Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects roughly 1–2% of adults and about 1 in every 200 children. It’s characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges (known as obsessions) that trigger repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) that the person does to reduce or attempt to reduce distress.

OCD can often be debilitating if left untreated, but it is highly treatable. This is important to state as people suffering from OCD can sometimes lose sight of this fact. At our practice, we focus on evidence-based treatments such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT) as our main treatment approaches. ERP guides you through confronting your fears gradually in a structured way. We often use the phrase “face your fears” but we do it progressively with the goal of getting your life back from OCD. ICBT is another evidence-based therapy that views OCD as a reasoning disorder. It helps patients resolve obsessional doubt by staying grounded in their senses instead of getting swept up in hypothetical “what if’s”. ERP is more of a behavioral approach whereas ICBT is more cognitive.

Many people falsely believe OCD is only about germs or having things lined up. For your information, we’ve outlined several of the most common OCD content areas below. These examples are given in order to educate and destigmatize even the most challenging themes, including those that are often misunderstood or considered taboo. It’s important to note, however, that distinguishing between different obsession subtypes isn’t the key to treatment. Individuals may shift from one subtype to another over time—a person might experience contamination fears in their childhood only to later struggle with harm-related obsessions when faced with new life challenges as an adult. While the content of the obsessions can change, the core condition remains, and our treatments are designed to address OCD at its foundation.

No matter what treatment plan is chosen, our team of dedicated specialists is committed to collaborating closely with you. We understand that OCD affects each individual uniquely, and therefore, we will create a comprehensive and personalized plan to address your specific needs and challenges. Our individualized approach ensures that you receive the most effective support possible as you work to overcome OCD and rediscover a life filled with joy and purpose. Our ultimate goal is to empower you to reclaim your life from the grips of OCD and embrace a future defined by freedom, fulfillment, and well-being. Call us today and let’s do this!