Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
OCD involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that cause distress, and repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) meant to reduce that distress. Common themes include contamination fears, harm-related thoughts, a need for things to feel “just right,” and unwanted “taboo” thoughts. The cycle — intrusive thought, distress, compulsion, temporary relief — tends to get more entrenched over time. Sadly, OCD is often misunderstood, even by mental health professionals. Because of this, individuals with OCD are often reluctant to disclose the full extent of their OCD symptoms. I want you to know that I understand OCD, and I approach assessment and treatment of this disorder with compassion and understanding.
What It Can Look Like
- Unwanted thoughts or images that pop into your head and won't go away
- Feeling like you have to do certain things — checking, counting, washing, repeating, analyzing the meaning of intrusive thoughts — to feel okay
- Spending a lot of time each day stuck in the cycle of obsession and ritual
- Avoiding certain people, places, or situations because they set off the thoughts
- A hard time sitting with uncertainty or the nagging feeling that something isn't right
How I Can Help
I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD. It involves systematically facing the situations and thoughts that trigger obsessions while resisting compulsions. Over time, the cycle weakens, the obsessions become more tolerable, and you spend less time engaging in compulsions. While ERP is the primary treatment, I also incorporate principles and techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).