Intrusive Thoughts Therapy
Your Mind Won't Let You Rest.
We Can Help With That.
You replay the conversation from three days ago. You catastrophize about something that hasn't happened yet. You spiral on a decision you already made, a thing you said, a thing you should have said. The thinking starts — and you can't figure out how to make it stop.
Intrusive thoughts aren't always dramatic or scary — sometimes they're just relentless. The same worry on repeat. The mental loop that kicks in at 2am. The voice that won't let you feel okay about anything.
And sometimes they are scary. Disturbing. Shameful. The kind of thought that horrifies you — and keeps coming back no matter how hard you try to push it away.
Either way — that's exhausting. And it's something therapy can genuinely help with.
We offer intrusive thoughts therapy via telehealth across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
What Are Intrusive Thoughts?
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, involuntary thoughts, images, or mental loops that show up without your permission — and often refuse to leave. They come in two main forms:
The relentless kind:
Overthinking, rumination, catastrophizing, replaying conversations, spiraling on worst-case scenarios. The mental chatter that never quite turns off. This kind of intrusive thinking is incredibly common — and incredibly draining.
The disturbing kind:
Thoughts that are violent, sexual, morally distressing, or deeply frightening in content. Thoughts that feel like they say something terrible about who you are. This kind is often connected to anxiety or OCD — and it carries an enormous amount of shame.
Here's what both have in common: the harder you try to push them away, the stronger they get. And the more meaning you give them, the more power they have.
Having an intrusive thought — no matter how disturbing — is not the same as wanting it. It does not reflect who you are. Research suggests that up to 94% of people experience intrusive thoughts.
The difference is in the relationship you have with them. And that relationship can change.
Does this resonate with you…
You’re looking for a therapist who understands what it feels like when —
• Your brain replays conversations, decisions, and moments on a loop — long after they're over
• You catastrophize constantly — your mind jumps straight to the worst possible outcome
• You can't stop thinking about something even when you know logically there's nothing you can do
• You have thoughts that horrify or disturb you — and can't stop having them no matter how hard you try
• You've Googled your thoughts obsessively trying to figure out if you're a bad person
• You feel deeply ashamed of thoughts you never asked to have
• You seek reassurance from others — but the relief never lasts
• You perform mental rituals — analyzing, reassuring yourself, reviewing — to neutralize the thoughts
• The mental loop kicks in at 2am and you can't sleep
• You're exhausted from the constant mental battle
• You've never told anyone about certain thoughts because you're afraid of what they'd think
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The more you try to suppress, analyze, or neutralize an intrusive thought — the stronger it gets. We start by helping you understand exactly why this happens. Because when you understand the cycle, it begins to lose its power.
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We understand that intrusive thoughts often involve the most taboo, disturbing, or embarrassing content imaginable. We approach this work without flinching — with warmth, deep understanding, and absolutely zero judgment. You can say the thought out loud here. We've heard it before. And we know it doesn't make you who you are.
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Autistic burnout is real — and it's one of the most common reasons autistic people seek therapy. The exhaustion of masking, navigating sensory overwhelm, and constantly translating yourself for a neurotypical world takes a real toll. We help you understand burnout, recover from it, and build a more sustainable life.
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ACT helps you develop a fundamentally different relationship with your thoughts — learning to observe them without being controlled by them. Instead of fighting intrusive thoughts you learn to let them exist without giving them power over your behavior or your sense of self.
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For intrusive thoughts connected to OCD, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold standard treatment. We incorporate ERP-informed techniques to help you face feared thoughts while resisting the compulsive responses that keep the cycle going.
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Mindfulness and cognitive defusion techniques help you create distance between yourself and your thoughts — learning to see thoughts as just thoughts. Not facts. Not commands. Not reflections of who you are.
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For the relentless mental loop kind of intrusive thinking, CBT-informed approaches help you identify the patterns driving rumination, challenge catastrophic thinking, and build new mental habits that actually interrupt the spiral.
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Intrusive thoughts therapy via telehealth is just as effective as in-person. Available across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Our Approach to
Intrusive Thoughts Therapy
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Insurance & Fees
45 - 60 minute sessions | $110–$360
Most clinicians are in-network with Aetna and Northwell Direct in New York
Sliding scale fees available
Superbills are provided for out-of-network reimbursement
Schedule a Free Consultation
Our free 15-minute consultation is a
relaxed, no-pressure call where you can
ask questions, share what you're looking for, and see if we're the right fit.
No commitment. No pressure.
Just a conversation.