Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Therapy Hertfordshire
Obsessive-compulsive disorder therapy is designed to help people suffering with OCD symptoms. Living with OCD symptoms can be difficult and anxiety provoking. Getting the right support can be really helpful. OCD could affect as many as 1% of the global population. In 2024 370,000 young people in England alone reported OCD symptoms. This means the number of young people experiencing OCD symptoms has gone up three times since 2014. OCD is now the second on the list of most common mental health disorders at 5.7%
Traditionally OCD therapy is made up of two main components of CBT therapy. Traditional CBT which helps people with OCD understand their thoughts, physical feelings and behaviours. Also exposure and response prevention. This is a form of exposure therapy which exposes clients to triggers which cause obsessive thoughts and teaches them to resist the urges to perform compulsive behaviours.
We take a similar approach but we use EMDR which is a somatic psychotherapy. We use this in the same way CBT is used to gradually expose clients from the least distressing triggers to more difficult triggers.
If therapy is not enough and the OCD symptoms are particularly severe, medication in the form of SSRI's, antipsychotics or different antidepressant medication is sometimes used. If this is the case we would refer you to a psychiatrist.
What Is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder where someone experiences obsessions and or compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive, causing significant distress, and compulsions are often used to neutralise an obsession. Obsessions and compulsions take a considerable period of time each day and impair daily functioning. An example of an obsession could be a distressing thought and an example of a compulsion could be hand washing. OCD used to be categorised as an anxiety disorder. As per the DSM-5, it now sits as a disorder in its own right along with other related disorders namely, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Hoarding Disorder, Hair Pulling Disorder and Skin Picking Disorder.
What Is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder where someone experiences obsessions and or compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive, causing significant distress, and compulsions are often used to neutralise an obsession. Obsessions and compulsions take a considerable period of time each day and impair daily functioning. An example of an obsession could be a distressing thought and an example of a compulsion could be hand washing. OCD used to be categorised as an anxiety disorder. As per the DSM-5, it now sits as a disorder in its own right along with other related disorders namely, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Hoarding Disorder, Hair Pulling Disorder and Skin Picking Disorder.
What Is An Obsession?
Obsessions are defined as recurrent persistent thoughts, urges or images which are unwanted and cause anxiety and distress. An individual attempts to ignore or suppress thoughts, urges or images or neutralise them with another thought or action e.g by performing a compulsion. Examples of repetitive intrusive obsessions might include:
Thoughts around contamination
Intrusive violent images
Urges to carry out violence
Thoughts about harm coming to a loved one.
What Is An Obsession?
Obsessions are defined as recurrent persistent thoughts, urges or images which are unwanted and cause anxiety and distress. An individual attempts to ignore or suppress thoughts, urges or images or neutralise them with another thought or action e.g by performing a compulsion. Examples of repetitive intrusive obsessions might include:
Thoughts around contamination
Intrusive violent images
Urges to carry out violence
Thoughts about harm coming to a loved one.
What Is A Compulsion?
Compulsions are defined as repetitive behaviours a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession according to stringent rules which have to be applied rigidly. These behaviours or mental acts are aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing a dreaded event or situation. The behaviour is not connected in a realistic way with what they are deigned to neautralise or prevent and are excessive. When a person experiences obsessional intrusive thoughts or images they might use avoidance or compulsion (ritual) to try and neutralise anxiety or stop a dreaded event form happening. Examples include:
Repeated washing e.g. hands or showering for hours a day
Checking e.g. cooker hob switches
Mental acts - counting or repeating words silently
Arranging items symmetrically
What Is A Compulsion?
Compulsions are defined as repetitive behaviours a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession according to stringent rules which have to be applied rigidly. These behaviours or mental acts are aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing a dreaded event or situation. The behaviour is not connected in a realistic way with what they are deigned to neautralise or prevent and are excessive. When a person experiences obsessional intrusive thoughts or images they might use avoidance or compulsion (ritual) to try and neutralise anxiety or stop a dreaded event form happening. Examples include:
Repeated washing e.g. hands or showering for hours a day
Checking e.g. cooker hob switches
Mental acts - counting or repeating words silently
Arranging items symmetrically
Risk Factors Associated With The Development Of OCD
Whilst OCD causes are not attributable to one factor some people are at greater risk of developing OCD. Risk factors include: having a first degree relative with the condition, trauma and PTSD, prolonged stress or having another mental health condition.
