Outpatient Therapy
Specialized, One-on-One Treatment for OCD, Anxiety, and Related Conditions
Natalie Noel, LMHC | Anxiety & OCD Treatment Specialists | Tampa, FL
Outpatient therapy is where most people begin and for many people with OCD and anxiety disorders, it is all they need to make a full and lasting recovery. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly one-on-one sessions with a trained specialist, focused entirely on the evidence-based treatment that works, moving at a pace that is challenging and sustainable.
For clients who wish to have more than 3 outpatient sessions per week, they will need to pursue the intensive outpatient options.
At Anxiety & OCD Treatment Specialists, outpatient therapy is not general counseling. It is specialized, structured, and built around Exposure and Response Prevention the most effective treatment available for OCD and anxiety disorders. Every session has a purpose. Every session builds on the last. And from the very first appointment, you are working toward a specific, measurable goal: getting your life back.
In-person sessions are provided in Tampa and virtual sessions are available throughout Florida and New York.
Quick Answer: What Does Outpatient Therapy Look Like at Our Practice?
Outpatient therapy at our practice means weekly individual sessions of 50 to 60 minutes with a specialist trained in ERP-based treatment for OCD, anxiety disorders, and related conditions. Sessions are structured and active not open-ended conversations. Your therapist builds an individualized treatment plan based on your specific condition, your triggers, and your goals. Exposure practice begins at the second session. You receive between-session assignments every week. Progress is tracked with standardized measures. Treatment is time-limited and goal-directed.
How Our Outpatient Sessions Work
Every clinician at our practice uses evidence-based treatment specifically chosen to match the condition being treated. For OCD and anxiety disorders, that means ERP. For depression, that means Behavioral Activation and CBT. For insomnia, that means CBT-I. For tic disorders, that means CBIT and Habit Reversal Training.
Here is what a standard outpatient course of treatment looks like:
What to Expect Session by Session
- Session 1: Thorough assessment. We map your specific condition the triggers, the compulsions or avoidance behaviors, the severity, and the co-occurring factors. Standardized symptom measures establish your baseline. The exposure hierarchy begins.
- Session 2: Active treatment begins. For OCD and anxiety, exposure practice starts here not after weeks of preparation. Your first between-session practice assignments are given before you leave.
- Sessions 3 onward: Each session reviews home practice, progresses the hierarchy, and adjusts the plan based on what the data shows. Families and partners are brought into sessions when accommodation or co-occurring dynamics are part of the picture.
- Final sessions: Relapse prevention planning. A personalized map for maintaining your gains recognizing early warning signs and knowing exactly what to do.
What Makes Our Outpatient Care Different
We Start Working Immediately
Active treatment exposure practice for OCD and anxiety, behavioral activation for depression begins at your second session. We do not spend weeks building up to the work. Your life is happening now, and we treat it with that urgency.
Every Session Has a Clear Purpose
Our sessions are structured. There is an agenda, there is active skill practice or exposure work, and there is a specific between-session assignment before you leave. Therapy at our practice is not open-ended conversation. It is targeted, skills-based work with a measurable endpoint.
We Treat the Whole Picture
OCD rarely comes alone. Anxiety rarely comes alone. Depression, ADHD, tic disorders, life stressors they frequently co-occur, and each affects how the others are treated. Our team assesses the full clinical picture at the first appointment and builds a treatment plan that addresses everything relevant, not just the presenting complaint.
We Involve the People Around You
Family accommodation the ways that partners, parents, and family members inadvertently maintain OCD and anxiety cycles is addressed directly in outpatient treatment when relevant. For children and teenagers especially, parents are not in the waiting room. They are part of the treatment from the first session.
We Coordinate With Psychiatrists When Needed
We are therapists, not psychiatrists we do not prescribe medication. But for clients where medication is part of the clinical picture, we maintain relationships with trusted prescribers and coordinate care actively. We will be transparent with you about whether medication may be relevant to your treatment and prognosis.
Outpatient vs. Intensive Outpatient How to Choose
Most people start with outpatient therapy and most people get what they need from it. Weekly sessions, consistent between-session practice, and a structured ERP protocol produce full or near-full remission for the majority of people with OCD and anxiety disorders.
Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is available for clients who need more more treatment hours per week, faster results, or a higher level of support than weekly sessions provide. If outpatient is the right starting point, we will tell you. If your presentation calls for IOP from the beginning, we will tell you that too. If you wish to schedule more than three outpatient sessions per week, we will direct you to our IOP options.
| Outpatient Therapy Is Right For You If: | Consider Our IOP If: |
|---|---|
| Symptoms are moderate and you can manage daily functioning | Symptoms are severe and significantly impairing daily life |
| You have time to practice between weekly sessions | You need faster results college start, pregnancy, work deadline |
| You want to make steady progress over time | Weekly therapy has not produced enough progress |
| Your schedule works with one appointment per week | You need more clinician time and support per week |
| You are maintaining school, work, and relationships | You are stepping down from a higher level of care |
In-Person and Virtual Sessions
In-person
730 S Sterling Ave, Suite 306, Tampa, FL 33609
Virtual:
Florida: All conditions, all ages
New York: All conditions
Outpatient therapy works very effectively via telehealth. All of our evidence-based approaches ERP, CBT, CBT-I, CBIT, Behavioral Activation, Assertiveness Training translate fully to video sessions. Research consistently shows equivalent outcomes for therapy delivered in person and via video. For clients outside Tampa, virtual outpatient provides the same specialist-level care without the commute.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does outpatient therapy take?
For most OCD and anxiety disorders, a full course of outpatient ERP takes 12 to 20 weekly sessions. Specific phobias often resolve in 6 to 12 sessions. Depression typically takes 12 to 20 sessions of CBT and Behavioral Activation. More severe or complex presentations take longer. What stays consistent is the trajectory: most people notice meaningful improvement within the first 4 to 8 weeks of active treatment. Your therapist will give you a realistic timeline at your first appointment.
Do you take insurance?
We do not accept insurance directly. We are a private-pay practice. If you have out-of-network mental health benefits, you may be eligible for partial reimbursement contact your insurance carrier to verify your out-of-network coverage and deductible. We provide documentation for out-of-network claims upon request. We recommend asking your carrier specifically about reimbursement for psychotherapy by a licensed mental health clinician (LMHC).
What is the difference between seeing you and seeing a general therapist?
The primary difference is specialization. A general therapist treats a wide range of conditions using a variety of approaches. Our entire team specializes exclusively in OCD, anxiety disorders, and related conditions and uses evidence-based treatments specifically researched for those conditions. For OCD especially, the research consistently shows that specialist ERP produces significantly better outcomes than general therapy. If you have been in therapy before without meaningful improvement, the most likely explanation is that the treatment was not specialized or structured enough for your condition.
How do I know if outpatient is right for me or if I need more intensive care?
The initial evaluation appointment answers this question. We assess your specific presentation, severity, and functioning before recommending a level of care. Most people start with outpatient. If your symptoms are severe enough to suggest IOP would produce better results, we will tell you and explain the clinical reasoning. We do not recommend a higher level of care unless it is genuinely indicated.
Can I get a free consultation before committing?
Yes. We offer a free 10-minute phone consultation to discuss what you are dealing with, answer your questions, and help you determine whether our practice is the right fit. To schedule a free consultation, call or contact us through our website.
Schedule a free 10-minute consultation today.
(813) 812-4940 | anxietyocdspecialists.com | 730 S Sterling Ave, Suite 306, Tampa, FL 33609
In-person in Tampa, FL | Virtual throughout Florida & New York