Evidence-Based OCD Therapy
Evidence-Based OCD Treatment Using Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
At Sommer Psychology Group, we provide evidence-based treatment for OCD using Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) for adolescents, young adults, and adults in Indianapolis. I-CBT is a specialized therapy designed specifically for obsessive-compulsive disorder that helps individuals break free from obsessional doubt, fear-based reasoning, and compulsive patterns.
We offer in-person OCD therapy in Indianapolis and secure online therapy across Indiana, providing flexible and compassionate care that fits your life.
- I get stuck in the same thoughts over and over, and I can’t shut them off.
- I feel like I have to do certain things “just right” or something bad might happen.
- I know my fears or rituals don’t make sense, but I can’t seem to stop them.
- I spend so much time on mental or physical routines that I constantly feel exhausted.
- I feel isolated and ashamed, like no one would understand what I’m going through.
- I’m constantly second-guessing myself, my actions, and even my memories.
What Is Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)?
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment developed specifically for OCD and related disorders. Rather than focusing primarily on exposures, I-CBT helps individuals understand how OCD creates doubt through imagined possibilities and faulty reasoning patterns.
Many people with OCD become stuck in “what if” thinking:
- “What if I contaminated someone?”
- “What if I secretly wanted this thought?”
- “What if I made a mistake and didn’t notice?”
- “What if I can’t trust my memory?”
I-CBT helps you recognize when OCD pulls you away from reality and into imagined scenarios that feel possible but are not grounded in your actual senses or present experience. Treatment focuses on rebuilding trust in yourself, your reasoning, and your ability to live outside the OCD “story.”
Inference-Based CBT in Indianapolis
How I-CBT Helps Treat OCD
I-CBT helps individuals:
- Understand how obsessional doubt develops
- Identify faulty reasoning patterns that maintain OCD
- Separate imagined possibilities from reality-based information
- Reduce compulsions, reassurance seeking, and mental rituals
- Build trust in their senses, memory, and judgment
- Learn to respond differently to intrusive thoughts and uncertainty
Unlike traditional approaches that focus heavily on habituation through exposure exercises, I-CBT targets the reasoning process that creates obsessive doubt in the first place.
Contamination OCD
Harm OCD
Harm OCD is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges about causing harm to oneself or others. These thoughts are distressing and often feel completely inconsistent with the person’s actual values, intentions, and character. Individuals with Harm OCD may fear losing control, becoming violent, making a terrible mistake, or accidentally hurting someone without realizing it.
Common compulsions can include excessive checking, reassurance seeking, avoiding certain people or objects, mentally reviewing past actions, monitoring thoughts or emotions, or repeatedly trying to “prove” to themselves that they would never act on the thought. Many individuals with Harm OCD experience intense guilt, shame, fear, and self-doubt, even though they have no desire to cause harm.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment developed specifically for OCD that focuses on the obsessional doubt, imagined possibilities, and faulty reasoning processes that fuel harm-related fears.
Relationship OCD (ROCD)
Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD)
Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD) is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder characterized by persistent doubt, fear, and uncertainty about one’s sexual orientation. Individuals with SO-OCD experience intrusive, unwanted thoughts and fears that create significant anxiety and confusion, often despite having a previously stable sense of identity or attraction.
Many people with SO-OCD become trapped in cycles of overanalyzing thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, memories, or interactions in an attempt to gain certainty about their sexuality. Common compulsions may include mentally reviewing past experiences, checking for attraction or arousal, comparing oneself to others, seeking reassurance online or from loved ones, avoiding certain people or situations, or repeatedly questioning “what if” scenarios. These fears can become emotionally exhausting and deeply distressing, often leading to shame, self-doubt, and isolation.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment developed specifically for OCD that focuses on the obsessional doubt, imagined possibilities, and faulty reasoning processes that fuel sexuality-related fears and uncertainty.
Existential OCD
Existential OCD is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder characterized by persistent, intrusive thoughts about life, existence, reality, consciousness, free will, or the meaning of the universe. Individuals with Existential OCD often become trapped in repetitive questioning and mental overanalysis surrounding topics that cannot be answered with complete certainty.
Common obsessions may involve fears or doubts such as “What if nothing is real?”, “What is the meaning of life?”, “How do I know I truly exist?”, or “What happens after death?” While many people occasionally think about philosophical questions, individuals with Existential OCD experience these thoughts as distressing, consuming, and difficult to stop. Many engage in compulsions such as excessive researching, mentally debating questions, seeking reassurance, checking for certainty, or avoiding triggers that bring up existential fears.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment developed specifically for OCD that focuses on the obsessional doubt, imagined possibilities, and faulty reasoning processes that fuel existential fears and uncertainty.
