About compulsion
Browse therapist profiles that focus on compulsion and related repetitive behaviors. Use the listings below to compare approaches, credentials, languages, and experience as you explore options.
What to compare in entries
| Credentials | A US state licence, or membership of a professional body such as BACP or NCPS. They are different kinds of thing; each profile shows what was supplied. |
|---|---|
| Focus | Whether compulsion is listed as a main focus or among the wider list of areas. Entries show both. |
| Way of working | The approaches named on the entry. Two people working with the same concern can describe very different sessions. |
| Time in practice | Years in practice, as supplied. A fact to weigh, not a ranking. |
| Language | The languages sessions can be held in, where that matters to you. |
Common questions
How were these entries chosen?
Everyone listed on this page has compulsion among the areas they told the platform they work with. They are not ranked, rated or endorsed by this directory, and the order is not a recommendation.
Do I need a referral to start?
No. You can contact a therapist through their entry directly. A GP referral is not required for independent online therapy.
What if the first therapist is not right?
Changing therapist is normal and expected, and can be done at any point. One session is a small sample of how someone works.
Entries for compulsion
Savithri (Savi) Jayaweera, NCPS
Ref 151058
Compassionate counsellor for complex life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Hindi, Sinhala
View listingJoanne Maddison, BACP
Ref 276861
Compassionate counsellor blending insight and practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Parenting Languages: English
View listingJames French, BACP
Ref 203032
Practical support for anxiety and life transitions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingTomasz Konieczny, BACP, NCPS
Ref 199992
Practical, compassionate online counselling
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English, Polish
View listingMargaret Johnston, LMHC
Ref 62092
Calm listening that helps you move forward
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingClement West, BACP
Ref 167549
Gentle, practical support for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingDavid Potts, LCSW
Ref 23255
Practical, compassionate therapy for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingNicola Claydon, NCPS
Ref 183763
Calm, practical support for complex life issues
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues Languages: English
View listingDanielle Horn, LMSW
Ref 272733
Focused therapy that digs to the root
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingWellington Cesar Assis Bueno, BACP
Ref 226813
Healing emotions, building clearer choices
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Portuguese
View listingKizzie Wells-Daniels, LPC
Ref 67515
Therapist for stress, parenting, and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Parenting, Anger Languages: English
View listingRebecca "Becca" Mather, BACP
Ref 236007
Compassionate, practical support for life’s pressures
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Parenting Languages: English
View listingJennifer Lee Sylvester, LCSW
Ref 116075
Experienced LCSW offering respectful, practical care
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingSara Lowe, LPC
Ref 104527
Practical, compassionate therapy for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression Languages: English
View listingFrank Centonze, LPC
Ref 297421
Direct, practical counseling for emotional recovery
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJudith Ramsay, BACP
Ref 135275
Counselling that focuses on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingFaryal Choudry, LCSW
Ref 266995
Compassionate guidance for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingSherry Ramsey Hansen, LPC
Ref 352558
Collaborative counselor focused on practical progress
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJade Round, BACP
Ref 180505
Practical, person-focused therapy for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingSarah Anderson, NCPS
Ref 133882
Practical support for stress and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingCecile Terrelonge, BACP
Ref 134582
Person-centred counsellor offering practical support
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Family Languages: English
View listingMichael Witham, LPC
Ref 56161
Practical, person-focused counseling for daily struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English
View listingLisa Peter, LCSW, LIMHP
Ref 288708
Practical skills for anxiety and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingCallie Roberts, LPC
Ref 261180
Calm practical support for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Anger Languages: English
View listingClaudia Santiago, LCSW
Ref 149793
Practical, collaborative therapy for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English, Spanish
View listingAndrea Antrobus, BACP
Ref 121857
Warm counsellor blending practical therapy and listening
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingMaria Wilson, LCSW
Ref 138055
Understanding, practical support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingPaul Bryan, LPC
Ref 175985
Compassionate counselor guiding steady change
Works with: Family, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingFaye Noyland, BACP
Ref 176481
Calm, practical counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingGerry Byrne, BACP
Ref 224563
Practical, collaborative therapy for daily struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingDonna Watts, BACP
Ref 219020
Compassionate, practical support for real-life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingVictoria Harper, BACP
Ref 257028
Gentle person-centred counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingKelley Sullivan, LCSW
Ref 526
Compassionate, practical therapy for real life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Spanish
View listingDr. Robert Hunt, LPC
Ref 187307
Experienced therapist for life changes and emotion work
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingSally Henderson, ACA, PACFA
Ref 224972
Compassionate trauma and addiction counsellor
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingLisa Spears, LPC
Ref 101050
Hopeful, practical counseling for life
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingChris Rottcher, NCPS
Ref 167547
Compassionate integrative counsellor for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Afrikaans
View listingJamie Finkelstein, LPC
Ref 16744
Compassionate counselor for practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDanielle Turner, LCPC
Ref 43399
Practical, compassionate therapy for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Parenting Languages: English
View listingRani Sagar, BACP
Ref 180509
Gentle humanistic counselling for life changes
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingChase Carter, LCSW
Ref 330670
Skilled LCSW focused on relationships and recovery
Works with: Addictions, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingAndrew Mclay, BACP
Ref 236002
Compassionate counsellor for grief and life change
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingLisa Fairclough, BACP
Ref 160254
Practical, values-focused support for change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingFarah Southwell, LPC
Ref 203059
Practical, experienced therapist for life’s hard moments
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English, Haitian Creole
View listingNeha Kapoor, PACFA
Ref 212378
Compassionate counselling for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingLaurel Deegan, BACP
Ref 231520
Compassionate, person-centred counselling for identity and stress
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Relationship Languages: English
View listingPeter Bramhill, BACP
Ref 236747
Practical, compassionate counselling for life’s challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingRosalind Oliver, BACP
Ref 232595
Gentle practical therapy for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, German
View listingMore about compulsion
Understanding compulsion and how it can affect daily life
Compulsion refers to repetitive behaviors or mental actions that you may feel driven to perform, often in response to an urge or to reduce distress. These behaviors can range from checking and excessive cleaning to repetitive counting, skin picking, hair pulling, compulsive shopping, or persistent mental rituals. For many people compulsion begins as a way to cope with uncomfortable thoughts or anxiety, but over time the behavior itself can become a source of frustration and interference.
