Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Therapy

Are Daily Rituals And Habits Preventing You From Enjoying Life?

Do you find yourself getting stuck in cycles of obsessions and compulsions that make it hard to simply get through your day?

Have you tried avoiding certain places, people, or situations so that you don’t encounter triggers?

Do you often seek reassurance from others so that your worst fears won’t come to light?

Your child may have a tendency to express the same fears over and over again, no matter how many times you tell them that everything is going to be okay. They might be engaging in repetitive behaviors that make it hard for them to truly find joy in their day-to-day, and you’re wondering where to turn.

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Obsessive Thoughts And Compulsions Can Worsen Over Time

Perhaps it’s hard for you to understand why you can’t just “ignore” your obsessive thoughts, and engaging in compulsions seems to be the only way to find temporary relief. You may notice that it’s difficult to pay attention at work or spend time with friends when these habits consume so much of your energy.

At first, it was easy to ignore your symptoms. Yet over time, despite your best efforts to stop thinking about your obsessions or dodge activities that make you anxious, your brain starts fixating on new worries that pop up.

The good news is you do not have to continue living with the burden of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms. By working with an experienced psychologist, you can find relief from your compulsions, take back your time, and become more present and grounded in your life.

Sometimes, The Brain’s Alarm System Can Misfire

People with OCD sometimes assume that their obsessive thoughts reflect real threats to their safety. Sometimes they can’t stop ruminating on particular issues because they feel like they have done something wrong and need to “correct” it. The obsessive thoughts that accompany OCD can feel overwhelming or taboo, leaving people suffering in silence.

Still, OCD is surprisingly common—and most importantly, these recurring thoughts and compulsions don’t indicate anything about your moral character. In reality, OCD sends a “false alarm,” or “brain blip.” A “brain blip” is when your brain misfires in a manner where certain thoughts and behaviors start to feel extremely dangerous, even if you’re perfectly safe or you’re not posing harm to anyone else.

Asking For Reassurance Can Actually Fuel OCD Symptoms

If you are struggling with OCD, avoiding your triggers or seeking reassurance that you’re “going to be okay” can feel like the only two options for dealing with your symptoms. However, each time you listen to a false alarm by trying to shut down specific thoughts or turning to someone else to validate your feelings, it unintentionally fuels the OCD machine.

True management of OCD goes beyond avoidance and reassurance seeking. Once you learn to identify the specific false alarms that are cropping up for you, you’ll be able to distinguish your OCD from your rational thoughts and core values. By working with a counselor, you can gain the skills and tools you need to manage your OCD symptoms, and you will be surprised by how quickly you can find relief!

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Counseling Can Help You Regain Control Over Your Mind

At Coast Family Psychological Services, we provide OCD therapy to children, teens, and adults, providing a safe, non-judgmental place for people of all ages to get “unstuck” and break free from obsessions and compulsions. If your child or partner has OCD, we can also offer guidance on how to best support your loved one as they go through the therapy process.

What To Expect In OCD Therapy Sessions

Right now, your intrusive thoughts and behaviors might be impacting your relationships, your performance at work, and your overall wellbeing. We personalize the focus of your sessions based on your unique goals, history, and current needs in regards to managing your OCD. When you begin therapy, we’ll assess the frequency and intensity of your mental and behavioral symptoms and identify your most distressing thoughts, compulsions, and triggers to shape your treatment plan.

Your therapist will also explain how OCD affects the brain and hijacks thoughts so that you can understand where these symptoms come from. For people of all ages, our therapists will incorporate visual aids to clarify how OCD works.

Treatment Approaches To OCD Therapy

Our approach to OCD treatment is centered around Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. This evidence-based approach is the gold standard for OCD therapy.

ERP involves gradual, structured exposure to feared thoughts and situations under the guidance of a therapist, who will support you in resisting compulsions. We’ll begin by addressing manageable triggers to help you become more confident in tolerating discomfort and work our way up to more challenging situations. Additionally, you’ll receive simple homework assignments to help you work on exposures outside of sessions to reinforce your progress.

You’ll practice noticing physical cues and urges that tend to prompt compulsive behaviors, and with practice, you’ll start viewing discomfort as a “wave” that will pass. In addition to practicing ignoring or delaying compulsions, we will help you turn to healthier stress management strategies and shift your focus towards your personal values, relationships, and hobbies.

While some people with OCD find that they benefit from medication to manage their symptoms, others make significant progress through ERP alone. We will always let you know if we think it would be beneficial to consult with a trusted psychiatrist to enhance treatment effectiveness, but the choice is always yours. If you currently take medication, or you’re interested in this option, we can coordinate with a trusted psychiatrist to integrate medication into your treatment plan.

Obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms can sometimes reappear, even after treatment is deemed successful. Our goal is to help you manage and minimize your OCD symptoms with the understanding that they may never be totally eliminated. Instead, we aim to reduce the power and impact of your symptoms. Through therapy, you’ll learn how to easily identify which thoughts and behaviors are linked to OCD so that you can manage them as soon as they occur, rather than falling back into cycles of obsessions and compulsions.

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You May Still Have Questions About OCD Therapy…

What if talking about my problems in therapy makes me feel worse?

People often worry that talking about their obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors with a therapist will exacerbate their symptoms, but we’ve found that the opposite is often true. By opening up in therapy and discussing your compulsions, you’ll gradually teach your brain that your triggers are “false alarms,” allowing you to gain power over OCD and your life.

I had a negative experience with therapy in the past—is it really worth trying again?

At Coast Family, we find it important to make space for you to share your past experiences with therapy. We want to hear what worked for you—and what didn’t. We’ll discuss how our offerings differ from what you’ve tried in the past, but we will always be honest if we feel you would benefit from a trusted referral outside of Coast Family for services that are better suited to your specific needs.

We have a motto: “It won’t hurt our feelings,” meaning, if something doesn’t sit right with you in a session, just let us know, we will listen empathically and change course as needed.

I’m too embarrassed to share my intrusive thoughts or compulsions.

When it comes to obsessions and compulsions, there’s almost nothing we haven’t heard before. Intrusive thoughts linked to sex, sexuality, violence, and other topics that society treats as taboo are actually very common. These thoughts can feel intense, but it’s just OCD talking—they’re not a reflection of your actual values or desires. We are professionals who truly care, and we would never judge you based on your actions or thoughts related to OCD.

Through OCD Therapy, You Can Reclaim Your Time

If you’re interested in starting therapy for obsessive compulsive disorder, we’re here to help. We encourage you to call our office at (805) 507-7049 or fill out our contact form to book a free 30-minute consultation or schedule your first session.