What is Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
As the name suggests, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is comprised of two parts: obsessions and compulsions. However, it is a common misconception that they always appear together; many individuals experience obsessions without visible outward compulsions.
What are Obsessions?
Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that occur involuntarily. They often cause significant distress and can consume an hour or more of your day. Common themes include:
Contamination: Fears of germs, chemicals, or environmental hazards.
Perfectionism: A need for symmetry, order, or things being "just right."
Responsibility: Excessive worry about causing or failing to prevent harm.
Religious or Moral Scrupulosity: Fixation on "sinning" or violating a moral code.
What are Compulsions?
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed with the intent of getting temporary relief from the anxiety caused by an obsession. While they provide a brief sense of "safety," they ultimately reinforce the OCD cycle.
Categories of compulsions often include:
Washing & Cleaning: Excessive handwashing or sanitizing.
Checking: Repeatedly checking locks, stoves, or your own memory.
Mental Compulsions: Silently praying, counting, or reviewing events to "ensure" no harm was done.
Repeating Actions: Going through a doorway or re-reading text until it feels "correct."
Confessing: Feeling a need to tell others about thoughts or actions perceived as "wrong."
OCD affects roughly 2.3% of the U.S. population, yet it is often misunderstood. It is very common for OCD to co-occur with anxiety, depression, or PTSD, which can make symptoms feel complex and difficult to manage. This 'overlap' is why a specialized, trauma-informed approach is so important for an accurate diagnosis and effective relief.
I am specifically trained in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which is widely considered the 'gold standard' and best-practice intervention for OCD. Whether you are struggling primarily with obsessive-compulsive behaviors or are navigating OCD alongside other trauma-related concerns, ERP offers a structured, evidence-based path to reclaiming your life. I provide ERP therapy in person, and via telehealth for clients across the state.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Exposure and Response Prevention can feel intimidating, but we work at a pace that feels manageable for you. The goal is to break the cycle of OCD by changing how you respond to your thoughts.
1. Assessment & Mapping
First, we identify your specific obsessions (the intrusive thoughts that cause distress) and your compulsions (the behaviors or mental rituals you do to try to get rid of that distress). We’ll create a "hierarchy" together, ranking your triggers from least to most distressing.
2. Gradual Exposure
In a safe, controlled environment, we gradually lean into the things that trigger your anxiety. We start at the bottom of your hierarchy with the "easier" triggers to build nervous system regulation and expand your window of tolerance.
3. Response Prevention (The Key to Healing)
This is the most important part. While experiencing the trigger, you’ll practice not doing the compulsion. By resisting the ritual, your brain eventually learns a powerful truth: the anxiety will go down on its own without the compulsion.
4. Developing Resilience
Over time, your brain becomes "bored" by the things that used to terrify it. This process, called habituation, allows you to regain control of your time and energy so you can focus on what truly matters to you.