You do not have to view compulsion as a moral failing. It often grows out of understandable attempts to manage distressing feelings. When compulsive acts take more time, create shame, or make it hard to maintain relationships, work, or daily routines, they can become a significant burden. Understanding the pattern of triggers, rituals, and short-term relief can help you identify why the behavior persists and what types of support might help you change it.
Signs you might benefit from therapy for compulsion
If you are wondering whether therapy could help, pay attention to how the behavior affects you over time. You might notice that urges are frequent and hard to resist, that you feel intense anxiety if you do not perform a particular action, or that the rituals take up an increasing amount of your day. You may find yourself avoiding certain places, people, or activities to prevent triggers, or experiencing distress and shame because of the behavior. Physical consequences, such as skin damage from picking or financial strain from compulsive buying, are also indicators that professional support could be useful.
Therapy is not only for severe cases. If compulsive acts leave you feeling stuck, undermine your confidence, or keep you from living in the way you want, an experienced clinician can help you learn strategies to reduce urges and build alternatives. You may also notice that compulsion interacts with mood, sleep, or substance use, so addressing it can improve other areas of life as well. Reaching out for help is a practical step you can take when the behavior starts to control your time or choices.
What to expect in therapy sessions focused on compulsion
When you begin therapy for compulsion, sessions typically start with an assessment where you and the clinician map out patterns, triggers, and the impact on daily life. Early meetings often focus on building a shared understanding and setting collaborative goals that feel realistic to you. Your therapist will likely spend time providing psychoeducation - explaining how compulsive behavior functions and why certain techniques can reduce the pull of rituals.
As therapy progresses, you can expect a mix of in-session practice and between-session exercises. Many approaches emphasize gradual exposure to triggers combined with strategies to resist the ritual response, as well as techniques to manage the anxiety that arises. You and your therapist will track progress, adjust goals, and plan for setbacks so that relapse becomes information rather than failure. Sessions are typically paced to match your readiness; you should feel that the work is collaborative and respectful of your concerns and limits.
Common therapeutic approaches used for compulsion
Several evidence-informed approaches are commonly used to address compulsion. Cognitive-behavioral methods focus on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors. Exposure and response prevention aims to reduce the link between a trigger and the compulsive response by having you face triggers while refraining from the ritual. Habit reversal training helps you become aware of early cues for a behavior and learn competing responses. Mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies teach ways to observe urges without acting on them, which can reduce the need to perform rituals.
On this site you will find therapists who list exposure and response prevention, habit reversal training, cognitive-behavioral approaches, mindfulness, or acceptance-based strategies among their approaches. Reading profiles can help you identify clinicians who describe work with specific behaviors that match your experience. Keep in mind that the presence of an approach on a profile is a statement about what a therapist lists, not an assertion about formal credentials or specific certifications. When you review profiles, pay attention to how a therapist describes their focus areas, years of experience, languages offered, and the populations they work with.
How online therapy works for compulsion and tips for choosing a therapist
How online therapy can support work on compulsion
Online therapy for compulsion typically takes place over video, phone, or text-based messaging, and it can include digital tools such as worksheets, symptom trackers, and recorded exercises. The online format allows you to practice skills in the settings where compulsive urges happen, which can be valuable for exposure-based work. You will want to find a quiet room or quiet space where you can speak openly and complete homework without interruptions. Many clinicians adapt interventions so that you can do in-the-moment practice at home between sessions.
Some people appreciate the convenience of remote sessions because they allow for greater flexibility in scheduling and reduce travel time. Others prefer a mix of in-person and online work depending on their needs. Regardless of format, effective therapy depends on consistent practice and a collaborative relationship with your clinician. If you plan to use online therapy, consider whether you will need worksheets, apps, or written instructions to support homework, and discuss these preferences early in treatment.
Tips for choosing the right therapist for compulsion
Choosing a therapist is a personal decision that often comes down to fit. Start by looking for clinicians who list compulsion or related repetitive behaviors among their focus areas. Compare focus areas, approaches, credentials, languages, and experience so you can narrow options to those who describe work with similar challenges. Reading how therapists describe their approach to goal-setting, relapse planning, and family involvement can give you a sense of whether their style matches what you want.
When you review profiles, consider practical matters such as whether you prefer video or phone sessions, whether you want someone who speaks your language, and whether cultural or identity factors are important in matching. It can also be helpful to look for clinicians who describe collaborative, skills-based work and who outline what typical sessions might involve. If you have specific needs - such as addressing compulsive buying, skin picking, hair pulling, or intrusive thoughts - prioritize therapists who list experience with those behaviors. Remember that a strong therapeutic relationship is often more influential than any single technique, so give weight to descriptions that emphasize partnership, respect, and clear communication.
Working with a therapist can help you understand why compulsive behaviors persist and give you concrete strategies to reduce their power over your life. Whether you choose online sessions, in-person care, or a combination, the listings below are a place to start exploring clinicians who focus on compulsion and related repetitive behaviors. Take your time to compare profiles and reach out in a way that feels right for you as you begin the process of change.