Virtual OCD & Anxiety
Support Group
Two Specialized Groups. Weekly Structure. Real Clinical Guidance From Real Specialists.
OCD and anxiety are isolating. The thoughts are hard to explain. The behaviors can be embarrassing. And most people in your life even the ones who want to help do not fully understand what you are dealing with.
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Our virtual support groups exist because recovery is not just about therapy appointments. It is about having a consistent place to stay connected, sharpen your skills, and be around people who actually get it with a licensed clinician in the room to make sure the conversation stays helpful.
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We offer two separate weekly groups. One for individuals living with OCD and anxiety. One for family members and loved ones. Both are led by licensed clinicians who specialize exclusively in OCD and anxiety. Both follow the same evidence-based framework we use in our individual treatment.
In-person sessions are provided in Tampa and virtual sessions are available throughout Florida and New York.
Why Our Support Groups Are Different From Most
Most OCD support groups are peer-led. Participants support each other, but no one is there to prevent the conversation from becoming a reassurance loop which is exactly what OCD thrives on.
Our groups are different for two reasons.
- First, every session is led by a licensed clinician with specialized training in OCD and anxiety someone trained by world-renowned researchers and clinicians at well-respected specialized treatment facilities. That means when reassurance-seeking comes up, it gets redirected. When the conversation drifts toward accommodation, someone names it. The group stays clinically grounded.
- Second, our groups are ERP-informed. We do not use the group to challenge OCD thoughts or debate whether obsessions are valid. We use it to reinforce the same principles that make ERP work tolerating uncertainty, resisting compulsions, and moving toward valued living.
Group Details:
- Weekly sessions, 60 minutes each
- Up to 10 participants per group
- 4-week enrollment blocks re-enrollment available
- $200 per month (4 session package)
- 10-minute screening call required before joining
- Virtual available to anyone regardless of where they life
Two Groups. One Shared Goal: Recovery.
OCD & Anxiety Support Group
For adults living with OCD, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, or related conditions. This group gives you weekly structure, peer connection, and clinical guidance without reinforcing the compulsive cycles that keep OCD strong.
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What makes this group different from peer support is what does not happen here. Your clinician will not allow the group to become a place for reassurance-seeking. OCD content will not be debated or cognitively challenged. The focus stays on ERP principles tolerating uncertainty, resisting compulsions, and doing the work.
Family & Loved Ones Support Group
For parents, partners, and family members of someone with OCD. You want to help. But if you are providing reassurance, taking over tasks, or adjusting your household around OCD you may be making things harder without realizing it. That is accommodation, and it maintains OCD.
This group teaches you what accommodation is, why it matters, and what to do instead. You will leave each session with something concrete a clearer understanding of the OCD cycle, a specific strategy to try, and the support of other family members walking the same road.
What Happens in Every Session
Every session follows the same structure. Predictability matters it is part of what makes the group therapeutic. Here is how your 60 minutes are spent:
| Time | Segment | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10 min | Check-In | Each member shares a brief update. Your clinician listens and responds without offering reassurance. |
| 10–30 min | Psychoeducation | A rotating topic: OCD cycles, accommodation, ERP basics, ACT tools, managing setbacks, and more. |
| 30–55 min | Discussion | Facilitated, member-driven conversation. Real experiences. Clinical guardrails in place throughout. |
| 55–58 min | Skill Practice | One concrete action to carry into the week ahead. |
| 58–60 min | Close | A brief grounding exercise. A commitment to the work ahead. |
A Note on Group Safety
Because OCD can use a support group as a vehicle for compulsions, we run ours with specific clinical guardrails. There will be no discussion of specific medications or dosages that conversation belongs with your psychiatrist. If reassurance-seeking comes up, your clinician will redirect it respectfully. These are not arbitrary rules. They are clinical decisions that protect you and every other person in the room.
Who These Groups Are For
These groups are a good fit if:
- You are in individual ERP treatment and want additional support between sessions
- You completed ERP treatment and want to maintain your progress with ongoing structure
- You are on a waitlist for individual treatment and need something now
- You are a family member who is not sure whether you are helping or enabling
- You want to be around others who understand OCD without having to explain it from scratch
Important: This support group is not a substitute for empirically supported treatment. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard treatment for OCD. This group complements treatment it does not replace it. If you do not have an ERP provider, call us at (813) 812-4940 and we will connect you with a special
Required First Step The Screening Call
All prospective group members must complete a brief 10-minute screening call before joining either group. This is not a formality.
Screening Call What to Expect
Duration: 10 minutes
- Cost: No charge
- Format: Phone
What happens during the screening call:
- Confirm which group is the right fit for your situation
- Brief orientation to how the group works and what to expect
- Confirm the group is clinically appropriate we do not place someone in a support group if they need a higher level of care first or if we believe they will be disruptive to the group
- Answer any questions you have before your first session
Pricing
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60 min · Virtual
How to Get Started
- Call our office at (813) 812-4940 or email info@anxietyocdspecialists.com. Tell us which group you are interested in.
- Complete a free 10-minute screening call. We confirm the group is the right fit and walk you through what to expect.
