Obsessive compulsive disorder - OCD treatment and therapy from NOCD
Thelma Rivera

Thelma Rivera

Licensed Therapist, MSW, LCSW

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I have personal experience with OCD. I understand how OCD can impact an individual and those around them. Everyone is different, so I'll take time to understand how OCD impacts each person I work with. I pay attention to how each person learns, then I utilize their strengths to motivate them throughout treatment. I love seeing people regain control of their lives and increase their confidence. In my 19 years of experience, I have treated PTSD, depression, bipolar, and BFRBs (body-focused repetitive behaviors).

Location

Licensed in Texas, Utah, Washington

About

Clinical Expertise

OCD, Anxiety, Depression, Phobias, Skin picking, Hair pulling, Nail biting, Tics, Children and Adolescents

Cultural competencies

Buddhism, Christianity, Agnosticism, Atheism

Education

Our Lady of The Lake University

Insurance

Plans accepted by Thelma

Aetna, Ascension SmartHealth, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Cigna, Curative, EMI Health, Forest County Potawatomi, Healthcare Management Administrators, Horizon BCBS, Imagine Health, Independence Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente, Moda Health, Partners Direct Health, Regence Blue Cross, Regence Group Administrators, United Healthcare,

Want to work with Thelma?

Talk with our team to learn more.

Why our members love working with Thelma

H.W.

H.W.

Apr 23, 2025
Good experience

I have worked with Thelma on two occasions over the past two years and she is amazing. She understands OCD in and out. She has the perfect balance of compassion and directness to help you manage OCD. NOCD program works and has great therapists like Thelma.

K.C.

K.C.

Feb 9, 2024
Good experience

she is simply awesome

J.N.

J.N.

Dec 3, 2023
Good experience

Excellent engagement between our therapist and our family

L.G.

L.G.

Dec 1, 2023
Good experience

Thelma is great at keeping me accountable but being compassionate too.

M.C.

M.C.

Nov 28, 2023
Good experience

I’ve always been a very methodical person - which is an extra struggle with OCD. Thelma has been there to help me through periods I felt there was no coming back to maintenance sessions because I’ve overcome the worst parts. I couldn’t have done this without her!

M.W.

M.W.

Nov 15, 2023
Good experience

I feel very supported by Thelma and she motivates me to continue facing my fears. I am very grateful that she is my therapist!

L.P.

L.P.

Nov 12, 2023
Good experience

Thelma has an in-depth understanding of OCD and how to treat it because she is she a talented ERP therapist, and she has OCD herself. This means she is uniquely qualified to help OCD sufferers like you and me. For this reason you can open up to her about anything without fear of judgement because you know she “gets it”. She is not only skilled as an ERP therapist but as a therapist in general. She is incredibly wise and I am so grateful that I found her.

M.W.

M.W.

Oct 18, 2023
Good experience

Is very compassionate, gives me helpful feedback and helps me feel my emotions

J.W.

J.W.

Oct 3, 2023
Good experience

Thelma is an amazing therapist. She is caring and compassionate and very good at what she does.

R.G.

R.G.

Sep 20, 2023
Good experience

I love that Thelma is open to hearing my perspective and consistently offers feedback for how I can challenge myself.

C.W.

C.W.

Sep 19, 2023
Good experience

She is awesome

G.C.

G.C.

Sep 7, 2023
Good experience

Thelma always helps me so much, and listens so well. I came out of this session with several fresh insights.

A.S.

A.S.

Aug 16, 2023
Good experience

Thelma is so lovely and understanding! She really validates my experiences and makes me feel seen (without providing reassurance! 😝)

K.M.

K.M.

Aug 10, 2023
Good experience

I’ve done about 12 sessions with her- it was really challenging and frustrating at first that I couldn’t stop ruminating, but she’s been pretty patient. I like her metaphors for OCD since it’s a new concept to me, and she’s validated me when there have been actual relationship problems vs OCD.

T.H.

T.H.

Jul 27, 2023
Good experience

Felt like I got new Insight to why I do my BRFBs. Very helpful.

L.G.

L.G.

Jul 24, 2023
Good experience

I spent about 9 months in treatment through NOCD and I am in such a better place because of it. My therapist Thelma approached our sessions with a balance of exposure and compassion that was just what I needed. I was not expecting this to work. I wasn’t even sure I had OCD. I am sure of it now and I am confident in the tools I have developed to manage my OCD. I’m really grateful to have this program at my fingertips, and I feel OCD has significantly less power over me. What an incredible space to be in.