Religious or Moral Scrupulosity
Religious or Moral Scrupulosity is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder characterized by persistent fears about being immoral, sinful, dishonest, offensive, or spiritually “wrong.” Individuals with scrupulosity often experience intrusive thoughts and excessive doubt related to religion, morality, guilt, responsibility, or personal values, leading them to constantly question whether they have done something bad or failed to meet their own ethical or spiritual standards.
Common compulsions may include excessive praying, confessing, seeking reassurance, mentally reviewing past actions, researching religious or moral rules, avoiding situations that trigger guilt, or repeatedly trying to gain certainty that one is a “good” person. Many individuals with scrupulosity experience intense shame, fear of punishment, fear of offending God or others, and ongoing self-doubt, even when they are deeply thoughtful, compassionate, and conscientious people.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment developed specifically for OCD that focuses on the obsessional doubt, imagined possibilities, and faulty reasoning processes that fuel religious and moral fears.
Health Anxiety & Illness OCD
Health Anxiety and Illness OCD is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder characterized by persistent fears about having, developing, or spreading a serious illness or medical condition. Individuals with Health Anxiety or Illness OCD often become highly focused on bodily sensations, physical symptoms, medical information, or perceived changes in their health, leading to ongoing fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt.
Common compulsions may include repeatedly checking the body for symptoms, researching illnesses online, seeking reassurance from doctors or loved ones, monitoring physical sensations, avoiding perceived health risks, or mentally reviewing past exposures and medical concerns. Even minor or normal bodily sensations can become overwhelming when filtered through OCD-related doubt and catastrophic thinking. Many individuals feel trapped in cycles of fear and reassurance seeking that temporarily reduce anxiety but ultimately reinforce the obsession.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment developed specifically for OCD that focuses on the obsessional doubt, imagined possibilities, and faulty reasoning processes that fuel health-related fears and uncertainty.
Checking OCD
Checking OCD is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder characterized by persistent doubt and fear about making mistakes, causing harm, forgetting important tasks, or failing to prevent something bad from happening. Individuals with Checking OCD often feel an intense need to repeatedly check things in an attempt to gain certainty, reduce anxiety, or prevent feared consequences.
Common compulsions may include repeatedly checking doors, locks, appliances, alarms, emails, assignments, or personal belongings, as well as mentally reviewing past actions to make sure nothing was missed. Many individuals fear being responsible for harm, accidents, fires, break-ins, or other catastrophic outcomes if they do not check “enough.” Even after checking, the doubt often quickly returns, creating a repetitive and exhausting cycle of uncertainty and reassurance seeking.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment developed specifically for OCD that focuses on the obsessional doubt, imagined possibilities, and faulty reasoning processes that fuel checking behaviors and fear-based uncertainty.
“Just Right” OCD
“Just Right” OCD is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder characterized by persistent feelings that something is incomplete, uneven, uncomfortable, or not “right enough.” Rather than being driven primarily by fear of danger or harm, individuals with “Just Right” OCD often experience intense internal discomfort, tension, or uneasiness until things feel correct, balanced, or exact.
Common compulsions may include repeating actions, arranging or organizing items, rereading, rewriting, tapping, adjusting clothing or body position, or restarting tasks until they feel “right.” Many individuals become trapped in cycles of perfectionism, overcorrection, and mental checking, spending significant amounts of time trying to relieve the uncomfortable feeling of incompleteness or internal imbalance. These symptoms can interfere with daily functioning, productivity, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment developed specifically for OCD that focuses on the obsessional doubt, imagined possibilities, and faulty reasoning processes that fuel the need for certainty, exactness, and things feeling “just right.”
Perfectionism
Perfectionism is characterized by persistent pressure to meet unrealistically high standards, avoid mistakes, and maintain a sense of certainty, control, or flawlessness. Individuals struggling with perfectionism often become highly self-critical and may tie their self-worth to performance, achievement, productivity, or the approval of others.
Many people with perfectionism experience intense fear of failure, disappointing others, making the “wrong” decision, or not doing something well enough. Common patterns can include overthinking, procrastination, excessive checking, reassurance seeking, difficulty completing tasks, avoiding situations where mistakes are possible, or repeatedly revising work in an attempt to make it perfect. Over time, perfectionism can contribute to anxiety, burnout, low self-esteem, and difficulty feeling satisfied or present in daily life.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment approach that focuses on the doubt, imagined possibilities, and faulty reasoning processes that can fuel perfectionistic thinking, self-criticism, and chronic fear of making mistakes.
Intrusive Thoughts
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, distressing thoughts, images, urges, or mental “what if” scenarios that suddenly enter a person’s mind and create anxiety, fear, guilt, or discomfort. These thoughts are often repetitive and feel difficult to ignore, even when they are completely inconsistent with the person’s actual values, intentions, or character.
