OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health problem. It has two main parts that are connected, obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessions are unwelcome thoughts, feelings, images, urges, worries or doubts that keep coming into your mind. These obsessions could be based on many different themes, such as your relationship, harm, cleanliness, moral scrupulosity, real events etc. They may feel stuck in your mind, no matter what you do. You may worry what they mean or why they won’t go away, and feel very distressed by them.

Compulsions are repetitive things that you do to reduce the distress or uncertainty caused by obsessions- after all OCD is widely known as the doubting disorder. Compulsions can be things you do physically, mentally or may involve others. Examples of some common compulsions are, checking locks/doors/outlets, researching, confessing, counting, repeating words, ruminating, rationalising, reviewing memories, asking for reassurance etc.

Anyone can experience obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviours at times, however, if you have OCD your doubts and fears about your thoughts or maybe even past memories (in the case of real event OCD) can make that person feel very distressed. The OCD will tell you that the only way you will feel better is if you were to perform these compulsions. OCD can have a major impact on a persons life, whether a person experiences it in episodes or daily.

We can help you. Despite the feeling that your OCD may be inescapable, there are many therapeutic approaches to help manage your OCD, and teach you how to live with uncertainty.

Our Practitioners:

“OCD can feel exhausting and confusing, especially when certain thoughts keep coming back no matter how much you try to push them away. You might find yourself doing things repeatedly to feel “okay” again, even if part of you knows it doesn’t fully help. In our work together, we gently explore these patterns and find ways to respond differently, so the thoughts begin to feel less powerful over time. We go at a pace that feels manageable, helping you build confidence in handling uncertainty, while also using mindfulness techniques to create a bit more space between you and the thoughts.” Kimberly Jano, Cognitive Behaviour Psychotherapist >

“When things are going well we don’t even really think about it. In living we move through the world with an invisible expertise. But sometimes our capacity to cope breaks down. We become painfully conscious of our own breathing, the racing rhythm of our bodies, or
the daunting weight of the future. Words like ‘anxiety’ or ‘depression’ can sometimes help us communicate this distress. My approach isn’t about “fixing” you with technical tools. Instead I offer to look with you at your world and your place in it. My hope is that through this dialogue your perspective can begin to shift, helping you find your way back to a life that feels once again your own. When things are going well, we trust our actions without a second thought. We move through our routines-locking a door, making a choice-with an invisible expertise. But sometimes our fluent coping breaks down. We often use the term OCD to try and communicate the distress that arises when the gestures that should be second-nature become painfully “loud” and unresolved. Clinical exposure protocols focus on alleviating your symptoms. I respect the relief they may bring. However, I do not see you as an assemblage of ‘faulty circuits.’ Instead I offer to look with you at your world and your place in it. My hope is that as we examine how your sense of certainty has shifted you will find your way back to a life that feels fluid and once again your own.” Matthew Wood, Integrative Psychotherapist >