R.W.

R.W.

Jul 18, 2023
Good experience

Thelma is the best! She has been great at helping me navigate OCD through the ups and downs!

T.H.

T.H.

Jul 16, 2023
Good experience

Loving my sessions. It is making me realize factors in my life that may be contributing to my BFRB's. My therapist is understanding, insightful, and real.

G.C.

G.C.

Jul 14, 2023
Good experience

I've had three sessions with Thelma and I feel like I've made so much progress. Stressful things do come up in my life but I'm handling them better. Thelma is a great coach and advocate.

T.H.

T.H.

Jul 13, 2023
Good experience

Had a great session with valuable input and ideas presented.

G.C.

G.C.

Jun 27, 2023
Good experience

Thelma is so prepared! She listened to me so well too. I feel more prepared to address my OCD

R.G.

R.G.

May 24, 2023
Good experience

Thelma is really good about helping me to identify themes in my progress and thinking, as well as listening to my feedback if something is not what I was aiming to communicate. I am really grateful she’s my therapist and I’m glad we work together. She’s an ally and encourages me to see things differently when I get “stuck.”

M.P.

M.P.

May 21, 2023
Good experience

It was okay.

A.W.

A.W.

May 17, 2023
Good experience

A great specialist who knows her stuff

D.O.

D.O.

May 16, 2023
Good experience

I feel confident to conquer OCD with Thelma :)

D.O.

D.O.

May 1, 2023
Good experience

I’m excited to start my OCD journey with Thelma :)

M.L.

M.L.

Apr 25, 2023
Good experience

Thelma did an amazing job I cannot tell you how much she has changed my life. I do not know what I would do without her she understood me and understood why I do the things that I do and why I do the compulsions that I do and I'm so grateful for her and for her helpfulness for me to get my OCD compulsions down to that negative 49%. :-)

A.W.

A.W.

Apr 19, 2023
Good experience

She was very kind and understanding and fun to talk to. Excited to work with her.

R.C.

R.C.

Apr 10, 2023
Good experience

I absolutely loved my therapist and understood a lot what I was going through

A.G.

A.G.

Apr 8, 2023
Good experience

Great, overall. I don’t have any complaints.

R.W.

R.W.

Mar 20, 2023
Good experience

Thelma is the best! She is helping me a ton with overcoming my OCD!

P.H.

P.H.

Mar 18, 2023
Good experience

Our Therapist was great. My daughter felt comfortable and was engaged.

A.F.

A.F.

Mar 16, 2023
Good experience

She’s so nice and understanding, always great to work with her 😊

I.C.

I.C.

Mar 12, 2023
Good experience

The difference between when I started and finished erp therapy with Thelma is honestly night and day. She instantly made me feel very comfortable which is important when opening up about the content of my more taboo ocd themes. She gave very good guidance which I still use in my day to day life. My ocd was affecting me so severely when I first started therapy but after a year of hard work Thelma helped me get my life back to the point where my ocd felt almost non existent at times. I highly recommend her!

L.P.

L.P.

Feb 27, 2023
Good experience

My therapist was great. Very empathetic. We did have some audio issues.

M.L.

M.L.

Feb 21, 2023
Good experience

Thelma was the best! When OCD was so bad I had quit doing everything I loved, she guided me on the recovery journey and showed me how to live a thriving life even if OCD pops up. I went from being unable to do schoolwork to being crowned prom queen at senior prom and getting the lead role in my senior drama production. Thelma gave me the tools I needed to get back to living a beautiful, amazing life no matter what OCD throws my way! I’m so grateful for her well-rounded support and encouragement. I could tell she was so genuinely happy to see me make progress! Thelma is a therapist that cares, and a therapist that has the tools you need to get your life back. I’m so grateful God used her to give me my life back.

L.A.

L.A.

Feb 18, 2023
Good experience

Thelma was so amazing and gave great word pictures to help explain OCD.

A.F.

A.F.

Jan 31, 2023
Good experience

Another great experience with my therapist, she’s so kind and very thorough, I felt heard

A.F.

A.F.

Jan 28, 2023
Good experience

Super super kind, I am excited to move forward and to work with my therapist

N.Y.

N.Y.

Jan 28, 2023
Good experience

I loved how Thelma helped me to understand my ocd can morph and change to try and feel scary, new, or different. I felt understood and supported by someone who clearly understands the ins and outs of this condition.

T.R.

T.R.

Dec 5, 2022
Good experience

I love meeting w miss thelma she just gets me lol

W.G.

W.G.

Nov 23, 2022
Good experience

All around great experience

E.R.

E.R.

Nov 2, 2022
Good experience

Thelma has been so helpful in guiding and supporting me through my OCD recovery. I had previously searched for help for decades and never met anyone who understood OCD as well as her. Thank you for being such a great resource in my journey.

T.R.

T.R.

Oct 11, 2022
Good experience

Miss Thelma a real one fr

T.R.

T.R.

Sep 27, 2022
Good experience

Thelma is just too funny and very helpful/understanding lol!

A.S.

A.S.

Aug 30, 2022
Good experience

Thelma is incredible. I can’t say enough good things about my experience with her so far.

C.T.

C.T.

Aug 29, 2022
Good experience

Thelma was very friendly and validating. I really appreciate how well our first session went.

T.R.

T.R.

Aug 27, 2022
Good experience

Thelma was super nice and understanding. I think this is the first therapist I’ve felt this comfortable with.

A.M.

A.M.

Aug 23, 2022
Good experience

I have loved working with Thelma. I feel like she’s really helped me recognize my OCD brain and given me tools to move forward with life.

A.H.

A.H.

Jul 6, 2022
Good experience

Thelma is great! She always has insights and ideas to help.

C.M.

C.M.

Jul 6, 2022
Good experience

Thelma is always able to help me no matter where I am in the OCD recovery process

A.B.

A.B.

Jun 23, 2022
Good experience

I am so happy I took the leap to join NOCD. I was nervous every part of the way but they have made the process easy and comfortable. I was especially nervous about my therapist but I truly lucked out and I am sure all the therapist are amazing here. I feel seen, heard, and understood which is huge when it comes to OCD. I wanted to say thank you to Thelma because she is outstanding at what she does and it’s changing my life with every meeting we have!

C.R.

C.R.

Jun 22, 2022
Good experience

OK so I've suspected I had OCD for a number of years, but hadn't really done much about it other than reading a few books. My primary OCD types are "Just Right," Scrupulosity, and Relationship OCD, all with mostly mental compulsions like rumination. At a low point in my relationship with my wife, I decided that if I didn't do something about it, the trajectory of my life was not going to go the way I would like. I was resistant to NOCD at first because I wanted to do in-person therapy. I couldn't really find any OCD specific therapists that were available in person locally, so I bit the bullet and did NOCD. Well what can I say? It really changed my outlook on life for the better. I would say I am still in recovery (and likely always will be, this is no cure) but meaningful results happened for me really quickly. I had a new lease on life and felt more in control in a matter of about 2 weeks. If you've been struggling for a long time, you owe it to yourself to do something about this. NOCD therapists can both diagnose and treat, so if you don't know if what you have is OCD, they can help you with that as well. It's a really accessible way to do it.

M.R.

M.R.

Jun 18, 2022
Good experience

<Name> enjoyed his session and likes this therapist.

E.C.

E.C.

May 28, 2022
Good experience

Therapists was able to completely focus on me to find my core fear.

G.B.

G.B.

May 18, 2022
Good experience

My son’s OCD is practically gone now!!!

anonymous

anonymous

May 14, 2022
Good experience

Excited to start learning more and working through my issues.

anonymous

anonymous

Apr 25, 2022
Good experience

Thelma continues to surprise me with her skills and finding my sneaky compulsions. She has given me permission, I didn’t know I needed, to allow myself to take space in this world and betters me with every visit. Thelma is awesome!! Thank you NOCD for making this all possible!

anonymous

anonymous

Apr 4, 2022
Good experience

Just when I think I won’t make any sense to the therapist. They always come through with incredible insights and understanding and help push me in the direction (of uncertainty) I’ve so desperately been needing.

anonymous

anonymous

Dec 7, 2021
Good experience

I feel a million times better than I did 6 months ago thanks to my therapist’s guidance and also feel more confident that I can maintain these new skills.

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