OCD Therapy in California
Despite being the 4th most common mental disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is highly misunderstood, even by many mental health professionals. Finding quality OCD treatment can be a challenge, but you’ve come to the right place
What Is OCD?
OCD is a disorder defined by:
Intrusive thoughts, urges, and/or images that are distressing in nature and undesired
Attempts to avoid or suppress these intrusive thoughts
Compulsive behaviors that occur in response to obsessions in attempts to reduce distress or prevent feared outcomes
Sufferers of OCD report experiencing significant anxiety and distress as a result of their obsessions. Compulsive behaviors fail to provide lasting relief from obsessions and are often time-consuming.
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One of the common misconceptions about OCD is the nature of obsessions. OCD has become a word people use to say they are organized or a “neat freak.” But the reality of obsessions is they are extremely unpleasant and often unrelenting; they can be highly disturbing thoughts that are contrary to a person’s values and cause significant distress. And compulsions are often so much more than liking our closets color-coordinated or wanting our kitchen countertops free of clutter – they are behaviors that we feel driven to perform in a desperate search for relief from the relentless obsessions perpetually sounding off in our brain. Unfortunately, the compulsions only continue the cycle of OCD – something triggers our obsessions which causes distress, and so we engage in compulsions to reduce the distress, which only lasts until the next trigger comes along.
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Along with the near constant feeling of anxiety we experience from the cycle of OCD, compulsions are often very time-consuming. Individuals with OCD report that multiple hours of the day are occupied by obsessions and compulsions, which no doubt causes significant impact on daily life.
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The primary difference between OCD and anxiety disorders is the presence of compulsions. While those with generalized anxiety tend to ruminate about worries, those with OCD engage in compulsions and rituals to try to reduce anxiety. OCD also involves obsessions related to specific themes, whereas anxiety themes tend to be more broad.
Signs That OCD May Be Affecting You
Intrusive Thoughts and Obsessions
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Harm - fear of harming self or others, acting on unwanted impulses, causing unintended harm due to carelessness
Contamination - fear of coming into contact with contaminated substances, getting sick or getting others sick
Sexual - unwanted thoughts or images related to sexual acts, fear of sexually harming children, other adults or relatives
Perfectionism - preoccupation with symmetry, things being “just right,” fear of making mistakes or doing things incorrectly
Religious/Moral Scrupulosity - preoccupation with right/wrong, committing sin, damnation
Identity - preoccupation with one’s own sexual orientation and/or gender identity
Relationship - preoccupation about whether one is in the “right” relationship, friendship, etc.
These thoughts and obsessions can be triggered by situations in our daily life or can feel like they come out of nowhere. Living with intrusive thoughts and obsessions is extremely painful. These thoughts are typically persistent and unrelenting. They can make us feel like there is no hope for relief, but managing OCD is possible with the right treatment.
Compulsive Behaviors and Mental Rituals
Compulsive behaviors, whether truly behavioral or mental compulsions, are actions we compulsively perform in response to our obsessions in attempts to relieve the anxiety we feel as a result from intrusive thoughts. However, not all behaviors that seem compulsive fit the definition of compulsions. For example, every time I get home from work I put my keys in a dish by the door. If I forget to do it, it stresses me out because it makes it harder to remember where I put my keys, but I can eventually find them and go about my day. This is not a compulsive behavior because there are no intrusive thoughts or obsessions about what it says about me or what kind of threat I am facing if I forget to put my keys in the dish. It causes some stress because I have to remember where my keys are, but I like putting my keys there because it helps me. Compulsive behaviors, on the other hand, are time-consuming and often agonizing behaviors we feel driven to perform. They aren’t actions we enjoy doing, and sometimes are not even directly related to the obsessions they are trying to solve.
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Cleaning - cleaning environments or ourselves to an excessive degree (e.g. taking a shower every time we go to the bathroom), avoiding contact with things or places we deem as contaminated
Checking - compulsively reviewing memories of situations or with other people that we did not cause harm, did not make a mistake, or a feared situation did not occur
Repeating - needing to repeat certain everyday actions, repeating actions a certain number of times, repetitive body movements such as blinking or touching certain body parts
Symmetry - needing things to be symmetrical or “just right”
Mental compulsions - ruminating on situations to review for possible feared outcomes, excessive self-reassurance, thinking a “good” thought to undo a “bad” one, etc.
