Therapy For OCD

Need assistance? Let’s connect and address your concerns together.

Are You Looking For Help With OCD?

Do you currently experience emotional, behavioral, or cognitive challenges related to personal obsessions and compulsions? 

Are you: 

  • struggling to cope with wanting excessive control and attaining perfectionism?

  • having trouble being preoccupied with trivial details? 

  • having difficulty maintaining a work-life balance, often prioritizing work over family? 

OCD Can Interfere With Your Life In Numerous Ways

Maybe you experience recurring thoughts that are often uncontrollable, or obsessions that lead you to engage in repetitive behaviors or compulsions. People with OCD often experience emotions like fear and anxiety because of obsessive thoughts and urges. You may be motivated to avoid certain situations and instead, participate in compulsive behaviors to deal with distress. People who experience symptoms of OCD can also experience dissociation, which means feeling detached from your mind, body, or surroundings. 

OCD Isn’t As Uncommon As You Might Think

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is found in 1% of the Canadian population. The majority of people diagnosed with OCD experience their first onset either during late adolescence or early adulthood. People with OCD are also more likely to be diagnosed with other disorders such as mood and anxiety disorder. Because of this, therapy is important to help guide struggling youth or young adults navigate OCD and mood or anxiety disorders that can happen alongside OCD.

The Causes Of OCD Are Complex

Researchers believe that there are various causes of OCD: 

  • genetic and hereditary components 

  • functional, structural, and chemical abnormalities in the brain 

  • specific personality traits, like perfectionism 

  • traumatic life events and abuse 

Because of the variety of individual risk factors, individuals with OCD often have doubt in their own capabilities in managing obsessive thoughts and fears. They may have doubts on if they have truly performed an action, even if it was done minutes before. For example, checking to see if they have locked the front door. They may be motivated to repeatedly inspect it, even if it’s been done many times that night. Working through the emotional effects and compulsions to act on these obsessive thoughts can be hard for someone with OCD. 

At our clinic we strive to create an environment where these concerns can be correctly identified and help you discover new perspectives about you. With our skilled training and experience, you can navigate through life successfully.

Therapy For OCD Can Help You Regulate Your Feelings

Dealing with the constant obsessions and compulsions that come with having OCD can be hard both mentally and physically. Talking about these personal fears and anxieties can be challenging. We understand how difficult OCD can be to experience. Our therapists are here to provide assistance on topics that you may have reservations about, and carefully walk you through how to manage your symptoms without them overwhelming you. 

What Happens During A Therapy Session?

We approach topics related to personal OCD struggles in a session with a gentle manner, discussing experiences when you first noticed signs of OCD , and how those experiences impact you today. At the same time, we create a warm and welcoming environment by helping you learn tools and methods to alleviate mental strain and work with you on an in-depth exploration of the feelings and thoughts that motivate your compulsions. 

How Does Therapy For OCD Work?

At Healing Voices Psychotherapy, we use a wide range of therapy approaches to help you recognize symptoms/stressors that can happen with OCD. Some of the treatment options we use include: 

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, which helps you with your anxiety surrounding obsessions and compulsions by teaching you coping skills for dealing with different concerns. 

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, can help you by guiding you on how to learn to accept your emotions and practice non-judgement. 

  • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which helps you use techniques that allow you to confront obsessive thoughts or certain situations that cause anxiousness. 

At our clinic, our goal is to implement strategies that help you improve how you approach OCD. With each session, our intention is to guide you and make you feel supported and understood, while also teaching techniques that can help you face internal conflicts in the future.

Maybe You’re Considering Seeking Therapy For OCD But Still Have Some Concerns…

  • OCD can significantly impact various areas of life, such as interpersonal relationships, work, and social life. Therapy can help you develop problem-solving skills to address the challenges posed by OCD effectively. Clients learn how to identify goals, brainstorm potential solutions, and implement strategies to overcome obstacles.

    We provide empathy, validation, and encouragement throughout the whole process, which leads to inspiring self-awareness, ability, and empowerment within you.

  • Doubt is a major factor in OCD. Many individuals with OCD can experience a challenging amount of uncertainty, however, counseling is a great tool for managing these fears. The coping techniques you learn in therapy can allow you to break the feelings of anxiety and fear that you associate with different behaviors or thoughts.

  • Our exposure and response prevention techniques help you gradually confront your fear of change. Through controlled exposure exercises, we help you learn how to allow uncertainty and adapt to new situations without resorting to compulsive behaviors. This process helps you develop flexibility and resilience when faced with change.

We’re Here To Help

Our therapists at Healing Voices Psychotherapy want to help and support you, or a loved one, who may be experiencing OCD. We can help you effectively break this pattern between ritualistic behavior and anxiety. To get in touch with one of our therapists, please contact us at our virtual clinic at 705-715-9107. We can help you take that first step to tackling OCD, so you can live a life of empowerment and ease.

Recent Posts

Featured
Unity In Divergence: Couples Healing Through Internal Family Systems
Unity In Divergence: Couples Healing Through Internal Family Systems

Sometimes, relationships can be hard to manage. We all experience complicated stages in our lives, and times of stress can put a strain on relationships with your loved ones. When juggling times of challenge in your relationships and personal life stressors, arguments can easily feel like something that you, as a couple, cannot seem to get past.

How Your Child’s Anxiety Differs from Adult Anxiety: Recognizing the Signs
How Your Child’s Anxiety Differs from Adult Anxiety: Recognizing the Signs

It can be surprising and difficult for parents to learn that their children can experience anxiety. Anxiety in children often looks different from anxiety in adults, so it can be hard to understand when it's happening. Understanding the differences between adult and child anxiety can help parents recognize the signs in their children and know how to best help them.

How to Manage School as a Teen with OCD
How to Manage School as a Teen with OCD

As a parent of a teen with OCD, it can be difficult to watch them struggle to manage their symptoms while also keeping up with school life, homework, and expectations from peers. They may feel lonely through this time, and it can feel like no one understands what they are going through.