OCD

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts, obsessions, and repetitive behaviors or rituals. Someone struggling with OCD may count things, such as tapping their foot a certain number of times before getting in their car, or check to make sure they locked their door multiple times. They feel a strong, uncontrollable urge to engage in these behaviors to alleviate anxiety or prevent negative outcomes. They often realize how ridiculous their behaviors are, but just can’t seem to stop doing them because it just wouldn’t feel “right” if they stopped doing them. This cycle can become debilitating, significantly impacting one's daily life and overall well-being.

And OCD is also much more…

We all have moments of self - criticism where our inner voice says to us “I’m not good enough.” With OCD, this inner critic can be a constant and unrelenting part of one’s experiences. An individual with OCD might receive praise from friends and family, win an award for being the best singer, or be named MVP of their team. And yet still, the OCD critic might say, “my friends and family are just saying that to make me feel better,” “I don’t deserve this singing award. I’m terrible!” or “I only got MVP because I got lucky. I don’t deserve this.”

Individuals with OCD often feel that their world is crashing whenever they make simple mistakes. They catastrophize these mistakes and the negative thoughts dominate their mind throughout the day. Arriving five minutes late to that work event means that they might get fired (even if they received praise from their boss just a few days prior). They could have 99 accomplishments, but that 1 mistake becomes the only thing that matters.

Treating OCD

At Shire Family Counseling, we understand the challenges of living with OCD. We utilize evidence-based treatments, such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, which help clients break free from the grip of obsessive thoughts and compulsions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help you develop skills to manage your obsessive thoughts and stop the checking, counting, and other compulsive behaviors that take up so much time throughout the day.

For some, there is also a link between our past traumas and our OCD…

Traditional talk therapies might also help you process uncomfortable events from your past, and make connections to how those past events created that mean, annoying, and negative self - critical voice. Talking such things out can help you turn down the volume on your self - critic, and turn up the volume of an inner voice that is kinder and more positive. Additionally, EMDR may be a suitable choice of therapy for some, as there is evidence to support that EMDR also helps with OCD in addition to healing past traumas.

In addition to in-person counseling, we also offer Telehealth support, allowing clients to access our services from the comfort of their own homes. This flexible option can be particularly beneficial for those who face transportation or scheduling barriers.

If you or a loved one are struggling with OCD, we encourage you to reach out to Shire Family Counseling. We are dedicated to providing the specialized care and support you need to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.