obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a mental health condition that involved a cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Obsessive thoughts are unwanted, intrusive thoughts that cause a lot of distress. There are many different types of obsessive thoughts. Examples include obsessive thoughts around harm to self or others, religion, relationships, unwanted sexual thoughts, contamination, and/or perfection. Compulsive behaviors are actions a person takes to relieve their distress caused by the obsessive thoughts. Compulsive behaviors can be mental and/or physical. Common types of compulsions can include checking, washing, cleaning, or mental rituals. Watch this video to learn more about OCD.

Our approach to OCD therapy is active, hands-on, and collaborative. The first-line of treatment for OCD is with using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, specifically using a technique called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). We have received specialized training for treatment of OCD by the International OCD Foundation. We also maintain ongoing consultation through ADAA and other local OCD providers to further our training and education.

ERP is Exposure and Response Prevention. Research has proven ERP to be the most effective treatment for OCD. This exposure part of the treatment includes (gradually) exposing yourself to the thoughts or images that produce distress. The response prevention part of the treatment is deliberately not using compulsive behaviors.

This treatment may sound scary to you. And perhaps you have tried to expose yourself to your fear before without success. But it works. By working with a therapist specialized in using ERP, you will be approaching your fear gradually. You will be in control of the process by determining which exposures you are willing or unwilling to do. By confronting your fears and not responding with compulsive behaviors, you are able to “re-train your brain” not to send off “the alarm system.” When you stay in the feared situation, your anxiety will drop. And by repeating the process, you end up “rewiring” your brain to not see this is a feared situation. 

In traditional counseling sessions, a person tries to improve their symptoms by gaining insight. This could include exploring childhood upbringing or unresolved issues. Although talk therapy is helpful for many conditions, it is not helpful in treating OCD symptoms. The most effective treatment for OCD includes a behavioral approach using ERP. 

When you seek counseling for OCD, you will start with an assessment. This can last anywhere from 1-3 sessions. During this time, you will complete questionnaires, discuss your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, and share other relevant information. 

Upon completion of the assessment, you will then work with your OCD Therapist to develop a hierarchy or list of fears. This list is used as your treatment plan to guide future sessions and homework outside of session. Your OCD Therapist will work with you on a specific fear that causes the least amount of anxiety. You will practice this with your Therapist in session, and then practice this for homework in between sessions. You will be asked to keep track of your homework with various rating scales. Once you are no longer experiencing high levels of distress from the exposure, you will work your way up to next one on your hierarchy.

Yes! Much of our experience over the years has been specifically treating children and adolescents. We work with kids ages 9 and up. Click here to see our providers who work with children. Furthermore, we are passionate about working with parents on how to help their child or teen. Learn more about our work with children and teens.

If you have ever taken your child to therapy before, you may have been passively involved in the process. Maybe you sat in the waiting room most of the time or even dropped your child off for anxiety counseling. Have you ever wondered what your child was learning and if your time and money was being well spent? And even if your child was benefiting from anxiety therapy, you may have felt like YOU didn’t know how to help your child. This is why when we work with children and teenagers, we include parents in the sessions. Our approach is practical and about skills building, which means that we need parents to understand how to reinforce these skills at home. In our counseling sessions, parents are often present for the entire session and other times we meet with parents separately for further support. If your child or teen is not willing or able to participate in anxiety therapy, then working with parents alone on learning ways to help reduce their child’s anxiety symptoms is a highly effective option. You can also sign-up for one of our workshops for parents of kids and teens with anxiety!