours forever.

If you have been dealing with anxiety for years, working with a therapist who specializes in anxiety disorders feels similar. You will go home after a session and actually do the homework. You will feel like you are making real progress, not just talking in circles. It will not feel like someone doing a decent job on a wide range of issues. It will feel like someone who really understands your “make and model.”

So when you are looking for a therapist, look for someone whose website and profile mention anxiety disorders and OCD frequently. Look for clear, repeated language about the exact issues you are facing.

2. Look for Specific Training in Anxiety and OCD

Again, every therapist treats anxiety. But if you are dealing with panic attacks, health anxiety, social anxiety, religious anxiety (also called scrupulosity), or obsessive thought loops, you need someone who has a framework for treating these issues. That framework should come from real training under experts in the field.

People with OCD are often misdiagnosed with ADHD, bipolar disorder, or depression. They may have symptoms of those things, but those symptoms are often being caused or worsened by their anxiety. They cannot process grief, work on their marriage, or heal from trauma because their mind is stuck in an anxious cycle.

Once anxiety starts to quiet down, people can do story work, look at the impacts of trauma, and start building hope again. I love to help people get anxiety out of the way so we can start working on other things.

Unfortunately, some people still get hospitalized for suicidal ideation when they are really just afraid of intrusive thoughts. These are not people who want to die. They are terrified of the idea of harming themselves because it is the last thing they would ever want to do. People with organization-related OCD get told to just make better lists. People with relationship OCD get told to break up or move on. People with panic attacks are taught to escape or avoid discomfort, which is exactly what keeps the panic cycle going.

If any of that sounds familiar, then you want someone who has specific training in treating anxiety and OCD. Look for phrases like pediatric/adolescent anxiety treatment, ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and training from the International OCD Foundation.

3. Trust Your Gut and Find the Right Fit

The best therapist is not just the one with the right techniques. The best therapist is the one you connect with.

Lots of therapists know how to use tools like progressive muscle relaxation, cognitive processing therapy, exposure and response prevention, prolonged exposure, or CBT. But if therapy were just about following a protocol, I would sell a podcast or write a book and let someone smarter do it better. But people need people. Therapy works when there is a real connection.

Studies suggest that about 70 percent of therapy’s success comes from the relationship between the client and therapist. That means your gut matters. You need someone who feels right to you.

Some people are looking for a Christian OCD therapist or a Christian anxiety therapist because they want someone who respects and shares their values. Others just want someone warm, focused, and effective. Either way, therapy only works when there is real trust.

When I work with clients around Mississippi, I usually ask them to come in for at least one session. I tell them therapy does not work unless they like me at least a little. To overcome something hard, you have to believe in your therapist. You have to believe that you are going to get through it together and that you will celebrate the progress together when it comes.

You Can Get Better

If you have been struggling with anxiety for years, you can find relief. You do not have to keep coping. You can move forward.

Here is what to look for:

• A therapist who talks about anxiety disorders and OCD clearly and consistently

• A therapist with specific training and experience in anxiety treatment

• A therapist who feels like a good fit for you or your family

If you find that combination, you will get better. You will feel more like yourself again. You will stop missing out on moments with your loved ones and start building the life you want.

Looking for the Best Anxiety or OCD Therapist in Mississippi?

I specialize in helping people recover from anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD. I offer therapy in-person and online to people all over Mississippi. I help people get connected to the best therapist for them, which might not be me. There are a lot of good mental health providers in this state, and I would be happy to help you find one for you if you email me or give me a call.

Let’s move beyond coping. Let’s get you well.

Call or text: 601-790-0250
Email: tslay@chhms.org