Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - CBT Treatment for OCD - in London, 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 London and online via video-link. We also have over 250 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 specialists 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 info@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 are 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 alongside 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.

Just example TRANSDIAGNOSTIC MODEL OF OCD 01022021

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 one 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 (ERP), 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.

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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.
Reviewing accident information after completing a road journey.
Continuously texting and calling loved ones to check safety.
Reading 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.

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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.

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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.

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There are three main anxiety factors that maintain hoarding habits. These are prevention of harm to others, deprivation 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.

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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 its 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 808626, 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.