OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) is one of the most misunderstood and stigmatized mental health conditions. In fact, it takes an average of 7-10 years for an individual living with OCD to be accurately diagnosed and to receive the proper therapy to support them. OCD can be a debilitating condition, but with the right therapy, there is hope to regain control of your life and manage your symptoms with confidence.
Recovery with OCD is possible. If you’re reading this and wondering if this may be what you’re looking for, please reach out today.
Living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can feel like being trapped in a loop of intense anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and exhausting rituals. It’s certainly not just being “neat” or “quirky” as often portrayed in the media.
OCD is a serious mental health condition that can deeply impact a person’s life, relationships, and ability to function.
OCD is a special interest of mine, as I have significant personal experience regarding the impact OCD has on one’s quality of life and their loved ones. That being said, I offer thorough OCD assessments at my practice and am certified in providing Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (known as ERP or EXRP), which is considered the “gold standard” therapy approach for working with OCD.
Following OCD Assessment and diagnosis, I create a customized ERP/EXRP plan tailored to your specific OCD symptoms and triggers. In ERP/EXRP Therapy, you will learn how to gradually approach anxiety-provoking situations instead of avoiding them (this is the exposure part). You will also learn how to stop engaging in the compulsive, repetitive behaviors that you may typically engage in when you approach these anxiety-provoking situations (this is the response prevention part). During the course of this therapy, we will have ongoing psychoeducational conversations about the OCD cycle. If necessary, we may also have conversations with your loved ones about ways to best support you during this time (only with your permission, of course).
Initially, it may be difficult for individuals to imagine themselves undergoing this type of therapy; however, as they continue to make progress over time in ERP/EXRP Therapy, individuals learn two important truths:
The distress or anxiety they experience in certain situations will not last forever – in fact, it will actually decrease on its own the more they practice each exposure.
The urge they feel to engage in rituals or compulsions will also decrease as their distress decreases, which means that the habit of ritualizing/compulsing becomes weaker and holds less power over them.
To clarify, ERP/EXRP Therapy is not designed to get rid of unpleasant thoughts and feelings – rather, ERP/EXRP Therapy is about shifting the associations one has developed between certain situations and unpleasant feelings.
ERP/EXRP Therapy is designed to help free people from the cycle of obsessions and compulsions so that they can ultimately live more satisfying and more fulfilling lives.
*Please note that if you are considering ERP/EXRP Therapy for OCD, it is very important to make sure you connect with a therapist who is experienced in working with OCD. Many therapists are not specifically trained in working with OCD and can inadvertently provide therapy that is not best suited for the nature of this condition.
I have been fortunate to receive my training through highly respected organizations and individuals. I became EXRP Certified through training provided by the Cognitive Behavior Institute alongside extensive consultations with Dr. Thea Gallagher, PsyD, a nationally recognized psychologist and anxiety specialist.
More Information about OCD support can be found below:
