OCD

OCD is characterised by intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images or urges (obsessions) that cause significant distress, and repetitive mental or physical behaviours (compulsions) performed in an attempt to relieve that distress. The relief is always temporary, and the cycle tends to tighten over time.

OCD is widely misunderstood, often trivialised as a preference for tidiness or organisation — when in reality it can be profoundly disabling. It manifests in many forms including contamination fears, harm OCD, religious or moral scrupulosity, relationship OCD, and primarily obsessional OCD.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold standard psychological treatment for OCD and is the primary framework our practitioners use. It involves gradually and intentionally confronting feared thoughts or situations without engaging in the compulsive response reducing the power of the obsession over time. ACT is also used to help clients build a different relationship with intrusive thoughts. This work takes courage, and our practitioners approach it with patience, structure, and genuine care.