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OCD Treatment
Are You Struggling With Guilt, Shame, And Intrusive Thoughts?
Do you have unwanted thoughts that give you anxiety? Have compulsive behaviors stopped you from engaging with your friends and family?
Perhaps you can’t seem to control your thoughts and actions, no matter how hard you try. Maybe you’re afraid that something bad will happen if you don’t follow through with your compulsions. Even though other people say you’ll be okay, it probably doesn’t matter. Not engaging in your compulsions may cause guilt, shame, and anxiety.
Stress And Change Can Make Your OCD Symptoms Worse
Maybe you had a system for dealing with intrusive thoughts, but now it feels like everything is out of control. You might be going through a big transition in life, such as a new job, pregnancy, or moving cities. As a result, you have a lot more stress in your life. The methods you once used to keep your OCD from intruding in your life are no longer working.
If you feel like it’s impossible to let go of intrusive thoughts, we encourage you to connect with us. With treatment, it’s possible to discover strategies that can help you handle OCD and learn to trust yourself.
Intrusive Thoughts Are Very Common, But Everyone Processes Them Differently
Unwanted thoughts that pop up out of nowhere are a common occurrence for most people. Oftentimes they move on from it, even forgetting it happened at all. What’s more, many people have patterns of behaviors or daily routines that they stick to, but when those routines change they are able to manage the stress and don’t have an urge to repeatedly perform a particular act to cope.
However, someone who has OCD processes their thoughts differently. OCD makes it difficult to move on from intrusive thoughts because of the guilt or shame that they cause.
For those with OCD, it can be hard to explain to others how intrusive thoughts make them feel. This lack of understanding can leave people with OCD feeling like there’s something wrong with them or that they need to overcome their struggles on their own. It can be hard to reach out for help when it feels like they are alone.
You Are Not To Blame For Your OCD
If you have OCD, it isn’t your fault. Research shows that OCD runs in families and involves messages between different parts of the brain*. Different factors in your life can make your OCD better or worse.
Believe it or not, there are other people who understand what you’re going through. Seeking treatment from someone who specializes in OCD is the first step to finding that out. Here at Peninsula Child & Family Services, we want to empower you to let go of the thoughts that consume you and be present in your life again.
OCD Treatment Can Help You Find Relief From Obsessive Thoughts And Compulsions
Therapy and medication go hand in hand in treatment for OCD, and our providers at Peninsula Child & Family Services provide both. We know how hard it is to live with OCD and we have therapists who specialize in OCD to help you improve your quality of life.
Therapy gives you a chance to approach your obsessive thoughts and compulsions gradually. Throughout this process you will be met with validation and accountability. We are here to guide you through the tough parts of OCD and devise strategies that can lower your anxiety and assist you in working through your fears.
What To Expect in Therapy Sessions For OCD
We offer telehealth therapy, so you can have sessions in your home or wherever you feel comfortable. Whether you’re looking for therapy for yourself, or you’re a parent considering therapy for your child, there will be an intake process so we can determine your needs and which provider to match you with.
When you start sessions, our counselors will help you understand OCD and what you can expect from the treatment process. We will talk about how it’s okay to feel uncomfortable or fearful about taking this next step.
Over time, once you get more comfortable, we will work on strategies to assist you in managing your OCD. This way, you will have an easier time controlling intrusive thoughts when they arise.
If medication is part of your treatment plan, you will be paired with one of our providers who is knowledgeable about what works best for OCD. Our provider will teach you about the different options for medication and suggest one that might work for you.
Medication management sessions will focus on how the medication helps you and if adjustments to your doses are needed. Medication helps by boosting serotonin production in the brain, which can decrease intrusive thoughts and compulsions.
Treatment Methods Tailored To What You Need
OCD treatment is effective. People who use a combined approach with medication and therapy usually see a 40-60% reduction of symptoms**. We are here to work with you on a plan that reduces your symptoms and gives you skills to manage your OCD in the long term.
For therapy, we use a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) called Exposure Response Prevention (ERP). ERP involves identifying triggers for intrusive thoughts and compulsions and exposing yourself to your fear or obsession in a controlled manner. Your therapist will check-in with you about your comfort level and coach you to gradually embrace more discomfort which helps to improve symptoms and helps to change how you process your experience with OCD.
ERP is also designed to give you skills to deal with OCD. These skills can help you react to your intrusive thoughts in healthier ways and resist engaging in compulsive behaviors.
We will work with you to determine the best treatment approach for managing your OCD even after you’re finished with therapy. Our goal is to give you lifelong skills that you can use whenever you feel your symptoms coming back and equip you with the confidence to handle them on your own.
You May Still Have Concerns About OCD Treatment…
I’m afraid you will judge me for my thoughts and compulsions.
When you’re dealing with guilt and shame, it can be hard to let someone in. We are here to help you, so we won’t judge you for anything you’re going through. Your thoughts and compulsions are a normal part of life with OCD and we want to normalize your experience so that you feel comfortable opening up in therapy.
The thought of starting therapy for my OCD makes me anxious.
It’s normal to feel uncomfortable or anxious when you think about facing your triggers and compulsions. Part of the therapy process is learning that you can resist compulsions, change how you respond to OCD, and accept obsessions instead of judging them. Before we start any exposure, we will create a list of ways to approach your fears and develop strategies for doing so. Every step in the process is collaborative and gradual and we will go at whatever pace you are comfortable with.
I’ve tried to get treatment for OCD and I felt like the therapist didn’t understand me at all.
We can't guarantee that a particular therapist is a good fit, but we can guarantee that we will try our best to meet your needs. We offer a free consultation where you can talk to one of our therapists and to see if you're comfortable before you have a session. If it doesn’t work out, we have other providers you can work with or we can refer you to a different practice. We want to help you find relief and we will do whatever we can to help you.
Managing Your OCD Can Give You Hope For The Future
Your quality of life is worth fighting for. No matter how severe your OCD is, it is possible to reduce your symptoms. If you want to take back control of your life, you can contact Peninsula Child & Family Services for your free, 10 minute consultation.