What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? OCD is a psychological disorder that consists of two components: 1) obsessions and 2) compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted and intrusive thoughts - ones that pop into your head when you don't want them and are uncomfortable and distressing. Obsessions can take on many different themes, such as about contamination, fears of harming self or others accidentally, religious or moral themes, or ones about relationships, or sexuality. Compulsions are the things you do in an attempt to feel better and get relief from the upsetting and unwanted obsessions. Compulsions can also take many different forms, including repeated washing, reassurance seeking, excessive researching online, or ordering/arranging items, or doing a task until it feels "just right." Compulsions may help you feel better in the short-term but maintain or worsen the anxiety in the long run. If compulsions worked then the obsessions would go away and you would be freed from these distressing thoughts! However, the obsessions usually pop back in and you are back in the OCD cycle of feeling even stronger urges to continue with the compulsive behaviors. These obsessions and compulsions take up a considerable amount of time each day and typically negatively interfere in various areas of life.
What is the treatment for OCD and anxiety? Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold standard treatment for OCD, anxiety, phobias, depression, and related disorders. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the name for the specific type of CBT that is used to treat OCD. CBT/ERP is a very active, short-term, and collaborative treatment that is aimed at helping you improve your mental health - and pretty quickly too! Depending on your goals and level of severity, treatment is typically between 15-25 sessions. However, the number of sessions does depend on several factors, including severity of anxiety, motivation, other psychological disorders, etc. Exposure is the biggest part of treatment for OCD and many anxiety disorders and consists of systematically facing your fears (one step at a time!) until your body and brain learn that your anxiety is setting off false alarms and no longer needs to respond to them.
What is the treatment for OCD and anxiety? Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold standard treatment for OCD, anxiety, phobias, depression, and related disorders. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the name for the specific type of CBT that is used to treat OCD. CBT/ERP is a very active, short-term, and collaborative treatment that is aimed at helping you improve your mental health - and pretty quickly too! Depending on your goals and level of severity, treatment is typically between 15-25 sessions. However, the number of sessions does depend on several factors, including severity of anxiety, motivation, other psychological disorders, etc. Exposure is the biggest part of treatment for OCD and many anxiety disorders and consists of systematically facing your fears (one step at a time!) until your body and brain learn that your anxiety is setting off false alarms and no longer needs to respond to them.
Conditions most commonly treated in my practice:
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and its subtypes:
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If you would like to learn more about the treatment approach I use in therapy, please feel free to watch the brief video below.