Therapy for relationship OCD and anxiety
evidence based treatment in baltimore, maryland
Feel confident in your relationship and overcome intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and doubt with evidence-based therapy for relationship OCD and anxiety. We offer in-person sessions in Baltimore and convenient online therapy across Maryland.
Introduction To ROCD
What Is ROCD?
Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (ROCD) is a form of OCD where individuals experience intrusive doubts and anxiety about their romantic relationships. These thoughts can be distressing and persistent, often leading to compulsive behaviors like seeking reassurance and problematic confessions, overanalyzing feelings, or avoiding closeness. ROCD can interfere with one’s ability to fully engage in and enjoy their relationship, but effective therapy can help manage these challenges, rebuild confidence, and help you feel connected to your partner without overwhelming doubt and uncertainty.
Who We Help
Is ROCD Treatment Right For You?
ROCD treatment is ideal for people who:
Struggle With Intrusive Doubts About Their Relationship
Frequently question whether their relationship is “right” or “perfect,” often obsessing over their partner’s flaws or perceived shortcomings.Fear Settling or Making a Wrong Choice
Constantly worry about missing out on a better partner or doubt whether they are truly “in love.”Seek Constant Reassurance
Regularly ask friends, family, or their partner for validation and need ongoing confirmation that the relationship is secure.Engage in Compulsive Behaviors & Checking
Analyze their feelings toward their partner, compare the relationship to others, or overthink interactions and moments together.Feel Guilt and Shame
Experience guilt for doubting a loving partner or not feeling “in love enough,” often paired with self-criticism.Suffer Emotional Distress
Struggle with anxiety, stress, or depression tied to relationship fears, leading to feelings of disconnection and an inability to enjoy the relationship.Notice the Impact on Their Partner
See how excessive questioning or reassurance-seeking causes strain, leading to fears of driving their partner away.Doubt Intimacy
Worry about the quality or frequency of intimacy, overanalyzing attraction or compatibility.Face Decision Paralysis
Feel overwhelmed by even small decisions about the relationship, such as moving in, getting married, or staying together.Fear Acting on Unwanted Thoughts
Have anxiety about scenarios like cheating, falling out of love, or leaving their partner, even when these thoughts are unrealistic and distressing.

Therapist & Owner
Yisrael Z. Schwartz, LCPC
I am a Maryland Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of Behavioral Health Direct, specializing in evidence-based treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and anxiety related concerns. My passion is helping individuals navigate and overcome difficult thoughts and feelings increasing the quality of their life and creating a more meaningful existence. I focus on creating a supportive, non-judgmental space where clients feel understood, valued, and empowered. Integrity and authenticity guide my practice, allowing me to form genuine connections and provide evidence-based practical strategies to each individual I work with.
I look forward to hearing from you and discussing how we can work together to help you find clarity in your relationship. Book a free consultation below.
Benefits of Evidence-Based Treatment for ROCD
At Behavioral Health Direct, we help individuals with Relationship OCD (ROCD) achieve the clarity, confidence, and peace of mind they long for in their relationships. Through evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), we address the core challenges of ROCD and guide clients toward meaningful, lasting change.
Our treatment provides strategies to stop ROCD thoughts and focuses on helping you:
Find Comfort in Uncertainty
Learn to navigate and accept the natural doubts and uncertainties that arise in relationships. While true certainty is impossible, therapy can help you develop confidence in your emotions and reduce the hold of doubt, allowing you to focus on connection and trust without needing absolute assurance.Break Free From Intrusive Thoughts
Quiet the constant questioning and overanalyzing that disrupts your peace, using proven strategies to reduce the impact of obsessive thoughts.Strengthen Emotional Connection
Develop the tools to be fully present in your relationship, fostering intimacy and connection without fear or hesitation.Build Trust and Reassurance From Within
Gain confidence in your ability to make decisions, cultivate self-trust, and stop relying on external reassurance. Therapy helps you find the inner validation needed to quiet doubts and move forward with confidence.Enjoy a Happier, More Fulfilled Relationship
Overcome obsessive thoughts that interfere with your ability to experience love and joy in your partnership.Manage Anxiety Effectively
Master skills to cope with relationship-related anxiety, overcome avoidance behaviors, and break free from the cycle of compulsive actions that keep you feeling stuck.Release Shame and Guilt
Understand that your struggles with ROCD are not a reflection of your character or the quality of your relationship, and learn to move forward with self-compassion.
