Understanding OCD

What Is It?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is often misunderstood. Many people think of it as just being overly clean, organized, or particular. But OCD is so much more than a preference for tidiness — it’s a mental health condition that can deeply impact a person’s thoughts, emotions, and daily functioning.

At its core, OCD involves two key components: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause significant anxiety or distress. These aren't simply worries — they feel intense, persistent, and difficult to control. Common obsessions include fears of contamination, harming others, moral or religious doubts, or a need for things to feel "just right."

To cope with the anxiety these obsessions create, individuals with OCD often engage in compulsions — repetitive behaviors or mental rituals intended to neutralize the fear or prevent something bad from happening. These might include hand-washing, checking, counting, praying, repeating phrases, or seeking constant reassurance. While these actions may bring temporary relief, they ultimately keep the cycle of OCD going, making the disorder harder to manage over time.

OCD can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, or personality. It’s not a choice, and it’s not a sign of weakness or a character flaw. In fact, people with OCD often recognize that their thoughts and behaviors don’t make logical sense — but that doesn’t make them easier to stop. Left untreated, OCD can interfere with work, relationships, daily routines, and a person’s overall sense of peace and well-being.

You can take your life back from OCD

The good news is that OCD is highly treatable. At our practice, we specialize in treating OCD with skill, empathy, and deep understanding. We know how exhausting it can feel to live with constant anxiety and doubt — and we’re here to help you navigate the path toward healing. We utilize forms of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT) all of which research has shown to be very beneficial for many patients. We tailor these evidence based treatments to each individual to create the most effective plan possible. We also offer parent training and SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) to parents of children that may be too young to engage in individual treatment and/or are unwilling. Our OCD specialists are experts in the field and we understand that OCD is not solely about anxiety & fear, but can also bring up shame, guilt, remorse and other complicated emotions. We approach treatment functionally, meaning that we look at the underlying processes that are keeping a patient stuck rather than robotically working through a protocol.

We approach treatment as a partnership between therapist and the patient. While we may be experts on OCD, you are the expert on you and no two people with OCD are alike.