New Directions Mental Health is dedicated to supporting your mental health. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, we encourage you to reach out for immediate support through your local crisis services by dialing 988, contacting your local emergency services, or visiting your local emergency room.
If you feel stuck in a cycle of intrusive thoughts and rituals—checking, cleaning, counting, or needing things to feel “just right”—you’re not imagining it, and you’re not alone. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be isolating and overwhelming, especially when it starts to interfere with your daily life.
The good news is that effective, personalized support is available right here in your community. At New Directions Mental Health, we offer compassionate, evidence-based OCD treatment in the Pittsburgh area, and we’re excited to bring care even closer with a new clinic location opening soon in South Side Flats.
What is OCD—and how do I know if I need help?
According to the National Library of Medicine, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is estimated to affect 1% to 3% of people throughout their lifetime.1 That may seem like a small number, but it represents millions of people who go years without a diagnosis or the support they need. If you believe you’re experiencing symptoms of OCD, know that you’re not alone—and that effective help is available.
OCD is often misunderstood. It’s more than being particular, tidy, or liking things a certain way. It’s a mental health condition that involves distressing, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or rituals (compulsions) that are done to relieve the anxiety those thoughts create.
What are obsessions?
Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that keep showing up in your mind, even when you don’t want them to. They can be upsetting, confusing, or even disturbing. You might try to ignore or suppress them, but they keep coming back.
Examples include:
- Fear of germs, contamination, or illness
- Worries that something bad will happen if things aren’t done a certain way
- Thoughts about harming yourself or others (even if you don’t want to)
- Uncomfortable questions about morality, religion, or sexuality
What are compulsions?
Compulsions are actions or mental behaviors that people feel driven to perform to try to make the obsessions go away or to prevent something bad from happening. These behaviors are usually not logically connected to the fear, but they feel necessary in the moment.
Examples include:
- Washing hands, surfaces, or belongings repeatedly
- Checking locks, appliances, or routines over and over
- Repeating certain words, numbers, or prayers until it “feels right”
- Arranging items or doing tasks in a precise order
Although these rituals may provide temporary relief, they often become increasingly demanding and emotionally draining over time. If these behaviors are disrupting your life, OCD counseling can help you restore both control and peace of mind.
How OCD counseling can help you manage OCD symptoms
Living with OCD on your own can be exhausting, frustrating, and even isolating. But it’s important to remember that OCD isn’t your fault, and you don’t have to face it alone. Therapy provides a safe, compassionate space to explore what’s happening in your mind and discover effective and practical tools to find relief and regain control.
OCD counseling at New Directions Mental Health may include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps you identify and change thought patterns that fuel anxiety and compulsions
- Exposure and response prevention (ERP): A highly effective treatment that gently helps you face fears without giving in to compulsions
- Mindfulness and grounding techniques: Support staying present and easing physical symptoms of anxiety
- Medication management: Some clients benefit from a combination of therapy and medication for long-term symptom relief
Our therapists offer a variety of therapeutic approaches tailored to each client’s needs. We recognize that no single method works for everyone. Our goal isn’t to eliminate every intrusive thought but to help you respond to them in healthier, more manageable ways.
Signs you may benefit from OCD therapy
Still wondering if OCD therapy is right for you? Here are a few signs that may signal the need for therapy:
- You spend more than an hour a day on rituals, thoughts, or behaviors
- Your routines or habits are causing stress at work, school, or home
- You avoid places or situations because of your fears
- You feel like your brain is stuck in a loop
- You’ve tried to stop the thoughts or behaviors, but can’t
- You’re feeling emotionally drained, hopeless, or overwhelmed
If any of these signs resonate with you, seeking support at New Directions Mental Health through our specialized OCD therapy can provide you with the tools and guidance needed to move forward with confidence.
Why choose New Directions Mental Health?
We provide personalized, inclusive care that meets you where you are. Our therapists and psychiatric providers are trained in treating OCD and understand the unique challenges it can bring. You’ll never be judged or rushed—just supported with care that fits your goals and pace.
Our services include:
- One-on-one OCD counseling
- Support for co-occurring anxiety or depression
- In-person and telehealth appointments
- Medication management when needed
- A dedicated team that listens, supports, and empowers you
Our soon-to-open clinic in South Side Flats will make accessing high-quality OCD therapy in the Pittsburgh area more convenient than ever, whether you’re near home, work, or school.
Coming soon: OCD therapy in South Side Flats
Our South Side Flats location, opening soon at 2516 Jane Street, Suites 200 & 205, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, will provide personalized mental health care for people navigating OCD and other mental health conditions. Mental health services that will be available at our South Side Flats location include:
- Counseling
- Psychiatry
- Medication management
This location is easy to access: From Sarah Street, turn right on S 17th St, then left on Jane Street. Follow Jane for 0.6 miles, turn right on S 25th St, and take the first left onto Harcum Way. The clinic will be on your left, near Carson Street and easily accessible from surrounding neighborhoods. Whether you’re searching for support for yourself or a loved one, our new South Side location offers a trusted and convenient place to begin OCD therapy in Pittsburgh.
Searching for OCD therapy in Pittsburgh? Call New Directions Mental Health today
You don’t have to wait until things get worse. If OCD is making daily life harder, now is the time to reach out for support that can help you feel more in control, grounded, and hopeful. Call New Directions Mental Health today at 724.374.7414 to learn more or schedule your first appointment.
For new clients, please click here to schedule an appointment. For existing clients, please click here and find your office location so you can contact your office directly.
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