--- title: "Resources on Anxiety, OCD and Therapy | The Solace Space" url: https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/resources description: "Plain-language articles on anxiety, OCD, reassurance and ERP from Colleen Ritz, LPC, a Georgia therapist in Alpharetta. Practical, no jargon." lang: en --- Resources # Straight answers about anxiety, OCD and _therapy_. (for when you've read every forum and still have questions.) If you're here, you've probably done some reading already. Maybe late at night. Maybe in three browser tabs at once. Some of it helped, some of it scared you, and a lot of it contradicted the rest. These articles are the plain version. How anxiety and OCD actually work, why some common coping moves backfire, and what treatment looks like from the inside. No jargon, no scare tactics, no promises. For the shorter take on how I work, start with anxiety therapy (https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/anxiety-therapy) or ERP for OCD (https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/erp-ocd-therapy). Articles ## Start _anywhere_. - Your First Therapy Session From the first call to your first appointment, here's what actually happens and what you can ask.: https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/resources/first-therapy-session - Panic Attack or Anxiety Attack? Sudden panic and building anxiety can feel similar. Here is how to think about them without diagnosing yourself.: https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/resources/panic-attack-vs-anxiety-attack - Finding an OCD Therapist in Georgia Ask about ERP, practice between sessions, and how the plan works before you commit.: https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/resources/finding-an-ocd-therapist-in-georgia - Online vs. In-Person Therapy A practical look at privacy, commutes, real-world practice, and choosing a format that fits.: https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/resources/online-vs-in-person-therapy - How Private-Pay Therapy Works Clear rates, what a superbill can and cannot do, and useful questions for your plan.: https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/resources/paying-for-therapy - Helping an Anxious Teen Support your teen without taking over every hard moment. A practical guide for parents.: https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/resources/helping-an-anxious-teen - How an Exposure Ladder Works An exposure ladder is a series of agreed steps, not a dare. Here is a practical example.: https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/resources/exposure-ladder - Burnout or Anxiety? Stress and anxiety can overlap. Ask what is driving your week before deciding what help fits.: https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/resources/burnout-or-anxiety - Why Reassurance Makes Anxiety Louder Asking, googling, checking and confessing feel like relief. Here is why they keep the doubt coming back, and how to cut back.: https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/resources/reassurance-seeking - ERP vs. Talk Therapy for OCD Why talking through the content of obsessions can keep OCD going, and what ERP actually looks like, session to session.: https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/resources/erp-vs-talk-therapy ## How to use these _without_ spiraling Here's the awkward truth: reading about anxiety can become one more way to seek reassurance. You look for the paragraph that proves you're fine, or the one that proves you're not, and neither one sticks for long. So read with a purpose. Pick one article. Notice what sounds familiar. Then close the tab and try one small thing it suggests. Rereading the same page five times is a sign it has turned into a ritual, and that's useful information too. If that sounds like you, the article on why reassurance makes anxiety louder (https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/resources/reassurance-seeking) is a good first stop. Nothing here is meant to diagnose you. If something sounds familiar, that's a reason to get curious, not a label to carry around. It also helps to read with someone. If a partner or parent keeps getting pulled into your worry loops, sharing an article can give you both the same language for what's happening. That alone can take some of the tension out of the room, because you're both looking at the pattern instead of at each other. And if you're reading on behalf of your child, start with the page on SPACE therapy (https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/space-therapy), a parent-led approach for a child's anxiety or OCD, and the one on teen therapy (https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/teentherapy) for ages 13 to 17. ## When reading isn't _enough_ Articles can explain the loop. They can't sit with you while you practice breaking it. Anxiety and OCD change through doing, not just understanding: small, specific steps between sessions, adjusted as you go. That's what the free 15-minute consult is for. You tell me what's going on, I ask a few questions, and we figure out together whether this work fits. It's a phone call, not a commitment. If I'm not the right fit, I'll tell you on the consult and point you toward someone who is. I work in person in Alpharetta and by telehealth anywhere in Georgia. Individual sessions are $185 for 50 minutes and couples sessions are $200 for 50 minutes. ## If things feel _urgent_ These articles are for learning, and this practice is not a crisis service. In a crisis or emergency, call or text 988, or call 911. Both are available any time, day or night. For everything else, you can browse everything I work on (https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/services), check the FAQ (https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/faq), or send a message (https://thesolacespacetherapy.com/contact). New articles get added here over time, so this page will keep growing. Common questions ## Before you book. Are these articles a substitute for therapy? No. They explain how anxiety and OCD tend to work and what the treatment looks like. They can't tailor a plan to you, and reading is not the same as practicing. Can I share these with a partner or parent? Please do. Several are written partly for the people around you, especially the article on reassurance, which covers how to respond kindly without feeding the loop. What should I do if I'm in crisis? In a crisis or emergency, call or text 988, or call 911. This practice is not a crisis service. ## Ready when _you_ are. A free 15-minute call. You tell me what's going on. I tell you honestly whether I'm the right fit. 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