Avoidance of triggers of intrusive thoughts
How OCD Therapy Can Help
Living with OCD is incredibly painful, but the right kind of therapy can help you manage your OCD and live your life without being stuck in the obsessive-compulsive cycle.
Reducing the Power of Obsessions
Often with OCD, our obsessions are things that we logically know are outcomes that are extremely unlikely, yet we get sucked into our obsessive patterns. That’s because insight into our condition, while extremely important, is not enough to manage OCD. We need to treat OCD and learn skills to be able to manage it.
Breaking Free From Compulsive Patterns
A teacher of mine once said that engaging in compulsions is like holding a block of ice – it works for a while but eventually goes away. When we engage in compulsions to manage our obsessive thoughts, it gives us short-term relief, but doesn’t last forever – leading us right back to the start of the OCD cycle. In OCD therapy, we not only reduce the power of our obsessions but also find different ways to respond to them other than engaging in compulsions that keep us stuck in the cycle.
Building Confidence in Managing Anxiety
Through the course of OCD treatment, one of the outcomes we experience is a feeling of freedom from the fear of anxiety. We start to feel more confident in our ability to manage it and to face it.
Neurodiversity-Affirming Care for OCD Therapy
How OCD can affect autism and neurodiversity
Current research shows that up to 16% of people diagnosed with OCD meet criteria for ADHD and up to 37.2% meet criteria for Autism, yet it is an area that is still underresearched. Through my clinical experience and research, I have seen the ways that OCD and neurodivergence interact in a unique way, and how treatment needs to be adapted to work for different neurotypes.
How OCD therapy can help
Neuroaffirming OCD therapy helps us manage OCD patterns in a way that is affirming to a brain that works differently from a neurotypical person’s. Together, we investigate the ways that your OCD and neurodivergence overlap and, as much as possible, separate the two so we can figure out what is working for you and what is not. We also assess together how treatment needs to be adapted for your neurotype so we can manage your OCD without expecting you to behave in a way that does not align with your goals and does not work for you.
Evidence-Based Treatment for OCD
There are a lot of treatment options out there, which is why I believe strongly in providing treatment that has a significant evidence base.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy
ERP is considered the first-line treatment for OCD because of the strong evidence that it reduces OCD symptoms and improves functioning for people who struggle with OCD. It involves a systematic approach of gradually confronting feared situations so you can live more in alignment with your goals and values.
Why Evidence-Based Therapy Works
Hundreds of studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of ERP, showing that on average it reduces symptoms by at least 60% and allows for patients undergoing treatment to engage in activities that OCD prevents them from engaging in.
Online OCD Therapy Available Across California
As you work virtually, let's focus on this and explain that it is as effective as in-person therapy. At this time, my practice is entirely virtual, which is a plus for my clients for many reasons.
Flexible Virtual Sessions
A virtual practice means that we have more flexibility. It’s a lot easier for us to find a time that works for both of us, and my cancellation policy is more flexible in events of illness or emergencies as I don’t have to drive to the office.
Getting Support From the Comfort of Home
There is nothing better than doing therapy where you are the most comfortable - in your home environment. Doing therapy at home means less awkwardness of a sterile office – and our pets get to participate too!
FAQs
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The research overwhelmingly supports ERP, which is the type of treatment that I offer. Therapy, of course, is an individual treatment, and so the best treatment for you might not be the best for someone else. I recommend doing your own research and seeing what treatment you think would be the best fit for you.
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Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a systematic treatment in which we identify feared situations that are interfering with your goals and figure out how to gradually approach them.
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The exposure part of ERP is what we most commonly use with anxiety, so yes!
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This is an extremely common overlap – current research suggests that approximately 16% of individuals with OCD meet criteria for ADHD.
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ERP treatment varies in length, but typically takes between 12 to 20 sessions.
Why Work With Me?
Finding an OCD therapist you feel comfortable with can be a challenge. I’ve been doing this work for a while and believe in being a human as much as a therapist. I allow my clients to feel comfortable in our sessions and I’m here to work as hard as you are. I believe in taking on the role of a therapist you can trust to help you manage your OCD.
Start OCD Therapy Today
If you feel ready to explore the possibility of managing your OCD, contact me to schedule a free consultation. I look forward to helping you live a life beyond OCD.
