OBSESSIONS AND COMPULSIONS

OBSESSIONS AND COMPULSIONS

Hope for Obsessions and Compulsions

An obsession is a recurring, usually intrusive thought, while a compulsion refers to a behavior over which an individual seems to have little or no control. Both obsessions and compulsions (which often occur together) can cause a significant amount of distress within an individual or a family. Both may serve some purpose of providing a sense of momentary relief from stress or anxiety.

The experiences of individuals with obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors vary widely. Some may describe their obsessions as intrusive, negative, and disruptive, serving to keep them on high alert all or most of the time. Others describe their compulsions as time-consuming and exhausting, while others may describe them as relief-bringing and helpful. Often, the observations of family members or other close relationships can be very helpful in accurately describing the nature of apparent obsessions or compulsions.

Obsessions and compulsions may appear together (as with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) or separately, or as a part of another disorder (such as depression or PTSD). Compulsions can include compulsive shopping, smoking, watching television, viewing pornography, playing video games, cutting, and much more. As behaviors, they are observable by others and may demand the most attention, leaving the obsessions that accompany them to remain secretive. When the compulsive behavior alone is addressed, stopping that activity often leads to an experience of withdrawal, with further distress experienced as the obsessive thoughts remain.

Our Approach to Help and Healing

Covenant Counseling provides a safe environment to explore compulsive behavior and obsessive thoughts, towards helping an individual experience a newfound sense of freedom and peace.

If you would like to make an appointment with one of our counselors, or have any questions, please call 205-879-7500. If you would like to email us, please complete the contact form below.

Covenant Counseling

We are a group of licensed clinicians who seek to maintain the highest professional standards in our fields and whose Christian faith is central to our lives and practices.

We invite you to learn more about:


If you would like to schedule an appointment, or if you have any questions, please call:

205-879-7500

Our Counselors

Heather Hagins

Licensed Counselor

Heather Hagins, MA, MBA

Anxiety, depression, grief, abuse, relationship concerns, spiritual struggles, infidelity, family of origin concerns, and more.

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Trey Hill

Licensed Psychologist

Trey Hill, PhD

Marriage counseling, relationship development, family of origin concerns, ADHD assessment, depression, anxiety, stress perfectionism, and more.

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Anna Stanley

Licensed Counselor

Anna Stanley, MA CEDS

Eating disorders, family concerns, women's issues, depression, anxiety, relationship conflicts, and more.

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Hunter Stanley

Licensed Counselor

Hunter Stanley, MDiv, MA

Grief, anxiety, depression, spirituality, relationship issues, codependency, substance abuse and addiction, identity concerns, and more.

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Kara Jones

Licensed Counselor

Kara Jones, MA EdS

Marriage and pre-marital counseling, anxiety, depression, women's issues, boundaries, codependency, grief, and more.

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Gil Kracke

Licensed Counselor

Gil Kracke, MA, MA, DMin, NCC

Pre-marital and marriage counseling, grief, family of origin issues, concerns regarding aging, and more. Gil is the Director of Covenant Counseling.

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Joyce McKay

Licensed Counselor

Joyce McKay, MEd, EdS, CSAT

Sex addiction, recovery from sexual abuse, grief, trauma, anger, and adjustment issues.

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Rachael Garrett

Licensed Counselor

Rachael Garrett, MA

Grief counseling for all ages, miscarriages, infant loss, self-esteem, concerns about self-harm, anxiety, depression, anger, parenting concerns, and more.

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Alice Churnock

Licensed Counselor

Alice Churnock, MA, CEDS

Eating disorders, body image concerns, depression, stress, anxiety, anger parenting issues, and more.

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Christy Harmon

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

Christy Harmon, MSW

Life transitions, adoption and attachment, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and struggles to build healthy self-esteem, and more.

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Andrew Jones

Associate Licensed Counselor

Andrew Jones, MA

Marriage and pre-marital counseling, spirituality, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, boundaries, and more.

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Becky Whitson

Licensed Counselor

Becky Whitson, MA, EdS, CSAT, NCC

Sexual addiction, codependency, infidelity, recovery from sexual abuse, trauma, anxiety, depression, marriage counseling, and personal growth.

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Paul Johnson

Vocational Counselor

Paul Johnson, MBA

Career counseling and development, vocational assessments, executive coaching, career transitions, and more.

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Lisa Phillips

Licensed Counselor

Lisa Phillips, MA, MA

Relationship concerns, anxiety, depression, trauma, sexual abuse, codependency, boundaries, pre-marital and marriage counseling, and more.

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HOW IT WORKS

A good place to start is to find someone who may be a good fit. You can either look through our counselors’ profiles or call our office for help finding someone. Though beginning counseling is not always easy, we try to make it simple.

Contact Us

If you would like to make an appointment with one of our counselors, or have any questions, please call 205-879-7500.

If you would like to email us, please complete the contact form below.

    Telephone:

    Phone 205-879-7500
    Fax 205-879-7554

    Our Address:

    2204 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 212
    Birmingham, AL 35209 USA