Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
If you have OCD, you may struggle with a couple of problems. "Obsessions" are endless thoughts of worry about something, like catching germs in public places, or non-stop fear that the doors to your house are not locked.

"Compulsions" are constant urges to perform rituals, like continually washing your hands, or counting the steps you take, or counting the words you read and dividing them into special "lucky" numbers.

Do You Have Any of These Symptoms:
  • Unrelenting, unwanted thoughts that worry or distress you, like constant fear you didn't turn off your stove at home, or terrified you'll be contaminated by germs in a public place
  • Uncontrollable urges to perform certain behaviors again and again, like tapping your feet together, or arranging items in a certain order, or counting "special" numbers
  • Upsetting that the thoughts and behaviors occur so often, yet you can't stop it
  • Realizing the thoughts and behaviors are irrational, yet it doesn't prevent you from doing them over and over
  • Repeating them so frequently, it exhausts you
  • Doing them so often that it interferes with your daily living, or relationships, or work

You Can Break Free! You Can Conquer Your Painful Obsessions & Compulsions!
CASE STUDY
(The name and identifying details have been changed.)


Doug, age 56, came to see me after suffering with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder for 20 years. He finally was exhausted and worn down by it. By seeing me for treatment he was taking the first, helpful step to his recovery: being personally motivated to overcome OCD.

Doug was married, but his wife, Alice, barely knew about his OCD behaviors. He was able to keep most of it a secret, out of a sense of embarrassment and shame. Doug said he was "dog-tired" at bedtime because he performed countless OCD behaviors every day.

During his waking hours, he would count the words in many of the sentences that he spoke. If a situation was tense or upsetting during his day, Doug quickly performed a certain touching ritual with his hands, to "ward off the bad luck."

He repeated the same exact arrangement of behaviors every time he shaved and showered. He washed his hands so often that they were red and dry.

Doug didn't know that OCD was an anxiety disorder, but I helped to educate him. His OCD was related to how safe and secure he felt in his life. It was connected to his inability to handle daily stresses and pressures.

His lowered self-esteem played a part in making him feel anxious in certain situations.

I asked him to bring his wife to some of our counseling sessions. There, Doug was able to tell Alice about his OCD. She was shocked and surprised, but very concerned for him. I educated her about the disorder so she could support Doug's recovery.

Doug and I started to "extinguish" his OCD behaviors. I asked him to practice abstaining from his OCD routines during our counseling sessions. It allowed him to slowly but surely start to feel safe and secure without OCD rituals.

With Doug's approval, I enlisted his wife's help at home. Three times a week, Alice and Doug would create an "OCD-free" hour of time together. With her support, he practiced abstaining from OCD routines. He continued to develop a sense of security for himself without the use of OCD behaviors.

He gradually stopped performing OCD rituals outside of our practice sessions.

I also helped him increase his self esteem, and develop useful techniques to manage the normal, daily stressors of life. I used hypnotherapy to teach him relaxation techniques.

OCD was becoming a distant memory for Doug after about 18 months of counseling. He felt more relaxed, relieved and good about himself and his life. He felt free from the prison of OCD.


Possible Benefits of Treatment With Me For Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
  • Extinguish or drastically reduce your OCD thoughts and behaviors
  • Learn to deal with stress successfully so you're relaxed and in control
  • Learn to change your thoughts from obsessions to realistic, helpful, calm thoughts
  • Create practical and sensible ways to feel safe and secure
  • Increase your self-esteem and self-confidence

LIFE SHOULDN'T BE SCARY
Are you ready to be free from OCD? Are you ready to feel relaxed and in control of yourself?

Then I invite you to contact me today to discuss how I can help you resolve your Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.