Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - CBT Treatment for OCD -in London, Sevenoaks, UK-wide and Online by Video Link
If you are experiencing problems with intrusive thoughts or images, obsessional levels of worry, overthinking, compulsive checking, reassurance seeking or avoidance behaviours, then you could be suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD operates across the spectrum of problems that can include irrational fears and self doubts about harming others, security, contamination, sexuality, perversion, body sensations and relationships. These irrational fears, self-doubts and associated compulsions can be effectively treated using specialised forms of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
We provide specialised CBT treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder from our clinics and consulting rooms in Sevenoaks, London and online via video link. We also have over 200 BABCP accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapists on the team working across the UK from Inverness to Torquay. All of our CBT specialists have achieved the UK gold standard in the practice of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, offering CBT appointments on a face-to-face basis or online via video link. We are confident that you will not find better qualified or experienced CBT specialist to help with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. you can make an initial enquiry by completing the contact form on the right side of this page or you can search for a therapist by postcode in the search box provided. If you need help please call (01732) 808626 or email appointments@thinkcbt.com
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a highly distressing anxiety-related problem affecting around 1.2% of the general population. OCD usually involves three reciprocal processes. Firstly, intrusive and recurrent negative thoughts, disturbing images or physical sensations. Secondly, obsessional thinking patterns involving intense rumination, worry or self-doubts and thirdly, ritualistic or neutralising behaviours, referred to as compulsions.
The negative intrusive thoughts and obsessional thinking patterns are highly distressing and often repugnant to the individual. The repetitive behaviours or rituals are accepted as irrational but highly habit forming and incredibly difficult to break. OCD can be referred to as "Covert" where the obsessional thoughts and compulsions are internalised as mental habits or routines, or "Overt", where the compulsions are externally observable and involve repetitive behaviours or rituals. Covert forms of OCD are sometimes referred to as Pure "O". This involves a primarily obsessional form of OCD, where it is often difficult to distinguish between the obsession and the mental ritual.
OCD can be viewed on a spectrum and is clustered together with other disorders including Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Body Focused Repetitive Behaviours – BFRBs which include skin picking, nailbiting and hair pulling behaviours. OCD commonly occurs along side other anxiety or mood problems including Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Depression.
You can read our article on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and find out more about the most effective forms of CBT treatment. You can also visit our pages on Hyperawareness OCD, Sensorimotor OCD and Relationship OCD - ROCD.
How Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is Maintained
OCD is maintained by an attempt to control, avoid or neutralise obsessional worries, doubts, negative self-appraisals and the associated anxiety. This involves three complex psychological processes known as negative reinforcement, inhibitory learning and behavioural conditioning or association. Understanding how these psychological processes operate is essential to effective treatment.

OCD sufferers attempt to prevent or neutralise the obsessional worry and anxiety, by trying to stop the thought or carry out the compulsion. This provides only temporary relief and serves to strengthen the reciprocal relationship between the negative thought and the compulsive behaviour. Whilst performing the compulsion provides temporary relief, it also prevents the disconfirmation of feared situations and strengthens the association between the negative thought and the compulsion. Research also demonstrates that attempting to stop negative thoughts actually increases the preoccupation with the thought itself and the associated level of anxiety. Over time, compulsions can become so ingrained that the OCD sufferer is no longer aware of the intrusive and obsessional thoughts.
A number of OCD related cognitive patterns have also been identified as maintenance factors for OCD, these include:
- Overestimation of threat /Catastrophic thinking.
- increased responsibility bias – also known as inflated responsibility.
- Uncertainty Intolerance – difficulty coping with unpredictable or ambiguous situations.
- Thought Action Fusion – conflation of thoughts with action or intentions.
- Perfectionistic Thinking – an absolute tendency to order and exactitude and an intolerance of errors or imperfections.
Obsessions involve:
- Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses or images that are experienced as intrusive or inappropriate and which cause anxiety or distress.
- The thoughts, impulses or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems.
