Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Methods
OCD Therapy & ERP Treatment
Evidence-based OCD therapy for intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and checking behaviors, using ERP, the leading treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
What is OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)?
OCD is an anxiety-related condition involving unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that trigger anxiety, which can be followed by compulsions. Compulsions is a behavior or mental rituals aimed at reducing that anxiety or preventing a feared outcome. OCD treatment is often misunderstood, but the condition can take many different forms, but can be treated with Exposure Response therapy and/or cognitive behavioral therapy.
OCD is one of the most treatable mental health conditions - the thoughts themselves do not define who you are.
- Licensed psychologist (Greece)
- Confidential & secure
- English & German
- Global Online Therapy
- No waiting list
- video/phone call /messaging sessions
- Now accepting new clients
20 min
first consultation, free
OCD
Types of OCD
OCD can come in all types of forms of intrusive thoughts and or compulsions, here are some signs you may need or want therapy.
* listing a few facts only, reach out for more information
Contamination OCD
- Intense fear of germs, illness, bodily fluids, or dirt
- Compulsive washing, cleaning, or sanitizing, often for far longer than necessary
- Avoiding certain objects, places, or people perceived as "contaminated"
- Distress at the thought of touching "unclean" surfaces, even without visible dirt
Fact: Contamination OCD isn't about being tidy, it's driven by an intense, anxiety-based need for certainty about safety, which no amount of washing can fully resolve. Contamination OCD Therapy
Checking OCD
- Repeatedly checking locks, stoves, appliances, or that a message was sent correctly
- Difficulty leaving the house or finishing a task without checking "one more time"
- Checking rituals that take up significant time each day
- Doubt persisting even immediately after checking
Fact: Checking OCD often isn't really about forgetting, it's about an intolerance of uncertainty, where even a checked, confirmed fact can feel "not certain enough." Checking OCD Therapy
Harm OCD
- Intrusive thoughts about accidentally or intentionally harming yourself or others
- Intense fear, guilt, or shame attached to these thoughts
- Avoiding objects (knives, medications) or situations linked to the fear
- Seeking reassurance that you would never act on the thought
Fact: Harm OCD thoughts are the opposite of a desire to cause harm, the intense distress they cause is itself evidence they conflict deeply with a person's actual values. Harm OCD Therapy
Relationship OCD (ROCD)
- Persistent doubts about whether you truly love your partner, or they love you
- Constantly analyzing the relationship for "proof" it's right or wrong
- Comparing your relationship to others or past relationships obsessively
- Seeking reassurance from your partner or others about the relationship's validity
Fact: ROCD often targets the relationship itself as the "trigger," but the underlying pattern is the same intolerance of uncertainty seen in other OCD types, not necessarily a sign the relationship is actually troubled. Relationship OCD Therapy
Hoarding-Related OCD
- Persistent difficulty discarding possessions, regardless of actual value
- Significant distress at the thought of throwing something away
- Accumulation that interferes with living spaces or daily function
- Strong emotional attachment to objects others might see as unnecessary
Fact: Hoarding is now classified as its own distinct disorder in diagnostic manuals, but it frequently overlaps with OCD and responds to related therapeutic approaches. Hoarding-Related OCD Therapy
Intrusive Thoughts OCD (Pure O, POCD)
- Distressing, unwanted thoughts or images (often taboo, violent, or sexual in nature) with few visible outward compulsions
- Mental rituals, replaying events, silently reviewing, or mentally "correcting" a thought
- Avoidance of triggers linked to the intrusive thought
- Excessive self-monitoring, constantly checking one's own thoughts or feelings for "meaning"
Fact: Despite the name "Pure O," compulsions are almost always present, they're just internal and mental rather than visible physical actions, which can make this type harder to recognize and easy to misdiagnose. Pure O, POCD Therapy
Health-Related OCD
- Obsessive fear of having or developing a serious illness
- Repeated body-checking for symptoms or abnormalities
- Excessive researching of symptoms or repeated doctor visits seeking certainty
- Difficulty accepting medical reassurance, even after clear results
Fact: This overlaps closely with health anxiety, but in OCD, the compulsive checking and reassurance-seeking rituals are usually more rigid and repetitive than in general health anxiety. Health-Related OCD Therapy
Symmetry & Just Right OCD
- Needing objects arranged in a specific order, alignment, or symmetry
- Repeating actions (touching, tapping, walking through a doorway) until it "feels right"
- Significant distress when things are left uneven, asymmetrical, or incomplete
- Time-consuming rituals around ordering or arranging
Fact: This type of OCD is driven less by fear of a specific outcome and more by an uncomfortable, hard-to-ignore sense that something is "off" until a ritual is completed. Symmetry OCD Therapy
LL
Lara Linder
How I help
ERP Therapy: The Gold-Standard OCD Treatment
Exposure Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a specialized form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and is widely considered the gold-standard, most effective treatment for OCD. ERP therapy works by helping you gradually and safely face the thoughts, images, objects, or situations that trigger anxiety (exposure), while resisting the urge to perform the usual compulsion or ritual (response prevention).
