Matthew McKinley

I've always been interested in psychology. It struck me like a lightning bolt in my high school Introduction to Psychology class: nothing would be as important as learning about ourselves, and being able to better ourselves—for our own sake and for others.

What really intrigues me about OCD therapy is that to do it successfully, you need to confront fear. The only way to do that is to expose yourself in a manageable way, in the right environment with a therapist. To look through the illusion. Fear is always projecting the worst-case, most unrealistic scenario until you stand up to it.

I've treated a variety of conditions, from anxiety and depression to more severe conditions like psychosis. In my view, many of these conditions have a common root—complex trauma we all experience to some degree or another.

You are capable of doing this. You've already taken the first step. All you really need to focus on is taking the next one. You have the potential to change, no matter what. Have confidence in yourself that you can do this—you've come this far; you've found NOCD, which specializes in what you want to change.

Give it time. We could talk about something else, within reason, and save that concern for another time when you're more comfortable. I think it's natural to have that fear. You don't have to say the whole thing—the worst of the worst—right away. Just start somewhere.