Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a prevalent and distressing mental health condition characterized by obsessional thinking patterns and compulsive behaviours. It can affect individuals of any age, gender, culture, or background and often emerges in early adulthood.

Compulsive behaviours associated with OCD can vary widely, including but not limited to checking, cleaning, ordering, arranging, hoarding, seeking reassurance, repeating words, engaging in “neutralizing” thoughts to counteract obsessive thoughts, and performing counting or repetitive rituals/movements.

Living with OCD can evoke feelings of fear, anger, and powerlessness, compounded by the difficulty of revealing the underlying beliefs to others. Therapy provides a supportive space to untangle these thoughts and beliefs, helping individuals understand the roots of their behaviours and develop strategies to interrupt and realign cognitive patterns.

Therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can be effective in addressing OCD symptoms and promoting healing and recovery.

If you’re interested in working through this in therapy, feel free to reach out to Islington Therapy House via filling our referral form below. Alternatively, you can browse our list of therapists and contact them individually for more details and to schedule a session.