LPCTherapists

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Therapists for Obsession

This page lists licensed professional counselors who indicate obsession as a focus in their profiles. Browse counselors by state, approach, language, and experience using the directory below.

Review the listings to learn more about each counselor's background and how they describe working with obsessive concerns, then explore profiles that seem like a good fit.

What obsession can feel like and how it commonly affects you

Obsession usually refers to recurring, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that persist despite your efforts to ignore them. You may find yourself replaying a thought or worry repeatedly, experiencing intense mental loops that take up hours of each day. For some people these thoughts are paired with behaviors meant to reduce anxiety or prevent imagined harm. Those behaviors can be mental rituals such as counting or reviewing memories, or outward actions like checking and repeating tasks. The combined effect can be exhaustion, distraction from work or relationships, and avoidance of situations that trigger the cycle.

When obsession interferes with your ability to function or drains your energy, it can be helpful to understand it as a pattern you can learn to manage. Licensed professional counselors are trained to assess how these patterns affect your daily functioning and to work with you on goals that reflect how you want to live, rather than focusing only on labels. That wellness and developmental orientation means counselors often help you identify what you are trying to achieve and build practical steps toward that outcome.

Signs you might benefit from working with a licensed professional counselor for obsession

You might consider seeking a counselor if intrusive thoughts occupy substantial portions of your day, if you find yourself performing rituals to relieve distress, or if you avoid people or places because of recurring images or worries. Other signs include persistent anxiety about harm coming to yourself or others, repeated checking or seeking reassurance that temporarily reduces discomfort, and difficulty completing tasks at home or work because thoughts pull your attention away. When these patterns are causing relationship strain, sleep disruption, or professional difficulties, counseling can offer a place to clarify priorities and develop a tailored plan.

Remember that counselors in this directory hold state licenses under one of three common names: LPC, LPCC, or LCPC. In many states the credential appears as Licensed Professional Counselor or LPC. In states such as Ohio, California, Kentucky, and Minnesota the credential is often listed as Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor or LPCC. In states such as Illinois, Maryland, and Montana the title may be Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor or LCPC. These labels reflect each state board's terminology and, in some jurisdictions, LPCC may indicate a clinical designation that follows additional supervised practice. All of these licenses require a master's degree in counseling, a state-set period of supervised postgraduate clinical experience that commonly runs two to three years and several thousand hours, and passage of a national examination. The board that issues and renews the license is the state licensing board, so requirements and exact titles vary by state.

What to expect during sessions that focus on obsession

When you begin working with a licensed professional counselor, you can expect an initial conversation that explores how the obsessive thoughts and behaviors affect your day-to-day functioning and what you want to change. Counselors take a collaborative, goal-oriented approach, asking about your current challenges, history, strengths, and what a meaningful improvement would look like. From there you and the counselor will develop a plan that reflects those goals and the counselor's stated approaches and experience.

Session work often includes learning skills to manage distress, practicing new responses to intrusive thoughts, and experimenting with different ways of responding in real life. Counselors frequently assign practice exercises between sessions so you can test strategies in everyday situations. Progress is typically gradual and requires repetition, so your counselor will focus on practical steps that fit your life and priorities. If your care would benefit from coordination with a physician, psychiatrist, or another licensed professional, your counselor can discuss how to work alongside other providers while respecting your goals.

Common approaches counselors list for working with obsession

Licensed professional counselors may describe a variety of approaches on their profiles. You will often see references to cognitive behavioral methods, and many counselors list approaches such as exposure and response prevention among their approaches when working with intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Other counselors list acceptance and commitment strategies, mindfulness-based work, or psychodynamic-informed approaches as part of how they understand repetitive thinking. It is important to note that a counselor listing an approach does not mean certification or a specific training credential in that approach; it indicates the kinds of methods they describe using in sessions.

The counseling training model places strong emphasis on functioning, coping skills, and developmental growth. That orientation can be helpful if you want support that centers on what you are trying to accomplish - returning to work, rebuilding relationships, or reducing time spent on rituals - rather than focusing exclusively on diagnostic labels. When you read profiles, look for counselors who describe how they relate assessment to goal planning and who explain the kinds of in-session work and between-session practice they emphasize.

How online sessions work for obsession and tips for choosing the right counselor

How online counseling works for obsession

Online counseling with a licensed professional counselor typically uses live video sessions or phone visits that mirror the flow of in-person meetings. You can prepare for these sessions by finding a quiet, safe setting where you can speak without interruption and by having a notebook or app ready to track thoughts and practice exercises between sessions. Online sessions allow you to try new coping strategies and to practice responses in real-life contexts more quickly, because you can often schedule sessions from the places where you live your life. Keep in mind that telehealth rules and licensure are state-specific - a counselor is licensed to practice in the states named on their license, and state boards regulate where a counselor may provide services.

Tips for choosing the right counselor for obsession

When you review profiles, consider the counselor's stated focus areas, the approaches they list, their licensure designation, and any languages they offer. If you live in Illinois, for example, you will see the LCPC title used; in Ohio or California you may see LPCC, and in many states the standard label is LPC. Think about whether you want a counselor who emphasizes skill-building, exposure-based practice, or a values-centered approach. Read how they describe their work with obsession and look for language about collaboration and goal-setting. You should also consider practical factors such as years of experience in counseling, populations they describe working with, and whether their profile description aligns with the outcomes you want to pursue.

Comparing profiles on these points can help you identify counselors whose stated focus and style fit what you are looking for. This directory lists licensed professional counselors practicing under the LPC, LPCC, or LCPC titles across the United States, so use the profile details to learn more about each counselor's approach, background, and languages. That information can guide your choice of counselor as you move toward getting support for managing obsessive thoughts and the behaviors that accompany them.

Find Obsession Therapists by State

Alabama

238 therapists

Alaska

20 therapists

Arizona

196 therapists

Arkansas

116 therapists

California

174 therapists

Colorado

346 therapists

Connecticut

79 therapists

Delaware

4 therapists

District of Columbia

26 therapists

Florida

152 therapists

Georgia

623 therapists

Hawaii

5 therapists

Idaho

90 therapists

Illinois

383 therapists

Indiana

22 therapists

Iowa

11 therapists

Kansas

41 therapists

Kentucky

128 therapists

Louisiana

310 therapists

Maine

42 therapists

Maryland

174 therapists

Massachusetts

5 therapists

Michigan

318 therapists

Minnesota

117 therapists

Mississippi

151 therapists

Missouri

388 therapists

Montana

78 therapists

Nebraska

12 therapists

Nevada

36 therapists

New Hampshire

7 therapists

New Jersey

261 therapists

New Mexico

61 therapists

New York

32 therapists

North Carolina

89 therapists

North Dakota

12 therapists

Ohio

281 therapists

Oklahoma

278 therapists

Oregon

89 therapists

Pennsylvania

523 therapists

Rhode Island

4 therapists

South Carolina

281 therapists

South Dakota

28 therapists

Tennessee

143 therapists

Texas

1899 therapists

Utah

19 therapists

Vermont

8 therapists

Virginia

287 therapists

Washington

19 therapists

West Virginia

46 therapists

Wisconsin

210 therapists

Wyoming

45 therapists

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Australia

0 therapists

United Kingdom

0 therapists

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