THERAPY FOR OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
Are you bothered by unwanted thoughts or images on your mind? Or find that you can't stop doing particular things? If so Obsessive Compulsive Disorder could be the problem. Contact us now on 0800 0614548 to arrange Therapy for OCD.
WHAT IS OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)?
The words obsessive and compulsive are often used in every day language, however when we consider Obsessive Compulsive Disorder we are talking about something quite specific. About 1 in 50 people will experience OCD at some point in their life, you may be wondering if this is a problem for you.
Often people will report that they are excessively troubled by particular thoughts, images or phrases popping into their mind – these are sometimes called intrusive thoughts or intrusions. These types of thoughts can happen at unwanted times and can seem overwhelming and can be about a range of different things from person to person.
One thing that intrusive thoughts share is that they are often unacceptable to the person experiencing them and cause distress. Intrusive thoughts may be about harming others, sexually inappropriate thoughts or blasphemous thoughts – for example. In order to cope with these people may develop compulsive behaviourswhich they feel compelled to repeat in various situations – often completing these behaviours leads to unpleasant emotions reducing temporarily. For example, people may perform certain rituals either visibly or inside their minds, order or arrange items in specific ways or seek reassurance from others.
Obsessive disorder can often be mistaken for other problems such as clinical perfectionism and so it is always a good idea to seek professional advice in order to gain an accurate diagnosis and plan for treatment.
WHAT TREATMENTS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR OCD?
Both psychological therapies and medication can be helpful in reducing symptoms of OCD, however generally psychological therapies based on Cognitive and Behavioural approaches, such as therapy offered by us have been shown to bring longer lasting results.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommends two types of psychological treatment for OCD – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention. Both approaches have a wide range of research showing their effectiveness and we can provide both types of treatment. Depending on how OCD affects your life either approach may be recommended – after an initial assessment we will be able to discuss this with you.
HOW EFFECTIVE ARE TREATMENTS OFFERED BY DYNAMIC YOU?
We offer Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which is Recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) as a highly effective treatment for OCD. Our treatments are delivered by skilled health professionals with many years in practice – often in the NHS or in academic institutions.
As well as only delivering clinically recommended treatments, to the best of our knowledge we are the only independent psychological therapy provider to routinely collect, monitor and publish data on the effectiveness of therapy that our team offers. Why not take a look at how effective our treatments have been for clients so far, or read our testimonials?
FURTHER READING AND USEFUL RESOURCES:
OCD Action – Is the largest Charity on the UK providing information and support for people experiencing OCD and their families. Their goal is to ensure that OCD is properly understood in society and that people know where to access appropriate treatments, such as CBT.
Patient.co.uk – Have published further information on OCD and treatment options.
