OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)

WHAT IS OCD?

Rather than rattle off the DSM-V, I will summarize OCD as the "What if?" disorder. Uncertainty is the cornerstone of OCD.

More technically, it is comprised of unwanted thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) that may be extreme or disturbing and are often followed by excessive, repetitive behaviors or “mental acts” that a person uses to try to neutralize or make their obsessions or distress go away (compulsions).

HOW CAN COUNSELING HELP?

The gold standard of OCD treatment is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). ERP is a process that helps you to face your fears through exposing yourself to them without doing your compulsions — the “response prevention.”

WHAT TO EXPECT:

We do ERP at your speed, which means we won't immediately jump in with exposing you to your biggest fear. Because I am relational in general, I will also gather family and personal history before diving in.