Mind Journey Therapy, PLLC

10/17/2025

Friday: Lived Experience & Compassion: You’re not alone.
Millions of people live with OCD — and many go years without the right diagnosis or treatment. Shame and misunderstanding keep too many silent. At Mind Journey Therapy, we believe in compassion-first care: helping clients understand what’s happening in their minds, and empowering them with tools to take back control. If you see yourself in these posts, know this: OCD is treatable, and you don’t have to face it alone.

10/16/2025

Thursday: Hope and Healing Through ERP: OCD is Treatable — and Recovery is Possible.
The gold-standard treatment for OCD is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — a form of therapy that helps you face fears gradually while resisting compulsions. Over time, the brain learns that feared outcomes don’t happen (or aren’t as catastrophic as
they seem) — and that anxiety fades on its own. ERP is about courage, not comfort — learning to live freely instead of obeying OCD’s rules. If you or someone you know struggles with OCD, effective help is out there.

10/15/2025

Wednesday: Mental Compulsions (The Hidden Kind) Not all compulsions are visible.
Many people think of OCD as handwashing or checking — but mental compulsions are just as real. These include: - Repeating phrases in your head- Mentally reviewing conversations- Seeking reassurance- Trying to “cancel out” a thought with another thought
These hidden behaviors can be exhausting and keep people trapped in the same anxiety loop. Awareness of mental compulsions helps both clients and loved ones understand why
OCD can be so draining — even when nothing looks “wrong” on the outside.

10/14/2025

Tuesday: The OCD Cycle: Why Compulsions Keep You Stuck

When anxiety strikes, the brain tells us to *do something* to feel safe. In OCD, this can lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) or mental rituals. They bring temporary relief, but the brain learns that the only way to feel safe is to perform the compulsion again.
This is what keeps OCD going — the short-term relief strengthens the long-term fear. The good news? ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) helps you break that cycle — learning that you can tolerate uncertainty and that anxiety comes down on its own without the compulsion.

10/14/2025

It's OCD awareness week Monday: What OCD Really Is (and isn’t)

OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) isn’t a personality quirk — it’s a mental health condition rooted in anxiety and uncertainty. It involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) meant to reduce distress.

People often say, “I’m so OCD about this,” when they really mean “I like things tidy.” But for those living with OCD, the experience is far deeper — and often invisible.
This week, we’ll be sharing posts that help demystify OCD, explore treatment, and offer hope for recovery.

10/05/2025

https://www.mindjourneytherapy.com/inhibitory-learning-erp-anxiety-ocd/inhibitory-learning-in-erp-a-powerful-approach-to-overcoming-anxiety-and-ocd

When we think about overcoming anxiety disorders, most people imagine it’s about “unlearning fear.” For years, that’s how exposure therapy was explained: face your fears enough times, and eventually the fear fades. But research now shows it’s not about erasing fear—it’s about building ...

10/03/2025

https://www.mindjourneytherapy.com/inhibitory-learning-erp-anxiety-ocd/mental-compulsions-what-they-are-and-how-to-recognize-them

When most people think about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), they imagine someone repeatedly washing their hands, checking locks, or arranging items in a specific way. These are visible, outward behaviors we typically associate with the disorder. But OCD doesn’t always look like this. For man...

09/29/2025

08/05/2025

pathological people pleasing therapy

02/09/2024

I take pride in this achievement and the high standard of training and expertise it offers to individuals grappling with this challenging mental health condition. If you or someone you know is dealing with OCD or suspects they may be, help is within reach. Obsessions can often be accompanied by feelings of shame and fear, but a skilled clinician understands that you are not defined by your obsessions. They can provide normalization, validation, and support on the journey towards recovery.

11/07/2023

Mind Journey Therapy is excited to welcome Alicia Chase, LCSW & Alicia Kaufman-Bernhardt, LCSW, Master CASAC, to the practice.

Alicia Chase, LCSW, has over a decade of experience and expertise in the treatment of a variety of mental health challenges. Alicia incorporates a variety of evidenced based practices in her therapy practice from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Alicia Kaufman-Bernhardt, LCSW, Master CASAC, comes to our practice with over 10 years in a clinic setting specializing in the treatment of addictions and a variety of mental health challenges. Alicia is also certified to work with individuals who are in need of a mandated NYS assessment as a result of DUI or DWI.

Both of these clinicians are accepting new patients. Please feel free to reach out to the practice regarding any questions you may have. You can also read more about these clinicians on our webpage.

We are here to help you navigate life challenges with compassion and care.

Mind Journey Therapy services patients in Buffalo and Western New York at large. Our office is in Kenmore, NY but we can also provide virtual therapy for other regions.