Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment in Halifax
Counselling for OCD with a psychologist
Struggling with OCD in the Halifax area? Help is available in Nova Scotia.
OCD is characterized by two main components which are distressing, time-consuming, and significantly interfere with normal routines, relationships, or work life. Counselling with a psychologist can help reduce the frequency and distress caused by intrusive thoughts and unwanted repetitive behaviors. As the name implies, OCD consists of:
Obsessions - Ideas, thoughts, or images which preoccupy a person's thinking and result in significant worry and anxiety.
Compulsions - Behaviors (or even mental acts) which are performed over and over in an attempt to reduce the stress associated with the obsessions.
OCD is characterized by two main components which are distressing, time-consuming, and significantly interfere with normal routines, relationships, or work life. Counselling with a psychologist can help reduce the frequency and distress caused by intrusive thoughts and unwanted repetitive behaviors. As the name implies, OCD consists of:
Obsessions - Ideas, thoughts, or images which preoccupy a person's thinking and result in significant worry and anxiety.
Compulsions - Behaviors (or even mental acts) which are performed over and over in an attempt to reduce the stress associated with the obsessions.
What are the different types of OCD?
Different subtypes of OCD include:
Checking
A common belief for those with a checking type of OCD is that they are responsible for the prevention of disasters to themselves or others. As such, these individuals may repeatedly check to sure that doors are locked and household appliances have been turned off or unplugged.
Washing / Cleaning
The washing / cleaning subtype of OCD involves excessive concerns over dirt, germs, or viruses. Repeated washing (especially hand washing) is used to temporarily reduce the fear of contamination. When the person does not get sick (which may have been true even without the hand washing), this only reinforces the behavior. If the person does happen to get sick, this is interpreted to mean that he / she did not wash enough. Either way, the obsessive behavior increases.
Ordering
The ordering subtype of OCD refers to an excessive need to place objects in a particular sequence or arrangement. The individual may become extremely distressed if the arrangement is moved or re-ordered.
Pure Obsessions
These individuals may experience relentless unwanted thoughts about causing harm to themselves or others. There are no overt behavioral rituals but repetitive thoughts (e.g., counting or specific words) may be used to reduce anxiety. The reality is that people with pure obsessions are highly unlikely to care out the thoughts that seem to pop into their heads. These thoughts have nothing to do with the person’s character, desires, or intentions – it simply means that the person has OCD and that treatment to stop the thoughts may be helpful.
Religious or Moral Obsession
People with this subtype of OCD have thoughts related to religious or moral shortcomings, are unwanted, cause significant distress, and would be seen as excessive by most people of a similar faith or in a similar environment.
Checking
A common belief for those with a checking type of OCD is that they are responsible for the prevention of disasters to themselves or others. As such, these individuals may repeatedly check to sure that doors are locked and household appliances have been turned off or unplugged.
Washing / Cleaning
The washing / cleaning subtype of OCD involves excessive concerns over dirt, germs, or viruses. Repeated washing (especially hand washing) is used to temporarily reduce the fear of contamination. When the person does not get sick (which may have been true even without the hand washing), this only reinforces the behavior. If the person does happen to get sick, this is interpreted to mean that he / she did not wash enough. Either way, the obsessive behavior increases.
Ordering
The ordering subtype of OCD refers to an excessive need to place objects in a particular sequence or arrangement. The individual may become extremely distressed if the arrangement is moved or re-ordered.
Pure Obsessions
These individuals may experience relentless unwanted thoughts about causing harm to themselves or others. There are no overt behavioral rituals but repetitive thoughts (e.g., counting or specific words) may be used to reduce anxiety. The reality is that people with pure obsessions are highly unlikely to care out the thoughts that seem to pop into their heads. These thoughts have nothing to do with the person’s character, desires, or intentions – it simply means that the person has OCD and that treatment to stop the thoughts may be helpful.
Religious or Moral Obsession
People with this subtype of OCD have thoughts related to religious or moral shortcomings, are unwanted, cause significant distress, and would be seen as excessive by most people of a similar faith or in a similar environment.
Treatment for OCD
The most common approaches to treating OCD are cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication (usually belonging to the antidepressant classification). Often, medication is combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Cognitive-behavioral treatment for OCD may involve:
● Ongoing behavioral monitoring
● Creating and slowly working on an OCD anxiety hierarchy -starting with easy changes, gaining skill and comfort, and then attempting more difficult challenges
● Challenging and replacing faulty beliefs and self-talk
● Ritual prevention for increasingly longer periods of time
● Involving family members or friends as "coaches"
● Imaginal exposure
● Learning (and regularly practicing) stress and relaxation strategies
Cognitive-behavioral treatment for OCD may involve:
● Ongoing behavioral monitoring
● Creating and slowly working on an OCD anxiety hierarchy -starting with easy changes, gaining skill and comfort, and then attempting more difficult challenges
● Challenging and replacing faulty beliefs and self-talk
● Ritual prevention for increasingly longer periods of time
● Involving family members or friends as "coaches"
● Imaginal exposure
● Learning (and regularly practicing) stress and relaxation strategies
Halifax OCD Treatment
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is treatable. If you would like help for OCD (and live in the areas of Halifax, Bedford, or Dartmouth) please read more about therapy and counselling, my treatment approach, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you would like to set up an initial consultation.
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