Talking Therapies UK offers dedicated treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), helping you manage and overcome intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours to lead a fulfilling life. Our expert therapists use evidence-based methods to provide effective, compassionate care tailored to your needs, ensuring that you receive the highest quality support.
OCD is an anxiety disorder characterised by obsessive intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. These can significantly interfere with daily life, causing distress and anxiety. Common symptoms include:
Recurrent, intrusive thoughts, urges, or images that cause significant anxiety or distress. Common obsessions include fears of contamination, harming others, or the need for symmetry and order.
Repetitive behaviours or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession. Common compulsions include excessive cleaning, checking, counting, or arranging objects.
People with OCD may perform compulsions and mental rituals to try to reduce the anxiety or stressful discomfort that they feel. Compulsions can be overt physical acts (like checking a lock or touching an object) or mental rituals (like counting or thinking a specific thought). These symptoms create a cycle of anxiety and compulsion that is difficult to break without professional help. The impact of OCD on your daily life can be profound, affecting your relationships, work, and overall quality of life.
OCD is like a monster demanding to be fed. When you give into compulsions, you feed the monster and keep it alive but no quantity of food will satisfy the monster.
Compulsions and mental rituals may offer temporary relief but reinforce the idea that your thoughts represent real threats. Treatment helps you recognise that a thought is just a thought and doesn’t influence events. By learning to sit with uncomfortable thoughts and emotions without acting on them, you can diminish their power.
Avoiding perceived contaminants, places, or objects.
Reviewing/replaying events or conversations in your mind to check if everything was okay.
Imagining potential future scenarios to check for the likelihood of a catastrophe and plan coping strategies.
Repeatedly physically checking things, such as doors being locked or switches being off.
Thinking specific thoughts to “undo” a bad thought or reviewing something in your mind to make sure it’s okay.
Excessive hand washing or showering to remove perceived contamination or achieve a sense of feeling right or clean.
Asking others repeatedly to ensure things are okay.
Using a “good” thought to neutralise a “bad” thought.
Buying or failing to discard useless items, collecting excessively.
Over-attending to details of an event or person to mentally store it for safekeeping.
Repeating behaviours to make things feel equal or “right”.
Using prayer to counteract or neutralise “unacceptable” thoughts.
Forcing feelings of guilt and negative self-thoughts to achieve a sense of punishment.
A form of distraction to avoid unwanted thoughts or keep something bad from happening, often linked to beliefs about lucky or unlucky numbers.
We provide tailored therapies to address the unique challenges of OCD, including:
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as an evidenced based treatment for OCD. CBT helps you understand the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and develop strategies to manage them. It focuses on challenging and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.
ERP is a therapeutic technique used in CBT specifically designed to reduce OCD symptoms by gradually exposing you to your fears and preventing the compulsive behaviours. Over time, this helps decrease anxiety and compulsion.
Our approach is holistic and tailored to meet your individual needs, ensuring that you receive the most effective treatment for your OCD.
Our therapists are experts in treating OCD with proven, evidence-based methods. They stay up-to-date with the latest research and therapeutic techniques, ensuring that you receive the highest quality care.
We offer a safe, private space where you can discuss your concerns openly. Your privacy and comfort are paramount in our practice, and we strive to create an environment where you feel safe and supported.
Receive therapy sessions online, making it easier to fit treatment into your busy schedule. Our secure, user-friendly platform ensures you can access the help you need from anywhere.
Take control of your OCD with the support of Talking Therapies UK. Our compassionate and skilled therapists are here to help you break free from the cycle of obsessions and compulsions and live a more fulfilling life. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you in overcoming OCD and achieving a better quality of life.
Schedule your online therapy session with one of our experienced therapists at a time that suits you. Flexible evening and weekend appointments are available to accommodate your busy lifestyle.
61 Bridge Street, Kington, HR5 3DJ
