We want you to get the treatment you deserve.
Transforming with OCD Counseling
Our office provides Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) counseling provided by specialized psychologists and counselors.
Want to know what OCD is and how it develops? Visit this page.
It is very important to find a therapist trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, specifically a subset of this therapy called ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), Metacognitive Therapy (MCT), Inference Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) and/or ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) to treat OCD symptoms. This is because traditional therapeutic approaches that might focus on skills like relaxation or reframing in an effort to 'control' symptoms can actually make OCD worse.
Through research, we have found ERP to be the gold standard treatment to successfully manage distress and stop compulsions. Although it may seem like a paradox, we have found that engaging in the compulsions themselves actually makes the anxiety and obsessions worse. ERP teaches the brain to change the way it responds to obsessions and manage anxiety or distress without compulsions. The attempt to escape the distress of the obsessions through compulsions reinforces the intensity of OCD.
A modern approach
Step 1: Complete a 60-minute intake interview and if you are being treated for OCD you will complete an assessment called the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (typically done at the second appointment).
Step 2: Your therapist will work with you to learn about the biology and patterns associated with OCD, will discuss the rationale for treatment, and will help you understand the treatment structure.
Step 3: Your therapist will introduce self-monitoring and will create a hierarchy of exposures with you. You will learn the principles of Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). You may also work on creating something called an acceptance script.
Step 4: You will work with your therapist through the hierarchy of exposures. Commitment to the therapy is essential - your therapist will work with you to identify possible secondary gains or other therapy-interfering behaviors as necessary. Willingness to complete the exposures is vital to the effectiveness of the treatment.
Step 5: You will work on self-exposure at home under the guidance of your therapist.
Step 6: The process will continue until your brain has learned a new way to manage the thoughts. You will then discuss relapse prevention with your therapist.
How to Get Started
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Complete New Client Inquiry Form
You will be matched with the OCD/Anxiety specialist that is the best fit for you.
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Schedule an Intake Session
If you and the Clinician decide after the free treatment consultation the fit is right, you will schedule and intake session. During your intake, your clinician will complete an assessment of your anxiety or OCD and will create a treatment plan.
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Attend Follow-up Sessions
After completing the intake, you will start treatment sessions. Typically, patients feel some relief within the first 4-6 sessions when they are competently practicing exposures. Full treatment lasts, on average, 17-25 sessions (90 minutes) or 22-30 shorter sessions (50 minutes)
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Find Clarity, Peace, and Resilience
As you work through exposures and use the skills guided by your Clinician, you should begin to feel relief.