OCD Treatment
Are Symptoms Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Keeping You From Living A Full, Satisfying, And Values-Oriented Life?
Do you or your child experience intrusive, disturbing thoughts that impact daily life?
Does a need to complete certain rituals keep you from feeling present and at ease?
Due to these symptoms, has school or work become increasingly difficult to manage?
And have you ever been diagnosed with or suspect that you have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
OCD is characterized by a cycle of intrusive thinking and the rituals performed to keep those intrusive thoughts and anxiety at bay. Some examples of OCD behaviors include excessive handwashing and cleaning, checking that doors are locked or the stove is off, counting, reordering and rearranging, and, in some cases, hoarding. Those with OCD perform these rituals to keep their fears from coming true, often engaging in compulsions to the point that thoughts and feelings are seemingly beyond their control.
If you or your child struggle with OCD, it’s likely that you have a hard time letting go of certain patterns and routines. You may ruminate over conversations, replay certain scenarios in your head, or encounter alarming thoughts involving sex, religion, and/or violence. This naturally affects your ability to feel calm and secure around others, impacting your relationships and everyday life.
OCD Symptoms Are Likely To Occur In Neurodiverse Populations
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is common among neurodiverse populations. In fact, repetitive, “obsessive” behaviors tend to be shared among those with OCD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The main difference, however, is that people with OCD are hyper-aware of their ritualistic behaviors, while those with ASD often perform these behaviors unconsciously. Nevertheless, “People with autism are twice as likely as those without to be diagnosed with OCD later in life.”
Whether you or your child are on the Spectrum or not, OCD treatment can help make daily life much more manageable. Working with the OCD specialists at Broward Therapy Group, you can receive an accurate diagnosis and individualized treatment interventions that can significantly reduce daily symptoms.
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Where Does OCD Come From?
Though there is not much conclusive data on what exactly causes OCD, many experts agree that a combination of genetics, neurological differences, and environmental factors play a role. Symptoms typically start developing in adolescence but are sometimes found in younger populations. And OCD appears to run in families.
Oftentimes, OCD symptoms worsen as stress increases. If someone with OCD is already under stress, they may be triggered by a new, disruptive thought that will then create a new ritual. Through this, we can see how the cyclical nature of OCD intensifies in the face of significant life events and transitions.
When Seeking OCD Treatment, It’s Essential To Work With A Specialist
Unfortunately, many therapists are not adequately trained to identify and treat OCD. They may diagnose certain symptoms as generalized anxiety, a neurodivergent condition, or only associate OCD with specific symptoms like excessive handwashing.
Like many mental health conditions, OCD symptoms exist on a spectrum, which is why it’s important to work with a specialist in treatment. A trained professional—especially one who also works with neurodiverse populations—can tease out the complexities of each client’s unique experience of OCD, identifying how certain symptoms are characterized and related to other issues.
At Broward Therapy Group, we are experts in a wide range of neurological and mood disorders. Working with our counselors in therapy, you or your child can learn to identify and manage OCD-related behaviors so you can live with more peace, presence, and satisfaction.
OCD Treatment At Broward Therapy Group
First and foremost, OCD treatment is designed to promote feelings of safety. Instead of you or your child feeling like you have to engage in compulsions to manage “bad” feelings, we will work with you to slow down the thought process and change unhealthy patterns. We offer a nonjudgmental and open counseling environment so that you can feel fully comfortable exploring—and overcoming—even the most disturbing thoughts and compulsions.
What To Expect
Our therapists will start with a diagnostic assessment of your or your child’s OCD symptoms. You have likely been to a variety of clinicians who have made different diagnoses, so our goal is to provide an accurate and actionable evaluation that can actually help you feel better and more in control.
Once a diagnosis of OCD is made, we will make sure that you understand the cycle of compulsion and how it’s impacting your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A big component of OCD treatment is psychoeducation, allowing you to observe obsessive and ritualistic tendencies with less fear and judgment and more understanding and self-compassion.
We will then use a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to help you manage OCD symptoms. CBT helps slow down the cycle of obsession and compulsion, while ERP offers a safe, meaningful way to face your fears. ERP’s strategy is to allow the brain to habituate to anxious feelings in therapy so that the need for OCD-related rituals and behaviors disappears.
In addition to behavioral skills and insights from your therapist, we may refer you to a psychiatrist licensed to prescribe medication for OCD. And, of course, if other conditions are present—including ASD—we will integrate treatment approaches in a way that makes sense for you.
The ultimate goal of therapy is to offer you a chance to embrace uncertainty and manage compulsions by translating exposure to your fears and worries to real-world experiences. By facilitating actionable strategies that can reduce your symptoms, your quality of life can improve significantly. It is possible to not feel so limited by daily thoughts and compulsions—treatment can free up some of the space in your brain that OCD has taken over.
Perhaps You Still Have Questions About How Counseling For OCD Can Help…
I am very concerned that my/my child’s thoughts signal that I am/they are a bad person.
A lot of people with OCD grapple with deeply intrusive, disturbing thoughts that cause them to question themselves and their morals. Especially when these intrusive thoughts involve sexual or violent acts, people with OCD begin to develop the idea that they are wrong and shameful. But we are here to tell you that there is nothing wrong with you or your child.
Therapy can actually take away the power that shameful thoughts related to OCD has over your or your child’s life (i.e., thoughts involving violence, sexual orientation, pedophilia, existential questioning, religious scrupulosity, contamination, or a “just right” mentality). Our nonjudgmental, affirming therapists will create a safe counseling space where you can explore your experience of OCD fully and begin to untangle its effects on your life.
The idea of using ERP in therapy makes me uncomfortable.
We realize that it is uncomfortable to think about being exposed to some of your deepest fears and worries, but ERP is a safe and highly effective technique. By gradually exposing you to scenarios that would ordinarily trigger anxiety and compulsions, you can begin to see that compulsions are no longer necessary. And keep in mind, we will always make sure you are prepared for ERP through extensive psychoeducation and a highly individualized treatment process that moves at your pace.
The more you are able to recognize that nothing bad will happen if you don’t engage in your rituals, the more you can free yourself from the effects of OCD.
I want to keep my rituals—they allow me to feel less anxious.
OCD treatment involves a lot of psychoeducation, which can help you to see that your rituals are actually creating more harm than good. While they may be your way of reducing anxiety in the moment, your rituals are likely causing a lot more long-term anxiety and stress.
By developing the skills needed to rationally talk yourself through your fears, you can gradually let go of some of your compulsions, freeing up time and energy to engage in the activities and relationships that contribute to a values-oriented, fulfilling life.
You Can Escape The Cycle
As therapists specializing in a wide range of neurodivergent issues—including Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)—the clinicians at Broward Therapy Group offer affirming, effective treatment interventions that can help you live your best life. For more information about our approach to counseling for OCD, contact us.