- The person attempts to ignore or suppress their thoughts, impulses or images, or to neutralise them with some other thought or action.
- The person recognises that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind.
Compulsions involve:
- Repetitive behaviours or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.
- The behaviours or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or avoiding a dreaded event or situation.
- These behaviours or mental acts are usually excessive and not connected in a realistic way to the feared situation or event.
For an OCD diagnosis to take place:
- The individual recognises that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable.
- The obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress, take up more than 1 hour a day, or significantly interfere with the person's normal routine, occupation or social activities.
- If another psychological disorder, substance use, or general medical condition is present, the obsessions or compulsions are not exclusively restricted to it.
How OCD is Treated Using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Contemporary psychological research shows that OCD can be effectively treated using a number of different cognitive and behavioural strategies. These techniques involve altering negative self-appraisals, normalising and defusing from intrusive thoughts and obsessions and minimising compulsions using ERP to promote habituation and inhibitory learning.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is treated using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and / or SSRI medication. Whilst SSRI medication can reduce the intensity of the symptoms, the recommended treatment of choice is CBT.
Effective CBT strategies include Exposure Response Prevention (PRP), Cognitive Therapy (CT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Inference Based Therapy (IBT).
Some of the counselling approaches from the Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic field have proven ineffective and in some cases can actually make the problem worse by encouraging increased introspection and self-doubting.
OCD sufferers are advised to follow the NICE guidance and only use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or prescribed medication in the treatment of OCD. ERP, ACT and IBT treatments can be highly effective when integrated into a structured CBT plan.
If you want to talk to a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist about OCD, you can complete the simple contact form and we will organise an initial free telephone consultation. You can also take the confidential Obsessive Compulsive self-assessment by clicking on the following link:
The Different Forms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OCD is a single term given to describe a wide range of anxiety related problems that tend to follow common cognitive and behavioural patterns. Whilst there are numerous variations on the problem, OCD will typically involve one or more of the following areas:
Checking Behaviours - Continuously checking or testing things to minimise perceived risk or threat. This could include switches on the cooker, locking doors and windows or repeatedly asking questions or asking for verbal reassurance. Show More
The checking behaviours provide a safety / reassurance habit to control or neutralise the anxiety or worry and tend to increase in frequency over time. Common checking behaviours include:
- Gas or electric appliance knobs, Water taps and electric light switches.
- Door and window locks, security chains and house / car alarms.
- Continuously rereading and checking letters, postcards and emails before sending.
- Accident information after completing a road journey.
- Continuously texting and calling loved ones to check safety.
- Internet health pages to check symptoms.
Symmetry and Orderliness - This involves a compulsion to ensure that everything is lined up, in it's correct place and feeling " just right". This is done to maintain a sense of security and control, to prevent discomfort or sometimes to avoid worries about something bad happening. Show More
This continuous checking can disrupt and interfere with daily routines and cause isolation as the sufferer attempts to strictly control the situation or their environment. Examples of Symmetry and Orderliness behaviours include:
- Having to ensure that everything is neat, tidy and in its correct place at all times.
- Ensuring that everything is completely spotless, hygienically clean and without any marks or smudges.
- Hanging pictures or organising books in a completely aligned and ordered manner.
- Organising food or crockery according to a specific formula, such as ensuring that cans of food are all facing the same way.
- Hanging or storing items of clothing to all face the same way or follow a strict order.
- Organising or storing items according to a strict set of rules.
Physical / Mental Contamination Fears - This involves extreme worries about real or "magical" threats such as bacteria, viruses, chemicals, bad luck, bad numbers and the names of illnesses. Sufferers become preoccupied with cleansing, avoiding possible sources of contamination and attempting to limit the potential for cross-contamination of "safe" areas. Show More
Covert internal rituals or routines are often used to reverse or neutralise bad words or ideas. Contamination avoidance behaviours include:
- Contact with cleaning chemicals.
- Visiting GP waiting rooms, hospitals or other public waiting areas.
