Supportive, Evidence-Based Help for Lasting Relief from OCD

Tyler Slay is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Mississippi specializing in treating adults, adolescents, and children with OCD. He has been trained in treating pediatric and adult OCD from the International OCD Foundation. Tyler uses Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and other research-backed approaches that target the root of OCD and anxiety, not just the symptoms. His style is gentler than some traditional methods because effective therapy should teach you that you don’t have to be miserable to be healthy.

Lasting relief comes when you understand what is fueling your anxiety, both in your story and in the cognitive and behavioral cycle you are stuck in, and begin responding in new ways that shift your relationship to fear and wounds from the past.

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

What is OCD?

OCD is a disorder that runs on fear and urgency. It tells you something is wrong and that you must do something—whether that is a mental process or a physical behavior—to get relief. Unfortunately, the relief is always short-lived. The more you respond to OCD’s demands, the stronger it becomes.

Freedom begins when you stop feeding the cycle. That means learning how to notice and face distress without giving in to the habits that keep it alive. Over time, your system learns that these thoughts and feelings are not dangerous, and the anxiety begins to ease.

You do not have to fight your brain. You can work with it in a new way.

Common Symptoms of OCD

OCD is often misunderstood. Many people think of it as being neat, organized, or perfectionistic. But OCD can take many forms. Some people are overwhelmed by thoughts about harm, morality, religion, relationships, or illness. Others experience looping worries, uncomfortable images, or fears that feel impossible to talk about.

People with OCD are usually thoughtful, caring, and highly aware. Their minds are simply trying too hard to protect them from imagined danger. That over-functioning can feel unbearable, but it is not permanent. OCD is treatable, and things can get better.

OCD Treatment in Mississippi That Brings Real Change

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the most effective treatment for OCD. It involves facing what you fear without relying on rituals, reassurance, or avoidance to feel safe. This helps teach your brain that the feared thought or feeling is not truly dangerous.

ERP is not about learning how to cope or feel better in the moment. It is about retraining the brain and body over time. You learn to relate to your thoughts and feelings in a new way—one that brings long-term relief.

Some clients are surprised by how quickly they start to feel stronger. Others take more time, and that is okay. Either way, the goal is lasting freedom, not a set of coping tricks that only help for a little while.

Support for “Pure O” OCD and Mental Compulsions

Some people with OCD do not have many physical rituals. Instead, they deal with mental compulsions like checking, reviewing, analyzing, or seeking certainty in their minds. This is sometimes called “Pure O” OCD.

If this is your experience, you may feel like your brain never turns off. That constant inner loop is called rumination, and it is exhausting.

I have been trained by Dr. Michael J. Greenberg in Rumination-Focused ERP (RF-ERP), which teaches that anxiety is often caused by rumination itself—not the content of the thoughts. If you are anxious, you are probably ruminating. And the anxiety continues until that mental habit stops. That mental habit that we normally call an obsession is actually a compulsion, and compulsions keep obsessions coming back stronger.

With the right approach, you can learn how to step out of that loop and give your brain the rest it needs. You learn that you have agency over where you put your attention, which can be life-changing.

How to Choose the Best Therapist for You

If you are looking for an OCD specialist in Mississippi, it is important to work with someone who understands the difference between treating general anxiety and treating OCD. Many therapists are skilled in anxiety work, but OCD requires a different framework.

People with OCD are often misdiagnosed with ADHD, depression, or bipolar disorder. These diagnoses may seem to fit, but they can overlook the deeper anxiety pattern at the root of everything.

When OCD is addressed with the right approach, many other parts of life begin to open up. Clients often tell me they can finally grieve, reconnect with loved ones, or explore their deeper stories because they are no longer trapped in a fear cycle.

Christian Counseling for OCD and Anxiety

Many people who come to me are strong in their faith but feel confused and stuck when it comes to their mental health. You might pray, read Scripture, and attend church but still feel weighed down by anxiety or shame.

I offer therapy that integrates your Christian worldview while also addressing what is going on with you mentally, behaviorally, and emotionally. Mental health and spiritual growth are not in conflict. In fact, many clients tell me that when they can focus much more on what’s important to them when anxiety is not running their lives.

OCD Therapy for Children and Teens in Mississippi

I have completed advanced training through the International OCD Foundation’s Pediatric Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI). This helps me work effectively with children, teens, and families who are struggling with OCD or other anxiety disorders.

Many families come to me after trying counseling or play therapy that didn’t quite reach the heart of the issue. That is not because those approaches are wrong, but it is because OCD requires a more structured and specific plan.

I work with both the child and their caregivers to build confidence, reduce fear, and help the whole family feel more equipped.

You Can Find Lasting Relief

OCD, anxiety, and stress can feel overwhelming, but they do not have to control your life. Whether you are dealing with constant fear, intrusive thoughts, or just a sense that your mind will not slow down, healing is possible.

I help clients across Mississippi find lasting relief from OCD, anxiety, and stress by focusing on the core patterns that keep them stuck. Together, we work toward lasting change that is grounded in understanding your whole story, clarity, and evidence-based practice.

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

Helpful Links to Learn About OCD:

What is OCD?

Common OCD Symptoms

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD

Why Coping Strategies can Backfire

Do You Have OCD? Take The Test

International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)