CBT Therapy for OCD
Understanding OCD
OCD can involve unwanted thoughts, images, doubts or urges that feel difficult to dismiss, even when part of you recognises that they may be exaggerated or unlikely.
You might find yourself checking, repeating, cleaning, arranging, seeking reassurance, mentally reviewing events, or following particular rules in an attempt to reduce anxiety or prevent something bad from happening.
These behaviours can bring short-term relief, but they may also reinforce the idea that the thought or fear was important and that the ritual or checking was necessary. This can make the doubt return more strongly and gradually increase the amount of time and attention needed to feel safe or certain.
Therapy can help you understand the relationship between intrusive thoughts, anxiety and compulsive responses, and begin developing different ways of responding without continually needing to remove uncertainty.
AVAILABLE FACE-TO-FACE OR ONLINE
We're Ready to Help You
We offer all prospective clients an hour long, informal and confidential chat to discuss your mental health needs for just £30.
There's no pressure to undertake any therapy going forward, no judgement from us and we're very friendly and easy to talk to!
♦ Ongoing sessions:
Typically weekly or fortnightly, tailored to your needs.
♦ Location:
Comfortable private setting near Wolverhampton / Wombourne, with free parking.
Secure online therapy available with Paul across the UK.
♦ Fees:
Ongoing sessions: £90/hr
What May Have Caused You to Develop OCD?
OCD can develop from a variety of life experiences that shape an individual's perception of control and safety in their environment.
For some, an incident involving trauma or unpredictability, such as a significant loss or a chaotic upbringing, may instil a deep-seated need for order and certainty, driving them to create rituals to cope with anxiety.
Others might find themselves internalising societal pressures to achieve perfection, leading to obsessive thoughts about making mistakes or facing criticism.
Additionally, growing up in a household where cleanliness and order were excessively emphasised could lead to compulsive behaviours focused on avoiding dirt or disorder.
These experiences often create a framework in which common thoughts and behaviours evolve into the patterned responses seen in OCD, highlighting the importance of understanding the context behind these feelings for effective therapy and recovery.
OCD Symptoms
OCD is usually associated with both obsessions and compulsions as well as unwanted, intrusive thoughts.
Common obsessions include:
- Fear of contamination by germs or dirt.
- Intense concern with symmetry, order, or exactness.
- Unwanted aggressive or taboo thoughts about harming others or oneself.
- Persistent doubts, such as whether the door is locked or the stove is turned off.
The thoughts are not just worries about real-life problems; they are persistent and cause significant emotional disturbance.
Common compulsions include:
- Excessive hand washing, cleaning, or sanitising.
- Repeatedly checking things, like doors, locks, or appliances.
- Counting, tapping, or repeating certain words silently.
- Arranging objects in a specific order or symmetry.
Performing these compulsive acts may temporarily reduce the anxiety caused by the obsessions, but it does not bring lasting relief. Instead, it reinforces the cycle of obsession and compulsion.
Have the Symptoms of OCD?
Find out if you have the signs and symptoms linked to OCD conditions by taking our OCD quiz here.
Psychological therapy with paul
CBT Therapy Options for OCD
ABOUT PAUL
Meet Paul Lee MSc
Hello, I'm Paul and I've been working with people as a psychologist, psychotherapist and coach since 2009. I have expert knowledge of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and adopt a non-medicalised philosophy when helping people overcome mental health challenges. This means that I will frame your current difficulties as being the result of what has happened to you rather than what is wrong with you.
What to Expect from Therapy
Therapy isn't something that is simply done to you. Although your therapist can provide understanding, guidance and practical psychological strategies, meaningful change usually develops through what you discover, practice and begin to do differently in your everyday life.
At Tranceform, we see therapy as a collaborative process. We'll work together to understand the patterns of thinking, feeling and behaviour that may be keeping the problem going, while helping you explore different ways of responding. Sometimes this involves questioning long-held assumptions, reducing avoidance or experimenting with behaviours that initially feel unfamiliar.
The aim isn't to make you dependent upon therapy or to promise a quick fix. It's to help you develop greater understanding, confidence and agency so that, over time, you become better equipped to manage difficulties for yourself.
Therapy provides the guidance. You provide the practice. We create the change together.
TAKE THE FIRST STEP