Cedar & Ivy Counseling Services, PLLC

02/05/2026

Three years ago, Cedar & Ivy Counseling Services opened its doors with a simple hope: to offer a space where people could feel supported, understood, and not alone in what they were carrying.

This month marks 3 years in private practice, and more than anything, it feels like a moment to pause and say thank you.

To the clients who trusted us with their stories, thank you for letting us walk alongside you. To the community that welcomed and supported this practice, thank you for believing in the importance of mental health care. To those who have referred, encouraged, and quietly cheered us on, we are SO grateful.

Over the past three years, we’ve been reminded again and again that healing happens in relationship, and that it’s a privilege to do this work here, with and for this community.

We’re deeply thankful for where we’ve been, who we’ve learned from, and the people we get to continue serving.

With gratitude,

Bethany, Anaka, Angela, Jaiden, & Katelyn
Cedar & Ivy Counseling Services

02/05/2026

Sometimes those intrusive thoughts are sneeeeaky 🫨

01/31/2026

Uncomfortable truth: obsessional doubt isn’t intuition, it’s OCD. Let’s dig into I-CBT and how it breaks cycles of doubt 💭🧐

Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) focuses on how OCD begins.

Instead of starting with real danger, OCD starts with a story. Obsessional doubt sounds like:
“What if this thought means something?”
“What if I can’t trust my senses?”

I-CBT helps people:
• Understand how OCD creates doubt through imagined possibilities
• Learn to trust present-moment information over “what ifs”
• Separate themselves from the OCD narrative
• Reduce compulsions by addressing the inferences behind them

I-CBT is not reassurance, arguing with thoughts, or forced exposure.

It is an evidence-based approach that can be especially helpful for people stuck in constant doubt. Bonus, it can be used on its own or alongside ERP!

01/31/2026

People often come to therapy to deal with role confusion and family stress. Heather Watts Therapy breaks this theme down into digestible & tangible concepts.

Sound familiar? Click through to learn about untangling blurred boundaries.

01/31/2026

Thinking about ERP for OCD… but feeling nervous?

Let’s clear something up.

ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is evidence-based and it’s also one of the most misunderstood treatments for OCD.

Here’s what ERP IS:
✨ A structured, research-supported treatment for OCD
✨ A way to teach your brain that intrusive thoughts are not emergencies
✨ Practicing responding differently to anxiety, not making it disappear
✨ Collaborative, gradual, and done at a pace that feels doable
✨ About building confidence, not “white-knuckling” fear

And here’s what ERP is NOT:
🚫 Being thrown into your worst fear on day one
🚫 Forcing yourself to “like” scary thoughts
🚫 Ignoring distress or being told to “just stop” compulsions
🚫 One-size-fits-all
🚫 Cruel, harsh, or unsafe

ERP helps people learn that thoughts ≠ danger, anxiety can rise and fall on its own, and they don’t have to organize their life around OCD anymore.

If you’ve been avoiding treatment because ERP sounds overwhelming, you’re not alone. You deserve accurate information, not horror stories.

01/30/2026

January has been quite busy, but there’s still more OCD info we want to highlight!

Intrusive Thoughts Can Feel Scary 👻

If you’ve ever had a thought that made you stop and think, “Why would my brain even go there,” you’re not alone.

Intrusive thoughts are unwanted and distressing. They often latch onto the things you care about most. Having them does not mean you want them, agree with them, or would act on them.
Trying to push them away or get reassurance can make them feel even louder, especially with OCD.

You are not broken. And you are not your thoughts.

With the right support, they can lose their grip.
If this sounds familiar, help is available. 💛

01/22/2026

During stressful times, therapy can be seen for many as an essential service. Because of this, Cedar & Ivy will not be closing tomorrow. However, we stand in solidarity with the multitude of fellow business owners during the economic blackout across Minnesota.

We also support our client’s right to peacefully gather against injustice. One of the many things MN does well is standing up for what is right. If you would like to cancel your session tomorrow, please contact your therapist directly.

01/17/2026

01/16/2026

Did you know that OCD has several different subtypes?

Some people think OCD is just about being extra clean or maybe even liking things done in a particular way, when it’s really much more complex than that!

01/12/2026

The safety and privacy of our clients is our priority. ICE does not have access to our office or records. For additional resources, go to:

Downloadable Resources for Community Workers and employers can work together to protect our constitutional rights. Joinus to learn how to support your workplace, school, faith community and localbusinesses to uphold the 4th Amendment and keep our community safe.Wednesday Jan 14 from 6:30-8:30pm via....

01/10/2026

Do you have a teenager who could use a safe person to talk to? We recently introduced you to Jaiden, our new therapist. Turns out she has a knack for meeting teens right where they’re at, because let’s face it, being a teen is tough.

Jaiden is a good fit if your teen:
• Feels anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in their thoughts
• Seems withdrawn, low, or emotionally exhausted
• Has experienced something stressful or traumatic
• Needs a calm, supportive space to talk at their own pace

Jaiden may not be the best fit if:
• You’re looking for quick fixes or strict behavior plans
• Your teen isn’t ready to talk at all yet. Some hesitation is normal, but complete refusal probably won’t help much.

Finding the right therapist for your teen matters. We’re happy to help you explore whether this feels like the right next step!

01/09/2026

OCD doesn’t actually want answers.

It wants relief & certainty quiets it…kind of.

That urge to:
Google “just one more time”
Replay a memory to see how it really felt
Check your reactions, feelings, or intentions
Ask someone to confirm you’re “okay”

That’s not problem-solving. That’s a compulsion.

Here’s the trap:
Certainty works briefly → anxiety drops → your brain learns “THIS is how we survive.”

So next time the doubt comes back louder and more convincing.

Recovery isn’t about finding the right answer.
You don’t beat OCD by proving it wrong.

You beat it by letting uncertainty be there and living anyway.

Clarity is optional. Compulsions are not.