Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
OCD does not always look the way people expect. Sometimes it involves visible checking or rituals. At other times, much of it happens internally: going over a doubt again and again, mentally reviewing a conversation, trying to cancel out a thought, or searching for certainty that nothing bad will happen.
Obsessions may concern health, safety, relationships, responsibility for others, or matters that are deeply important to the person experiencing them. Their content can feel distressing or difficult to talk about. Having an unwanted thought does not mean that you want it to happen or that it will come true.
Compulsions — such as checking, repeating, asking for reassurance, avoiding situations, or carrying out mental rituals — may bring brief relief. But the doubt returns, and the need for reassurance can become increasingly demanding. Over time, this cycle can take up a great deal of space in everyday life.
How we work
We begin by understanding your particular experience: what triggers the alarm, what you do to feel safe, and how the cycle affects your life. We do not assume that everyone with OCD needs exactly the same path through therapy.
An important part of treatment is exposure and response prevention (ERP). This means gradually and deliberately approaching the situations, thoughts, or sensations that cause distress while learning not to rely automatically on compulsions for relief. We plan this work together, adapt it to your circumstances, and pay attention to mental rituals that may be invisible to others.
Alongside current symptoms, we consider your personal history and any other difficulties that may be affecting your wellbeing. Where appropriate, I integrate other therapeutic approaches, including EMDR, as part of an individual treatment plan. The aim is to help you respond differently to uncertainty and regain the freedom to make choices without OCD directing every step.
If any of this feels familiar, you are welcome to get in touch. An initial consultation will give us the opportunity to understand what is happening and consider together how I can help.
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