OCD

OCD

MORE ABOUT OCD

Obsessive–compulsive disorder

Helping you break free from obsessive thoughts and compulsive patterns

Do you find yourself caught in a cycle of thoughts that keep coming back, or rituals you have to perform and can't control? Maybe you keep having thoughts of “what if”, doubts, or fears that keep coming back no matter what you try to get them to stop. If this sounds familiar to you, you may be struggling with symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). 

Help is available. At Four Wings Psychology, we have support available to help people of all ages, in Ottawa and across Ontario, to manage these symptoms using evidence-based approaches. OCD symptoms don't need to rule your life - you can take charge again.

What is OCD?

OCD is a mental health condition that typically has two parts:

  • Obsessions, which are unwanted, repetitive thoughts, images, or urges that are upsetting to the person experiencing them (for example, a fear of contamination, of losing control, or of harm)
  • Compulsions, which are either behaviors or thoughts that are used to manage anxiety (for example, checking things, washing hands, or repeating words or phrases)

Having obsessions and/or compulsions can be exhausting and can often have an impact on our relationships with loved ones, work, and getting daily activities done.

OCD symptoms can be related to a number of different themes, including: 

  • Fears of germs, getting sick, or being contaminated
  • Checking things excessively (for example, doors, health symptoms, household appliances)
  • Unwanted, repetitive thoughts of someone getting hurt, violent actions, or topics that are taboo
  • Repeated thoughts of doing something wrong, either morally or religiously.
  • Needing to have things feel “just right” 

OCD is a condition that is very treatable and isn't well understood or recognized. Therapy can help you take control of these patterns, behaviors, and thoughts.

How Therapy for OCD Can Help

At Four Wings Psychology, our clinicians treat OCD using research-backed approaches combined with a deep understanding and appreciation for your unique situation. We approach each client with compassion and empathy for what they have been going through. Approaches our therapists may use include:

  • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which is a form of CBT that is considered the gold-standard treatment approach for managing and reducing the power of  obsessions and compulsions over time.
  • Mindfulness and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), which may help you to manage intrusive thoughts and change the way you think about things
  • Psychoeducation and Coping Strategies, to give you the knowledge to better understand OCD symptoms and practical tools to cope with these on a daily basis.

Using these approaches, we tailor our services to the challenges you have been experiencing in particular. The goal of treatment is not to get rid of these thoughts completely, but to reduce them to a level that feels more manageable and to change how you respond to them when they do come up. This, in turn, allows you to live in ways that you might not have been able to for a while.

Why Choose Four Wings Psychology?

  • Therapists trained and with experience in ERP and with a trauma-informed lens
  • Support for teens, adults, couples, and families
  • Culturally-responsive and LGBTQ2+ affirming care
  • Services available in person in Nepean, or virtually across Ontario
  • A collaborative approach to therapy where you and your therapist work together to find a pace that feels right

Take the First Step to Getting Relief

If you're struggling with obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors, you don't have to struggle on your own. Our clinicians will walk alongside you and help you find some relief as well as finding a path forward that isn't heavy with fear, worry, and shame.

GET HELP WITH OCD

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