- Register for your first 4-week block. Non-refundable payment of $200 holds your spot. You will receive a welcome email with your secure video link and group guidelines before your first session.
- Show up. Engage. Do the work. The group works when you do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be in therapy to join?
No. But this group is not a substitute for ERP treatment. If you have OCD and are not currently working with a specialist, we strongly encourage individual care. Call us and we will help connect you with a provider.
Can I join the family group if my loved one is not your client?
Yes. The family and loved ones group is open to anyone with a family member or partner who has OCD regardless of where that person receives care, or whether they are in treatment at all.
Is this covered by insurance?
No. Support groups are not billable to insurance. Payment is out-of-pocket only. This keeps the process simple and avoids the restrictions that come with insurance billing.
What if I miss a session?
Please notify us in advance. The group is intentionally small, and consistent attendance matters both for your progress and for the other members who rely on the group dynamic. Missed sessions are not refunded.
Who leads the groups?
All sessions are led by licensed clinicians with specialized training in OCD and anxiety clinicians trained by world-renowned researchers and clinicians at well-respected, specialized treatment facilities. These are not peer-led meetings. You are receiving clinician-facilitated support from people who treat OCD and anxiety exclusively.
What states can participate?
Our virtual groups are open to everyone with OCD or an anxiety disorder.
My loved one refuses to get help. Should I still join the family group?
Yes — and this is exactly the situation the family group is designed for. Understanding accommodation, OCD cycles, and how your responses may be maintaining the disorder gives you real tools to use, whether or not your loved one is in treatment right now.
Ready to join our virtual OCD support group?
(813) 812-4940 | info@anxietyocdspecialists.com | anxietyocdspecialists.com
730 S Sterling Ave, Suite 306, Tampa, FL 33609
Happy Clients
EXCELLENT Based on 92 reviews Posted on Bogaci ServicesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Natalie Noel - great doctor, very professional with individual approach. It was a pleasure to meet her.Posted on SabrinaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thanks to Anxiety & OCD Specialists and Matt, I’m now on the road to living a better life with my OCD. Matt is extremely patient, supportive, and knowledgeable. Highly recommend the intensive outpatient program to anyone struggling with OCD!Posted on Fatima SorabiTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A review for Natalie Noel: hi everyone, I was dealing with severe anxiety for a long time, to the point where I felt completely hopeless. I had intense anticipatory anxiety and could not sleep before any event at all. The insomnia was debilitating and affected every part of my life. I was also carrying severe trauma and PTSD, and I truly felt like I would never be normal again. I tried everything — therapy, EMDR, neurofeedback, and so many other approaches — but nothing fully helped. After doing my own research, I found Natalie Neol and decided to reach out. From the very beginning, Natalie was incredibly insightful and compassionate. After only three sessions, she recognized that I was suffering from severe anxiety and OCD, and she immediately referred me to two excellent doctors for medication support. I scheduled an appointment with one of them, started treatment, and within a month my life has completely changed. I honestly cannot believe how different I feel. For the first time in years, I feel like I am truly living again. Just last week, I had a major presentation — something that would normally have caused overwhelming panic — and I walked in calm, confident, and did amazingly with no anxiety at all. I still can’t believe it. Natalie, God bless you. You are an absolute godsend. I truly owe you my life.Posted on Nate AshbyTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Natalie is the OCD specialist to see around Tampa! She is patient and willing to talk through things as many times as it takes. No case too tough for Natalie. Highly recommend.Posted on Alayna MannTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This center is great and extremely welcoming! I looked forward to meeting with Natalie and she helped me learn more about myself every session. She also helped redirect negative thought patterns and behaviors and taught me how to handle my thoughts better.Posted on Judy SpigarelliTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mario Juster-Kruse truly understands my anxiety. Mario's guidance lets me unmask and speak my truth. After just a couple sessions, I felt noticeable positive changes. 30 years of talk therapy didn't get me to the results I need, but Mario's approach has me on the right path. Truly grateful!Posted on Jessica RoseTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have been a client of Mario’s for almost a year after having some unexpected, tragic losses as well as coming out of a terrible marriage and being a Covid ER nurse. I’ve always been an anxious person but, after these events, it had become unbearable, and I lost who I was. Things got worse before they got better and the depression was eating at my soul. I feel extremely fortunate to have had Mario as my therapist. He has helped me rebuild myself one broken stick at a time and I’ve started reclaiming control of my life. I’ve had other therapists in the past for various things, but he has been the best I’ve had. I genuinely do not think I would have survived this past year if I had a different therapist and I am extremely grateful for all that he has done to help me. I highly recommend him for anyone seeking treatment.Posted on Anja AlpendreTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We are incredibly grateful for the care and support our child received from Nona Zamora. She is truly exceptional - kind, compassionate, and deeply knowledgeable. From the very first visit, she created a safe, trusting environment and took the time to truly understand our child’s needs. We felt heard, supported, and confident that our child was in the best possible hands. We were so lucky to be in her care and would wholeheartedly recommend her to any family looking for a thoughtful, skilled, and compassionate psychologist.