- Shaking hands or touching door knobs / handles.
- Eating in cafes or restaurants.
- Touching red objects or stains.
- Avoiding disabled or sick people.
- Showering after talking to unpleasant people.
- Having special words or internal routines to neutralise mental contamination.
Hoarding - This involves compulsive collecting, difficulty discarding and problems organising the saved or acquired items. This usually results in cramped living conditions as the hoarding habit takes over all available living space. Show More
There are three main anxiety factors that maintain hoarding habits. These are prevention of harm to others, depravation worries and increased emotional attachment to the objects. Hoarding behaviours include:
- Storing old clothing, newspapers, tinned food, packaging and broken items.
- Retrieving items from the waste or dustbins.
- Buying or accumulating stocks of items and food stuffs.
- Hiding hoarded items and avoiding house visits from friends and family.
- Collecting or retaining discarded items.
Intrusive Thinking / Rumination - This involves the continuous recurrence of personally repugnant and disturbing thoughts, images or impulses that are highly distressing and often relate to violence, sexuality, morality, danger, or acting in an unacceptable manner. Show More
Attempts to neutralise the extreme anxiety brought on by the intrusion, creates a vicious cycle as the sufferer becomes preoccupied by their attempts to suppress or control their thinking, continuous self doubting and constant self questioning. In it's pure form, Obsessional OCD is terrifying and profoundly undermines the sufferer's sense of personal integrity, morality and sanity. Intrusions can cover:
- Perverse or unacceptable sexual thoughts.
- Doubting own sexuality or identity.
- Testing or challenging The stability or fidelity of relationships.
- Violent or aggressive acts.
- Magical, superstitious or irrational occurrences.
- Irreligious or immoral acts.
- Doubting own identity, self questioning and assumptions of dark or evil intent.
If you are experiencing problems with OCD, you can take our OCD self assessment questionnaires by clicking here.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for OCD brings the same rigor, structure and focus that it provides for many other psychological, emotional and behavioural problems.
Follow the evidence and take a positive step towards changing your situation.
Call us now on 01732 808 626, click here to send a message or email us at info@thinkcbt.com. You can also find out more about our services by clicking this link.
Our OCD Specialists
Concorde House Clinic, 26a Stour Street, Canterbury, CT1 2NZ
267 High St, Epping Essex CM16 4BP
Rebecca Hildyard, Millkbank Ct, Pudsey, Leeds, LS28
5 Walnut tree way, Colchester, Essex, CO2 9BS
Southbourne, West Sussex, PO10
Suite 2A, Blackthorn House, St Pauls Square, Birmingham, B3 1RL
Unit 2, Woodgate Chambers, 70, Woodgate, Loughborough, LE11 2TZ
Milton, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO4
Office 19, 70 Plover Road, Wellington Mills/ Heritage Exchange, Huddersfield, HD3 3HR
The Queens Gardens Business Centre, 31 Ironmarket, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1RP
Mycenae Road, Blackheath, London, SE3 7SE
8 Seathwaite Close, Middleton, Manchester, M24 5YB
2 Ivy Road, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1DB
Lombard House, 12-17 Upper Bridge Street, Canterbury, CT1 2NF
Golborne, Manchester, WA3 3QR
Anna Gregorowicz, Kilburn Pl, London, NW6 4QN
Titchfield, Fareham, PO15
Thornton House, Thornton Road, Wimbledon, London, SW19 4NG
Miriam Burton, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23
3 Taviton St Kings Cross, London, WC1H 0BT
Barracks House, Sheffield, S6 2LR
High Street, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 9LB
Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE10
14 Riverside Lodge, 208 Palatine Road, Didsbury, Greater Manchester
450 Streatham High Rd, Streatham, London, SW16 3PX
14 Riverside Lodge, 208 Palatine Road, Didsbury, Greater Manchester
Gemma Forshaw, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV10 7NP
342 Kingsland Road, Haggerston, London, E8 4DA
The Spinney, 121 Main Road, Danbury, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 4DL
2nd Floor, 12a Castle Street, Reading, Berskhire, RG1 7RD
68 Hawley Drive, Leybourne Chase, West Malling, ME19 5FL
Ward Road, Dundee, DD1 1LP
1 Jackson Close, Bradwell, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 9FY
327 Broadway, Bexleyheath, DA6 8DT
147 Commercial Street, London, E1 6BJ
Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 1DA
5 Military Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1LN
BodyTonic Clinic, 10-11, Dock Offices, London, SE16 2XU
Oliver House, Hall Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0HG
7 Armitage Road, Thorpe Bay, SS1 3RR
Rhianna Blackwell, Nuthatch Gardens, London, SE28 0DJ
24-26 St Thomas Street, London, SE1 9RS
164 - 178 Cromwell Rd, London, SW5 0TU
53 Parkside, London, SW19 5NX
108 Westcliff Park Drive, Westcliff, SS0 9LP
Charu Bassi, Erith Road, Belvedere, DA17 6EY
Houghton Suit, Stonebridge Mill, Longridge, Lancashire, PR3 3AD
38 Redburn Avenue, Inverness, Scotland, IV2 7AZ
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1
22 Littlewood Close, London, W13 9XH
Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4SH
Prenton, Birkenhead, CH43 1XQ
147 Commercial Street, London, E1 6BJ
Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK3 5DQ
Jaime Miralles, Hadfield Road, Cardiff, CF11 1NB
Homeleigh, Stawell, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA7 9AD
Lombard House, 12/17 Upper Bridge Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2NF
Suite E, 52 High Street, Sevenoaks, TN13 1JG
Great Harwood, Blackburn, BB6
Zahra Hunton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG5
Manchester, Stretford, M32
Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leicestershire, LE65 1FF
43a Quarry Hill Road. Tonbridge, TN9 2RS
Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7NB
1 Hatherley Rd, Sidcup, DA14 4BH
48 Lynton Avenue, Ealing, London, W13 0EB
41 Cornhill Road, Carlton, Nottingham, NG4 1GE
Elaine Deaves, Field Lane, Litherland, Liverpool, L21 9NF
10 St John's Parade, High Street, Sidcup, DA14 6ES
Nicoletta Cavriani, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11
Langton Road, Speldhurst, Kent, TN3 0NP
17 Dorset Drive, Edgware, London, HA87 NT
84 The Lakes, Larkfield, Kent, ME20 6GS
104 St Williams Way, Thorpe Street, Andrew, Norwich, NR7 0AP
Peverell, Plymouth, PL3 5UE
10 Bath Road, Wells, Somerset BA5 3LG
The Eaves, The Lodge, Cattershall Mill, Catteshall Road, Godalming, GU7 1NJ
The Therapy Centre 6B Church Street, Reading, RG1 2SB
Lucy Conroy, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 4YT
56 Oxford Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 8DJ
22-24 Stour Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2NZ
Jersey, Channel Islands, St Helier, JE23
Think CBT - Westerham Clinic, Kent, TN16
Queens Park London, NW10 3HN
St Mark’s Church Hall, St Mark’s Place, Wimbledon, London, SW19 7ND
London Hammersmith W6 7HB
Regus Offices, The Panorama, 130 Park Street, Ashford, TN24 8EU
Lisa Blake, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London, NW10 5NU
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 2NA
Kingsbury House, 468 Church Lane, Kingsbury, London, NW9 8UA
Langham Clinic, Langham, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 3EE
Laura Town, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1
Stockcross, Newbury, RG20
36 Main Road, Ravenshead, Nottingham, NG15 9GT