Our evidence-based approach empowers you to reclaim your confidence, deepen your connection with your partner, and approach your relationship with clarity and peace.
See How Anxiety and OCD Therapy Has Helped others
Meaningful and lasting progress
Yisrael was a great help to me when I was suffering from anxiety. I make use of some of the things he taught me often. I highly recommend him.
I cannot say enough good things about Yisrael Zev Schwartz and his incredible work at Behavioral Health Direct. If you or someone you care about is struggling with OCD or anxiety, you won’t find a more dedicated, compassionate, and skilled professional to guide you through the healing process. Yisrael has a rare gift—he not only understands the complexities of OCD and anxiety but also knows how to connect with his clients in a way that makes them feel truly seen and supported. His use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is both effective and empowering, helping clients break free from the cycles of intrusive thoughts and compulsions that can feel overwhelming. What stands out the most is his patience, warmth, and unwavering belief in his clients’ ability to improve. He has a way of balancing gentle encouragement with just the right amount of challenge, pushing clients toward real growth while making sure they never feel alone in the process. I’ve personally seen the tremendous impact his work has had, and it’s nothing short of life-changing. His approach isn’t just about symptom reduction—it’s about helping people reclaim their lives and find hope again. If you’re looking for someone who truly cares and delivers real results, Yisrael Zev Schwartz and Behavioral Health Direct are the best of the best.
He is a great therapist to have! He really helped me with anxiety. I enjoyed the report that we built over time and I’d highly recommend him!
I was client from January to June. I had many sessions that were helpful to overcome obstacles in life. He carefully listens and explores with you different alternatives until you find the best strategy that suite your need. He is very realistic and provide practical recommendations.
I’ve had the privilege of knowing Yisrael for a long time personally and professionally. Yisrael brings an incredible level of professionalism, empathy, and insight to their work, undoubtyl making a profound difference in the lives of his clients. He have a unique ability to create a safe, welcoming space for individuals to explore and work through their challenges. I have no doubt that anyone who works with Yisrael will benefit from his expertise and genuine care. Highly recommend!
I am beyond grateful for the incredible support and guidance I received from Yisrael during a time when my anxiety was overwhelming. Yisrael's compassion, understanding, and expertise were evident from the very beginning. He created a safe and nurturing environment where I felt comfortable opening up about my struggles and fears. Yisrael's deep knowledge of anxiety management techniques and his ability to tailor them to my specific needs truly made a difference in my life. With his help, I learned valuable coping strategies that have empowered me to face my anxiety head-on. Yisrael's unwavering support and encouragement have been a constant source of strength for me. I cannot thank him enough for the positive impact he has had on my mental well-being. I wholeheartedly recommend Yisrael to anyone seeking support for anxiety or any other mental health concerns. Thank you, Yisrael, for being an incredible source of support when I needed it the most!
Yisrael is the best. Helped me through some difficult times in life and I couldn’t be more thankful. I give him my highest recommendation.
Yisrael was kind, understanding, and patient. He was able to help me navigate through one of the most challenging times of my life.
In 2024 I experienced an episode of health anxiety that completely took over my life. I felt afraid every day, I was constantly examining myself for new “symptoms”, and I was even making dramatic lifestyle changes to “treat” the conditions I was worried about. Over the course of a year working with Yisrael, I learned to understand and identify my anxious thoughts and received practical advice on how to live with them. Yisrael also helped me address other parts of my life where anxiety came into play, including fear of flying, social anxiety, and family dynamics. For most of my life, I thought I was stuck as an anxious person, but now I feel like I am equipped with the knowledge and skills to manage my anxieties as they arise. I am forever grateful to Yisrael for helping me get back into my life, and I would recommend him as a knowledgeable, compassionate and supportive resource for anyone dealing with anxiety!