Intrusive thoughts can center around many themes, including harm, contamination, sexuality, religion, relationships, morality, health, or losing control. Many individuals become trapped in cycles of overanalyzing the thought, trying to gain certainty, mentally reviewing events, avoiding triggers, or seeking reassurance in an attempt to feel safe or “prove” the thought does not mean something about them. The more attention and importance given to the thought, the more persistent and distressing it can become.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment developed specifically for OCD that focuses on the obsessional doubt, imagined possibilities, and faulty reasoning processes that cause intrusive thoughts to feel dangerous, meaningful, or personally significant.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition characterized by persistent preoccupation with perceived flaws or defects in one’s appearance that are often minor or not noticeable to others. Individuals with BDD may become intensely focused on specific body parts, facial features, skin, hair, weight, or overall appearance, leading to significant anxiety, shame, and self-consciousness.
Many individuals with BDD spend excessive amounts of time checking mirrors, comparing themselves to others, seeking reassurance, hiding perceived flaws, mentally reviewing their appearance, or avoiding social situations due to fear of judgment or rejection. These obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors can become emotionally exhausting and significantly interfere with relationships, work, school, and daily functioning.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment approach that focuses on the obsessional doubt, imagined possibilities, and faulty reasoning processes that fuel appearance-related fears, self-doubt, and distorted beliefs about perceived flaws.
I-CBT vs ERP Therapy
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is often considered the gold standard treatment for OCD and can be highly effective for many individuals. However, some people feel overwhelmed by exposure-based approaches or find that their OCD is especially rooted in obsessional doubt, overthinking, and imagined possibilities.
I-CBT offers a different pathway by helping you understand how OCD reasoning develops and why certain doubts feel so convincing. Many individuals appreciate the collaborative, insight-oriented nature of I-CBT while still working toward reduced compulsions and greater freedom from OCD.
Our Approach
Our Approach to OCD Treatment
At Sommer Psychology Group, we tailor treatment to your specific symptoms, experiences, and goals.
Depending on your needs, therapy may integrate:
- Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness-based strategies
Our goal is to help you better understand your OCD, reduce compulsive behaviors, and regain confidence in yourself and your daily life.
ABOUT US
Why Work With Sommer Psychology Group
We understand that life can sometimes feel overwhelming—whether it’s managing anxiety, balancing responsibilities, or facing the fear of the unknown. As I-CBT specialists who work with individuals who struggle with anxiety, OCD, and related disorders, we aim to help you find your way forward.
Our approach is solutions-focused and evidence-based, designed to meet your unique needs and help you achieve lasting change. Whether you’re dealing with stress, life transitions, or relationship challenges, we are dedicated to giving you the tools to overcome obstacles and thrive.
At Sommer Psychology Group, we believe in the power of quality care. That means giving you dedicated, thoughtful, and individualized support, with the flexibility of virtual sessions that fit into your life, wherever you are.
Our evidence-based therapy is grounded in three core principles:
Integrity
We believe integrity is the foundation of effective therapy. It fosters trust, respect, and accountability, ensuring our clients receive honest, consistent, and ethical guidance throughout their journey.
Compassion
Compassion is at the heart of our practice. It nurtures emotional healing, creating a safe space where clients can feel heard, valued, and understood while developing a culture of collaboration and respect.
Quality Care
We prioritize quality care to ensure the best outcomes for our clients. By addressing both clinical needs and emotional well-being, we build trust and deliver effective therapy that supports long-term growth and success.
Meet Our I-CBT Therapists
At Sommer Psychology Group, our clinicians provide Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to support individuals experiencing anxiety, OCD, and related disorder challenges. We focus on comprehensive, personalized care that includes assessment, treatment, and practical skill-building to help you better understand your thoughts, manage emotions, and change unhelpful patterns.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in indianapolis
Questions About I-CBT
Can OCD be treated with I-CBT?
How does I-CBT help stop anxiety from interfering with my life?
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) helps individuals recognize how anxiety and OCD-related doubt pull them into “what if” thinking and imagined fears. Treatment focuses on changing the faulty reasoning patterns that maintain anxiety, helping individuals reduce overthinking, compulsions, and avoidance while rebuilding trust in themselves and their ability to tolerate uncertainty.
What causes OCD, and how does I-CBT address it?
Why can’t I just relax or think my way out of anxiety?
Individuals with OCD often become trapped in cycles of obsessional doubt, overthinking, and “what if” scenarios that feel emotionally convincing and difficult to let go of. Trying to simply “relax” or think your way out of anxiety often leads to more mental reviewing, reassurance seeking, and self-doubt, which can unintentionally reinforce the OCD cycle.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) helps individuals understand the faulty reasoning processes that fuel OCD so they can respond differently to intrusive fears and uncertainty rather than getting pulled deeper into them.
How long does I-CBT therapy take to work?
Have More Questions?
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I-CBT For OCD in indianapolis
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