How ERP therapy works, step by step:
Step 1: Mapping Your OCD We identify your specific obsessions, compulsions, and avoidance patterns, and build a clear picture of how your OCD operates day to day.
Step 2: Building an Exposure Hierarchy Together, we create a structured list of feared situations or thoughts, ranked from least to most distressing, so exposure work always starts at a manageable level.
Step 3: Gradual, Guided Exposure We work through your hierarchy at a pace that feels workable, practicing facing triggers directly while resisting compulsive responses.
Step 4: Building Tolerance for Uncertainty Over time, ERP therapy helps you tolerate anxiety and uncertainty without relying on rituals for relief, which is what ultimately reduces OCD's grip long-term.
Unlike general talk therapy, ERP therapy is structured, measurable, and specifically designed for OCD and related intrusive thought disorders, which is why it's recommended by leading OCD treatment guidelines worldwide.
What to Expect
No concern is too small, and no burden is too heavy. If it matters to you, it matters for therapy. Let's take the first step together.
German and English Online Therapy Sessions
*No waiting list*
1
First introduction
After scheduling your slot or reaching out, look out for a confirmation email from Lara. It will include your preferred therapy meeting link and everything you need to know. Have questions? Ask away, or we'll chat at our session!
2
A warm welcome
Going into your first session might feel excited or even anxious and scared, and that is entirely okay. There is no right or wrong way to "do" therapy, and you don’t need to have everything figured out before we meet. Come exactly as you are; we will take it one gentle step at a time.
3
Personalized Care
No two individuals walk the same path. Lara takes the time to listen to your story, your thoughts, worries, doubts and hopes and find a path to help you and achieve your goals again, with a mixture of CBT, mindfulness, grounding techniques and anything that may help you.
4
Ongoing Support
As your journey continues, sessions evolve with your progress, there is no limit or set number of sessions you have to commit to. Healing is not linear, we move at your pace, and you decide how long our collaborative journey lasts. You can stop, pause, or continue whenever it feels right for you.
"You don't have to believe everything your brain tells you."
"Uncertainty is the only place where true freedom lives."
Questions
Good to know
How long is a therapy session?
A therapy session is 50 minutes unless discussed otherwise. 60 to 90 minutes can be offered.
Is the first consultation really free?
Yes. The first 20 minutes are free of charge, so you can meet me, ask anything, have a small intake and feel how therapy is with me.
Which languages do you offer therapy in?
I offer sessions in English and German. You are welcome to choose whichever language feels most comfortable to you.
Where do sessions take place?
Sessions are taken place online via, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet, so you can join from anywhere in the world from a private, comfortable space.
How much is a session?
Session prices start at 70 Euro per session, lower price for students and low income individuals.
How does payment work?
You receive a receipt or invoice for each session, you can pay via bank transfer or PayPal. Insurance assignments are not accepted, however, you can give the invoice to your insurance. It has worked for clients in the past, that it was accepted. Fees are discussed during your free consultation.
Is everything I share confidential?
Yes, what you share stays private and is handled with full professional and ethical care.
How does communication work outside of sessions?
I have a golden rule, message me whenever you would like, appointment changes, with questions, thoughts, updates, as long as I am available and free I will reply. Sometimes I will say “lets discuss this directly in therapy”, please keep in mind I can not be a crisis hotline available 24/7, contact the crisis hotline directly.
Crisis hotline
Important Note: My services are not suitable for acute psychiatric emergencies or crises. In such cases, please immediately contact the German Crisis Support / Telephone Counseling (0800/1110111) or emergency services (112).
I am Here to Support Your Journey
No concern is too small, and no burden is too heavy. If it matters to you, it matters for sessions. Let's take the first step together.
Sessions available online, how you feel comfortable whether its via video call, phone call, or messaging. *No waiting list
20 min introductory call
50 minute call
What to Expect
1
First introduction
After scheduling your slot or reaching out, look out for a confirmation email from Lara. It will include your online meeting link and everything you need to know. Have questions? Ask away, or we'll chat at our session!
2
A warm welcome
Going into your first session might feel exciting or even anxious and scared, and that is entirely okay. There is no right or wrong way to approach counseling, and you don’t need to have everything figured out before we meet. Come exactly as you are; we will take it one gentle step at a time.
3
Personalized Support
No two individuals walk the same path. Lara takes the time to listen to your story, your thoughts, worries, doubts, and hopes, finding a path to help you achieve your goals using a mixture of CBT approaches, mindfulness, grounding techniques, and tailored tools.
4
Ongoing Support
As your journey continues, sessions evolve with your progress. There is no set number of sessions you have to commit to. Personal growth is not linear, so we move at your pace, and you decide how long our collaborative journey lasts. You can stop, pause, or continue whenever it feels right for you.
