PSYFLEX MENTAL WELLNESS

Therapy for OCD

Overcome intrusive thoughts and live the life you want.

Do you find that intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors are interfering with your ability to focus and excel at work, while also making it difficult to relax and enjoy your time off?

  • Are you struggling to maintain a work-life balance because of the time and energy consumed by constantly trying to make the thoughts go away?

  • Have you noticed that your intrusive thoughts are impacting your relationships and personal life, making it difficult to create or maintain the connections you want?

  • Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the need for perfection and control, leading to increased stress and anxiety?

  • Do you wish you could reduce the influence of intrusive thoughts, images, or urges on your daily life and regain a sense of normalcy and peace of mind?

  • Are you interested in learning effective strategies, like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), to manage your symptoms and improve your overall well-being?

  • Are you ready to take the first step towards reclaiming control over your thoughts and behaviors with the help of specialized therapy?

OCD Subtypes

1. Contamination OCD
“I’m constantly afraid of germs or getting sick. I feel like everything around me is dirty or dangerous. I wash my hands, clean, or avoid certain places to feel safe.”
This subtype involves intense fears of contamination from dirt, germs, or environmental toxins. Compulsions often include excessive washing, cleaning, or avoiding contaminated areas or people.

2. Harm OCD
“I’m terrified I might hurt someone, even though I’d never want to. I obsess over whether I might accidentally cause harm, and it makes me avoid people or situations.”
This involves intrusive thoughts about causing harm to oneself or others. The compulsions may include seeking reassurance, avoiding sharp objects, or mentally reviewing one’s actions to ensure they haven’t hurt anyone.

3. Checking OCD
“I’m constantly worried that I forgot to lock the door, turn off the stove, or made a mistake that could cause a disaster. I keep checking things over and over to make sure.”
This subtype centers around fears of making mistakes that could lead to catastrophic outcomes. People feel compelled to repeatedly check locks, appliances, or their work.

4. Symmetry and Ordering OCD
“I feel uneasy when things aren’t arranged in a certain way. Everything has to be symmetrical or in a specific order, or it feels wrong. I can’t relax until it’s perfect.”
This involves obsessions with symmetry, order, or things being ‘just right.’ Compulsions include arranging or ordering items until they feel balanced or correct.

5. Relationship OCD (ROCD)
“I keep doubting my relationship, wondering if I really love my partner or if they love me. I can’t stop analyzing every little interaction and worry I’m with the wrong person.”
ROCD includes persistent doubts and insecurities about relationships. Individuals may obsess over whether they’re with the ‘right’ partner or if they truly love them, often seeking reassurance from others.

6. Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD)
“I’m constantly questioning my sexual orientation, even though I’ve never had any doubts before. I can’t stop analyzing my thoughts, and I worry I’m living a lie.”
This subtype causes intrusive thoughts about one’s sexual orientation, leading to compulsions like mental checking or seeking reassurance to confirm their true identity.

7. Religious or Scrupulosity OCD
“I’m constantly worried that I’m offending God or doing something morally wrong. I spend hours praying or mentally reviewing my actions to make sure I’m being a good person.”
Scrupulosity involves obsessions with religious or moral correctness, often leading to compulsive prayer, confession, or self-checking to avoid perceived wrongdoing.

8. Pedophilia OCD (POCD)
“I have these awful, unwanted thoughts about children that make me feel like a terrible person. I know I would never act on them, but I can’t stop worrying that I might.”
This subtype involves intrusive fears of being a pedophile or acting inappropriately with children, even though there is no desire or intention to do so. Compulsions may include avoiding children, seeking reassurance, or mentally analyzing thoughts.

You can’t stop the waves but you can learn how to surf.

How does OCD work?

The OCD cycle often starts with a troubling thought or fear that makes you feel anxious. To try to get rid of this anxiety, you might do something to get rid of the thought or anxiety in hopes that it will help. While this might make you feel better for a little while, the upsetting and unwanted thoughts soon return, and the whole cycle begins again.

This pattern is draining, takes up a whole lot of your time, and makes it hard to enjoy life or stay focused on what you need to do. Understanding and breaking this cycle will help you feel back in control of your life and focused on what you really want to do.

OCD doesn’t have to run your life

For high achievers and working professionals, living with OCD can be particularly overwhelming. The constant intrusive thoughts, urges, and images along with the need to perform rituals and compulsions disrupt your focus, productivity, and peace of mind, making it difficult to balance your personal and professional life.

At PsyFlex, we understand the unique challenges OCD presents and offer specialized treatments to address them. We use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, a proven method that helps you face your fears and reduce compulsive behaviors. Through structured exposures and guided support, we help you break free from the cycle of OCD, allowing you to regain focus on what truly matters. Let us help you overcome OCD and achieve a more balanced, fulfilling life.

“When you attempt to eliminate risk from your life, you eliminate along with it, your ability to function.”
— Fred Penzel

Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position.
But certainty is an absurd one.

―Voltaire

How treatment can help

Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP) therapy involves facing the fears or situations that trigger your OCD without performing the usual compulsive or avoidance behaviors that you use to reduce your distress. This process helps get you comfortable feeling uncomfortable, embrace uncertainty, and reduce the power your fears have over you. Over time, ERP can help you take back control of your life, not give OCD the attention it craves, and eventually significantly lessen the impact of OCD on your life.

We also incorporate elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, to help you learn ways to respond more flexibly to your intrusive thoughts so you can do more of what’s important to you. This approach develops psychological flexibility, allowing you to live a more meaningful life despite the presence of OCD symptoms.

With therapy you can expect:

  • Improved Focus: Gain the ability to concentrate better on work and personal tasks without the constant distraction of intrusive thoughts.

  • Increased Productivity: Spend less time on rituals and more time achieving your goals, both professionally and personally.

  • Enhanced Work-Life Balance: Enjoy your downtime without the overwhelming need to perform compulsive behaviors or make sure everything is just right.

  • Reduced Stress: Experience lower levels of anxiety and stress by managing OCD symptoms effectively.

  • Better Relationships: Improve your interactions with colleagues, friends, and family by being more present and engaged.

  • Greater Peace of Mind: Feel more confident in your ability to handle unwanted thoughts, leading to a more relaxed and fulfilling life.

  • Personal Growth: Unlock your full potential by overcoming the barriers OCD places on your personal and professional development.

  • Empowerment: Gain confidence in your ability to manage OCD, leading to increased self-esteem and overall well-being.