OCD treatment
What is OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) that create significant anxiety or distress. To try to feel better or more certain, people with OCD often engage in repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions), such as checking, reassurance-seeking, avoiding situations, or going over thoughts again and again.
OCD is different from everyday worries or preferences. While many people have routines, habits, or occasional intrusive thoughts, OCD feels hard to control and can take over a person’s time, attention, and sense of peace. The relief from compulsions is usually short-lived, which keeps the cycle of anxiety and OCD going.
OCD is highly treatable. Approaches like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) help people learn how to respond differently to intrusive thoughts—without trying to eliminate them or make them go away. Over time, this reduces anxiety, builds tolerance for uncertainty, and allows people to live more freely without OCD calling the shots.
OCD treatment
Exposure Response Prevention
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a well-researched therapy approach that helps people change their relationship with anxiety and obsessive thoughts.
In ERP, you and your therapist work together to gently face the thoughts, situations, or sensations that trigger anxiety, while practicing not engaging in the behaviors that usually bring short-term relief—like compulsions, avoidance, or reassurance-seeking. At first, this can feel uncomfortable, but the goal isn’t to overwhelm you. Everything is done at a pace that feels manageable and supportive.
Over time, many people find that anxiety loses its power. You learn that uncomfortable feelings can come and go on their own, and that you can handle uncertainty without needing to “fix” or escape it. ERP helps build confidence, flexibility, and trust in your ability to cope.
ERP is a collaborative and compassionate process, and therapy is always tailored to your needs, comfort level, and goals.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for OCD focuses on understanding how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact—and how certain patterns can keep OCD stuck.
In therapy, you’ll work with your therapist to notice unhelpful thinking patterns, build more flexible responses to intrusive thoughts, and develop practical tools for managing anxiety.
CBT for OCD isn’t about “stopping” thoughts or convincing yourself that fears aren’t real. Instead, it helps you relate to thoughts differently, reduce the impact they have on your day-to-day life, and make choices based on what matters to you rather than what OCD demands. Treatment is collaborative, supportive, and tailored to your goals and comfort level.