I have really enjoyed working with Yisrael. I made a lot of progress in a very short amount of time in reducing my anxiety and improving my anxiety-related behaviors both in driving and in other domains. He provided both practical techniques as well as improving my self-awareness of how some of my thought processes impacted my life. Also from a practical side the billing, consent, and scheduling process with him was always very smooth. I would definitely recommend him to anyone struggling with panic, anxiety, depression, or other disorders that benefit from a cognitive-behavioral approach.
I found Dr. Schwartz after doing some research online. I came to him with issues related to OCD and anxiety. I had numerous in person sessions spaced out over several months. Dr. Schwartz was very understanding and helped me work through some very distressing thought patterns. I would absolutely recommend BHD to anyone seeking treatment for anxiety/OCD related issues. Sharing was very easy and I never felt any type of judgement or shame.
My experiences with Yisrael have been insightful and wonderful! What makes his approach to therapy unique is that he focuses on what is in our control and how to navigate intense emotions/thought patterns in the present. He is very flexible, understanding and kind. This is the first therapy experience I’ve had where I really could build my confidence in myself and continue working on the things I need on my own, using the tools he gave me. I highly recommend him and this approach!
Hillel is not only a highly skilled therapist but also one that has the intangible ability to create a real connection with his clients. Finding somebody that does both can be tricky but Hillel is your guy!
Yisrael is an effective and knowledgeable anxiety and OCD specialist. He is a trusted colleague and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for therapy.
Dr. Temima Schwartz is a real asset to students, parents, and teachers. In addition to her training in the area of neuropsychological evaluations, she also has hands-on-experience in the school setting working with students who faced numerous educational challenges and found school difficult. She has excellent problem-solving skills and very strong communication skills. Dr. Schwartz listens carefully to students, parents, and educators as she completes the testing process. She has a deep understanding of how the brain functions and she is a wonderful resource in the evaluation community. Her reports are clear and easy to understand with realistic recommendations.
I worked with Yisrael for about three months. We focused on how to raise children and resolving conflicts mindfully. Specifically, we addressed the role of anxiety and other phenomena that can detract from adherence to our values. Yisreal was quickly able to help me articulate my concerns, which made them less intimidating, and he was just as quick to recommend targeted, high-quality resources that I still reference. He introduced me to a helpful phrase that's become kind of a mantra to me: "Is this (behavior) serving me?" It's not a quick fix, but it does help me rapidly categorize my thinking as a helpful synthesis of new information or an unhelpful rehashing of habitual thoughts. From an administrative perspective, Yisreal used a helpful platform that handled insurance billing for me. That made billing pretty straightforward.
Evidence-Based Treatment For Relationship OCD & Anxiety
Our approach to treating Relationship OCD (ROCD) combines cutting-edge evidence-based therapies to address its unique challenges. By integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Inference-Based CBT (ICBT), we tailor our treatment to provide lasting relief and meaningful progress.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps you identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs that fuel ROCD. By restructuring these thought patterns, CBT empowers you to feel more grounded and confident in your emotions and decisions.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
ERP is a gold-standard treatment for OCD. It involves gradually confronting fears and uncertainties in a supportive way while resisting compulsive behaviors. This process reduces the power of intrusive thoughts and fosters a healthier response to relationship-related anxiety.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT teaches you how to accept the presence of uncertainty and uncomfortable thoughts while committing to actions that align with your values. By focusing on what truly matters, ACT helps you build a stronger, more fulfilling connection with your partner.
Inference-Based CBT (ICBT)
ICBT focuses on identifying and challenging faulty reasoning processes and assumptions that drive intrusive doubts and anxiety. By shifting your perspective and addressing inference errors, ICBT helps you break free from obsessive thinking and regain trust in your experiences and emotions.
Location and Service Area
Baltimore, Maryland, & Online ROCD Therapy
At Behavioral Health Direct, we specialize in helping individuals overcome Relationship OCD (ROCD) with evidence-based therapy. We offer in-person sessions at our Baltimore, Maryland office, providing a supportive and welcoming environment for clients seeking clarity and peace of mind in their relationships. For added flexibility, we also provide online therapy to residents across Maryland and Florida, ensuring you can access expert care from the comfort of your home. Whether you prefer in-person or virtual sessions, our goal is to help you break free from intrusive thoughts and strengthen your connection with your partner.
Contact us today to learn more or schedule an appointment.
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