OCD Therapy in Denver and Online: Finding Freedom from the Loop
The thought shows up again. You check, ask, pray, review or replay, and for a moment it settles. Then it comes back louder. You know it doesn't make sense, and that's part of what makes it so exhausting. You're not "a little OCD." You're stuck in a loop that takes hours from your day, and there's a proven way out.
The Basics
Who it's for: adults with intrusive thoughts, compulsions or rituals that take up time and cause distress.
Your therapist: Kelli Beerwinkle, LPC.
Method: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP), the first-line therapy for OCD, delivered with warmth and at a pace you choose.
Format: in person in South Denver, or online anywhere in Colorado.
Cost: $155 per session. Kelli is out of network; she provides superbills you can submit for reimbursement, and HSA cards are accepted.
Deep Dive
When your mind won't let it go
OCD isn't about being tidy. It's a cycle. An unwanted thought, image or urge (an obsession) brings a wave of anxiety, doubt or disgust. To make the feeling stop, you do something (a compulsion): checking, washing, counting, seeking reassurance, mentally reviewing, avoiding, or praying until it feels "right." The relief is real but short, and every round teaches your brain that the thought was dangerous. So the loop tightens.
You might recognize yourself here if you:
Spend more than an hour a day on thoughts or rituals you wish you could stop
Ask loved ones the same questions for reassurance, or search online for certainty
Avoid people, places or objects that set off the thoughts
Replay conversations or memories to make sure you didn't do something wrong
Feel horrified by thoughts that go against everything you value
About 1 in 40 adults will have OCD at some point in their lives. You're not alone, and you're not your thoughts.
Kinds of OCD we treat
OCD takes many shapes
Relationship OCD: constant doubt about whether you love your partner or chose the right one
Contamination OCD: fear of germs, illness or "bad" substances, with washing or cleaning rituals
"Just right" OCD: needing things to feel even, ordered or complete
Scrupulosity: religious or moral OCD, with fear of sinning, blasphemy or being a bad person
Postpartum and perinatal OCD: intrusive thoughts about your baby's safety, often frightening and rarely talked about
Pure O: compulsions that happen mostly in your head, like reviewing, neutralizing or mental checking
and more
How therapy helps
How ERP breaks the cycle
Kelli treats OCD with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP), a specific kind of CBT considered the most effective therapy for OCD. Instead of arguing with the thought, you learn to let it be there without doing the ritual. Over time, your brain learns the alarm was false, and the thoughts lose their grip.
Map the loop. You and Kelli name your obsessions, the compulsions that follow, and what you've been avoiding.
Build a ladder. Together you list situations from least to most difficult, so you never start with the hardest one.
Practice, step by step. You face each step and resist the ritual, with support in session and short practices at home. You set the pace.
Carry it forward. You learn to spot new versions of OCD and respond to them on your own, so the progress lasts.
ERP is hard work, and it's meant to be done with care, not force. Kelli pairs it with CBT skills for handling uncertainty and the shame that often comes with OCD.
Faith and postpartum OCD
When OCD shows up in the places that matter most
OCD tends to attack what you care about most. For people of faith, that can mean scrupulosity: endless confession, praying until it feels right, or fear that a thought itself is a sin. Kelli welcomes your faith in the room and helps you tell the difference between your values and what OCD demands, without asking you to give up what you believe.
For new parents, OCD often arrives as sudden, terrifying thoughts about harm coming to the baby. These thoughts are common, they don't mean you're dangerous, and they respond well to treatment. Kelli, a mom of two, brings particular care to perinatal mental health.
What to expect
Getting started
Free consult: a 15-minute call with Kelli to talk about what you're facing and see if you're a good fit.
Assessment: your first sessions map your symptoms and goals.
Weekly sessions: most people meet weekly while practicing ERP, in person or online.
Moving on: as rituals fade, we space out sessions and plan for setbacks.
OCD FAQ
Questions about OCD treatment:
Is ERP scary? It's challenging, but you're never forced. You choose each step with your therapist, starting small.
Can OCD be treated online? Yes. ERP works well over secure video, and practicing at home lets you face triggers where they actually happen.
Do I have to talk about my worst thoughts? Only when you're ready. Kelli has heard intrusive thoughts of every kind, and nothing you share will shock her.
Will I need medication? Not necessarily. Some people do best with ERP plus medication. If that might help, Kelli will talk it through with you and coordinate with your prescriber.
Do you take insurance? Kelli is out of network, so she doesn't bill insurance directly. Sessions are $155, and she provides a superbill you can submit to your insurer for out-of-network reimbursement. HSA cards are accepted.
You don't have to keep feeding the loop
A free 15-minute consult is the first step. Tell Kelli what OCD has been taking from you, and you'll talk about how to take it back
If you're in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.