Men are more likely to experience OCD in childhood whilst women are more at risk as adults than men. Men are more likely to experience obsessions related to exactness, symmetry or sexuality whilst women are more likely to experience obsessions around cleanliness and contamination.
Risk Factors Associated With The Development Of OCD
Whilst OCD causes are not attributable to one factor some people are at greater risk of developing OCD. Risk factors include: having a first degree relative with the condition, trauma and PTSD, prolonged stress or having another mental health condition.
Men are more likely to experience OCD in childhood whilst women are more at risk as adults than men. Men are more likely to experience obsessions related to exactness, symmetry or sexuality whilst women are more likely to experience obsessions around cleanliness and contamination.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorders UK
Professional help for OCD
Matthew Alderton - Psychotherapist
MA, BSc, PG Dip, PG Dip Psych
One of the reasons I help with OCD disorder is because it can be closely linked to trauma. Sometimes, a person develops OCD as a direct result of childhood trauma or as maladaptive coping following the experience of PTSD symptoms. I use EMDR as a way of helping clients to desensitise and reprocess trauma which may underly OCD symptoms. When we are able to work with the root cause of OCD we are able to have a direct impact on symptoms. I have specialist training to help clients with OCD caused by underlying trauma. I work in an integrative, holistic way using CBT, body psychotherapy and psychotherapy. I take into account the ecology of a person's life as well as their mind, body and soul. I work in an integrative way maintaining flexibility and taking the best from a broad range of approaches. I am personable, friendly and down to earth. I provide a safe, confidential, collaborative environment for you to work through your difficulty. I look forward to hearing from you.
Practical Help
We appreciate living with OCD can be difficult. There are practical things which you can do for yourself to help with this condition. Having alternative ways of coping with obsessions can enable you to take positive action to create change.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can help to address an underlying difficulty causing OCD symptoms as well as provide a safe container for adjunct EMDR for OCD. Speaking with a psychotherapist can help you to feel supported with your conditoon and facilitate a way forward in relation to thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Body Psychotherapy
Experiencing OCD is as much somatic as it is mental. Working from the bottom up with body psychotherapy is helpful for OCD symptoms. Body work can help with alternative strategies to cope with obsessional thoughts and feelings.
OCD Therapy Benefits
Happy
Feel happier when do not need to keep worrying about obsessions or compulsions. You can get back on with life and live it to the fullest.
Homeostasis
When reaches a place of safety without OCD coping behaviours they can reconnect with themselves and reach a place of balance and homeostasis again.
Relationships
OCD can put a strain on our relationships with others. Therapy can help improve our relationships with loved ones when we stop asking for reassurance.
Coping
Developing healthier coping strategies can help you to feel back in control without having to obsess or carry out compulsive behaviours.
Anxiety Therapy Benefits
Happy
Feel happier when do not need to keep worrying about obsessions or compulsions. You can get back on with life and live it to the fullest.
Homeostasis
When reaches a place of safety without OCD coping behaviours they can reconnect with themselves and reach a place of balance and homeostasis again.
Relationships
OCD can put a strain on our relationships with others. Therapy can help improve our relationships with loved ones when we stop asking for reassurance.
Coping
Developing healthier coping strategies can help you to feel back in control without having to obsess or carry out compulsive behaviours.
OCD Therapy Hertfordshire
The Trauma Practice Hertfordshire address: Cuffley, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6
My home based practice is located in leafy green Hertfordshire. A five minute walk from Cuffley train station and located ten minutes by car from junction 24 and 25 of the M25.
Cuffley is ideally located to help clients in: Ware, Hatfield, London Colney, Waltham Cross, Harlow, Hertford, Potters Bar, Stevenage, Baldock, Hoddesdon, Enfield, Cheshunt, Broxbourne, St Albans, Hitchin and Barnet.
Therapy Enquiry
If you would like to book therapy with us or have a therapy enquiry please fill in our contact form.