Kara Keicher

I didn't always know I wanted to be a mental health therapist, but my personal experiences gave me a life-long interest in psychology, health, and healing, and ultimately led me to become the professional I am today. Having endured adverse childhood experiences and subsequent struggles, I began working with social workers and other mental health professionals around age 11 or 12. Initially, it felt like going to therapy was something more for my parents' benefit. When I was about 15 years old, something shifted in me after I met a psychologist I felt I could trust. I let my guard down and experienced unconditional acceptance and personal growth, learning how to engage in therapy in ways that were valuable to me. That influenced my openness to engage with other clinicians who supported me and were instrumental to my development and success.

OCD runs in my family and has impacted many people in my life. When I learned about NOCD, I knew I'd found a way I could make a difference in people’s lives. I had used exposure therapy techniques with people I counseled previously, and I'd found it to be one of the most effective tools.

I have experience working with a variety of diagnoses, including PTSD, grief, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders.

You'll be well-supported here at NOCD. You have access to private, individual and group therapy options, along with a robust app that provides education and social connection with other members and member advocates. You will not be alone in your struggle. Compulsions provide short-term relief for long-term distress, but the techniques you'll learn here will provide long-term relief. You'll re-educate your body and mind through short-term distressing experiments designed by you and your therapist. This is your therapy, and you always have the final say on what you do here.

It's natural to fear opening up during therapy. If you decide to work with me, I'll encourage you to stretch beyond your comfort zone, but we'll take each step at your pace. If you're feeling afraid, share that with me, so I can meet you where you are. You can also share about this in the app or connect with a member advocate if you'd like extra support.