OCD
OCD can create exhausting patterns of thoughts and rituals. Therapy helps you understand what maintains the cycle and gives you tools to regain control.
Understanding OCD
OCD involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts or images (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental actions (compulsions) performed to reduce distress. While these behaviours may bring short-term relief, they can strengthen the anxiety cycle over time.
It’s common to feel frustrated, ashamed, or exhausted by these patterns — but you’re not alone, and effective help is available.
Main Symptoms
Everyone’s experience of OCD is different, but common symptoms can include:
Repeated intrusive thoughts, doubts, or images that feel distressing or uncontrollable
Urges to perform rituals or routines to feel “safe” or “just right”
Fear of causing harm, contamination, or making a mistake
A strong need for order, checking, or reassurance
Feeling anxious or guilty if you can’t carry out certain behaviours
Impact OCD Can Have
OCD can take a significant emotional and practical toll.
It may affect concentration, sleep, relationships, and work, and can lead to withdrawal, guilt, or burnout. The effort to manage anxiety or hide compulsions can feel overwhelming and isolating.
Therapy offers a safe space to make sense of this, without judgment.
How Therapy Helps
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), particularly Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), is recommended by NICE as the most effective psychological treatment for OCD.
This approach helps you:
Understand the patterns that keep obsessions and compulsions going
Gradually face anxiety-provoking situations in a controlled, supported way
Reduce reliance on compulsive rituals
Rebuild confidence in your ability to tolerate uncertainty and distress
Some clients also benefit from EMDR when intrusive images or past experiences contribute to OCD symptoms.
Take The Next Steps
You don’t have to face OCD alone.
Book a session or Contact us to find out how therapy can help you move forward with confidence.