All About OCD and How to Overcome it with Psychological Therapy & Counselling

What is OCD?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety problem that is characterised by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive, compulsive behaviours.

OCD can take many forms, and common types of obsessions include fear of contamination, fear of harm to self or others, unwanted sexual thoughts or images, and excessive concern with order or symmetry.

Compulsions may include repetitive cleaning, checking, counting, or arranging objects.

It is considered to be a chronic condition, and without appropriate treatment, it can significantly interfere with an individual’s daily life, work, and relationships.

You should note that having occasional obsessive thoughts or performing ritualistic behaviours does not necessarily mean that you have OCD.

Furthermore, OCD is only really problematic when these thoughts and behaviors are persistent, time-consuming, and cause significant distress or impairment.

Symptoms of OCD

Below is a list of symptoms that are typically associated with OCD, although you may experience a wide range of complex and variable symptoms:

• Obsessive thoughts: Persistent, intrusive, and distressing thoughts, images, or impulses that the individual cannot control and that often center around themes of harm, contamination, orderliness, or religion.
• Compulsive behaviours or mental acts: Repetitive, ritualistic behaviours or mental acts that the individual feels driven to perform in response to their obsessions, such as handwashing, checking, counting, arranging, or repeating phrases.
• Anxiety: Intense anxiety or distress that is triggered by the obsessions and relieved temporarily by the compulsions.
• Time-consuming: Spending significant amounts of time performing the compulsions or thinking about them.
• Interference with daily life: The obsessions and compulsions can significantly interfere with the individual’s ability to carry out their daily activities, relationships, and work.
• Avoidance: Avoiding situations or triggers that may trigger the obsessions or compulsions.
• Sense of shame or guilt: Feeling ashamed or guilty about the obsessions or compulsions, or feeling like they are a sign of weakness or a moral failing.

It’s important to note that OCD is a treatable condition, and with the appropriate therapy individuals with OCD can experience significant improvement in their symptoms and quality of life .

Obsessions that can be helped

OCD thoughts and behaviours can range from simple everyday behaviours such as tidiness (e.g. placing all food tins in the cupboard with the label facing outwards) to counting numbers or doing sums in your head to the point where you can think of nothing else.

With all OCD problems, it is the degree to which the issue is preoccupying your time and/or limiting your life that is important.

For example, if you worry about dirt or contamination you may simply wash your hands carefully, maybe try and avoid using public toilets, or perhaps ensure that you do not touch doors or handles in public toilets..

However, if you are under stress you may begin to wash your hands obsessively and in some cases this may become ritualistic to the point that your hands are never clean enough to leave your house.

Therapy & Counselling for OCD

We offer a number of different types of therapy and counselling for OCD and obsession-related problems.

Choosing the most suitable therapy depends on a number of different considerations including factors such as:

• How long you have had the problem.
• Your personal preferences.
• How your problem is affecting you today.

You can read more about the different types of therapy for OCD on the following links:

• CBT for OCD
• Counselling for OCD
• Pluralistic Therapy for OCD Problems

Although all therapies use slightly different approaches, the one thing they all have in common is the relationship that is formed between the client and therapist.

Research suggests that this therapy relationship may be the most important factor in achieving a good therapy outcome.

The Behaviour Change Framework

All of our OCD counselling sessions and programmes use the Behaviour Change Framework (BCF).

This scientifically proven protocol defines the stages of behaviour change that you need to go through in order to achieve long lasting and sustainable change.

The framework provides a roadmap that indicates if more change is required before entering the next phase of therapy.

In this way, we are able to ensure that you get the best possible level of support in overcoming your mental health problems as well preventing early termination of therapy.

You can read more about the Science of Change here.

Arrange your FREE initial consultation here.

If you’d like to find out more about overcoming OCD or recovering from any of your mental health problems then why not arrange a free initial consultation with us.

During this consultation we will discuss your particular issues and the different types of mental health counselling we offer without you having to commit to any counselling going forward.

The consultation lasts around 50 minutes and is a great opportunity to meet with either Paul or Joan and decide if you would like to proceed with any support.