Chew Valley, Bristol, BS39
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. GL51
15 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7EF
Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN14
Westview, Sinton Green, Grimley, Worcester, WR2 6NW
Barnoldswick, Lancashire, BB18
99 Murray Road, Sheffield, S11 7GH
Hampshire, Hart, Hartley Wintney, RG27
Suzanne Murphy, Cannon Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY2 5HG
23 Bolton Road Sorell Medical Practice, Salford Manchester, M6 7HL
Crakehall, North Yorkshire
18 Craigweil Manor, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 4DJ
9 Kingsbridge Copse, Newnham, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 9AP
62 The Strand, Walmer, Deal, CT14 7NR
Mountfield Village Hall, Church Lane, Mountfield, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, TN32 5LG
88 Rodney Street, Liverpool, L1 9AR
173A Kingston Road, Ewell, KT19 0AA
42 Selbourne Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU4 7JP
Shama Khokhar, Calbroke Road, Slough, Berkshire, SL2 2HY
90 Limpsfield Road, South Croydon, CR2 9EE
Waterman House, 1 Lord Street, Gravesend, Kent DA12 1AW
School Cottage, Polstead Hill, Polstead, CO6 5AH
Framlingham, Woodbridge, IP13
Century Business Centre, Rotherham, S63 5DA
Hurlingham Therapy Rooms, Hurlingham Studios, Ranelagh Gardens, Fulham, London, SW6 3PA
151 High street, Hythe, CT21 5JL
Folkestone Mind, 3 Mill Bay, CT20 1JS
Cosy Cottage, Diptford, Devon, TQ9 7NZ
Kelly-Anne Astley, Manchester, M1 2PA
30 Monument Green, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 8NA
Lily House, 11/12 The Shrubberies, George Lane, London, E18 1BD
7 Mallard Way, Westbourne, West Sussex, PO10 8US
86 Hare Park Lane, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF15 8EP
49 Piccadilly House Central Manchester, M1 2PA
12 Munro Place, Kilmarnock, KA21
Barking, IG11
Barking, IG11
Thornton House, Thornton Road, Wimbledon, London, SW19 4NG
18 Salford Close, Welford, NN6 6JJ
Lily House, 11 The Shrubberies, George Lane, South Woodford, E18 2RS
8A Beaubridge Business Park, Heath Road, Skegness, PE25 3ST
London, Whitechapel, EC3N
St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 9XQ
Bentinck House, 3-8 Bolsover Street, London, W1W 6AB
Bushey Mount, Weald Close, Brentwood, CM14 4QU
162-168 Regent St, Soho, London, W1B 5TG
Rooms for Therapists, Unit 1, Kemptown House 72 Carlton Hill Brighton, BN2 0GW
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 7QP
Bristol House, Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, London, WC1B 4BA
Ptolemy House, Reading Rd, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 9DN
Worcester, Worcestershire, WR3 7AJ
The Studio 6, Horn Lane, Greenwich, London, SE10 0RT
45 Lowther Hill, London, SE23 1PZ
Lancaster, Carnforth, LA5
Beacon Clinic, Portland Rd, Great Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 2TA
66 Maypole Road, Ashurst Wood, East Grinstead, RH19 3QY
28 Queen Street, London, EC4R 1BB
Victoria Adam, Beckwith Hall Drive, Riccall, York, North Yorkshire, YO19 6SY
The Turner Centre, 52 North Hill, Colchester, CO1 1PY
102 Trident Point, Harrow HA1 4FS
Bentinck House, 3 – 8 Bolsover Street, London, W1W 6AB
Canterbury, 12-17 Upper Bridge St, CT1 2NF
Bedford, Great Denham, MK40
15 Knowsley St, Bury, Manchester, BL9 0ST
Marshgate Drive, Hertford, Hertfordshire, SG13 7JY
2 High St, Old Harlow, Essex, CM17 0DW
Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 1QL
Derbyshire, Swadlincote, DE11
Janet Leaning, Grantham Avenue, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, DN33 2HE
Anita Dosanjh, Hitchcock Close, Birmingham, B66
52 North Hill, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1PY
Keith Gordon, Gables Avenue, Borehamwood, WD6 4SP
Crawley, West Sussex, RH10
Heather Emblen, Sheffield, S8