Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for OCD
Click Here to Find Out How to Put a Stop to Your OCD
Karen runs a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) therapy practice,in Edinburgh, where she treats people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This article discusses how CBT can help people cope with OCD.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety related disorder that can have severe impacts on the everyday functioning of those with this disorder affecting them in life areas such as self-care, leisure and work. OCD is a fairly common disorder that effects people from various cultural and social backgrounds. It also affects people of all ages from children to adults.
At my CBT therapy practice, in Edinburgh people with varying forms of OCD account for 50% of my caseload of clients. Some of my clients also have support from NHS Community Mental Health Teams. However, often people come to see me who have been struggling for many years with OCD, with little or no support.
Most people, especially in times of stress, may have experienced OCD-type symptoms such as doubting you have turned off the oven or locked the door. However, for those with OCD, persistent doubts, urges or images are much more frequent, intrusive and distressing and can really lead to a reduced quality of life and disruption in occupational performance. For some the distress of living with OCD can also lead to depression.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is considered to be the therapy of choice for OCD, with research studies backing its effectiveness. CBT is a short term and structured psychological therapy that looks at the relationship between what we think, what we feel and how we respond. CBT is a combination of cognitive therapy, which examines cognitive processes such as unwanted thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs and behavioural therapy, which focuses on behaviour in response to those thoughts.
For example, a person with OCD may experience an unpleasant intrusive thought. Sometimes, although not always, the person with OCD may feel compelled to engage in a less than rational, compulsive behavior or mental ritual in a bid to reduce the anxiety associated with the thought. For example, excessive checking of door locks, washing of hands to avoid contamination or mental ritual of some kind. These very acts, which the person with OCD uses to cope with or reduce their OCD anxiety, in fact keep OCD going.
At my CBT therapy practice, in Edinburgh, the aim is to helps the person with OCD understand that by resisting the compulsive urge to check the locks, wash hands or mentally ritualize, they can eventually "sit out" their anxiety until the anxiety level naturally diminishes and fades over time. This is a technique known in CBT as exposure and response prevention. This technique helps OCD get better.
The treatment of OCD at my CBT therapy practice in Edinburgh, also involves other techniques and methods such as equipping the person with relaxation and mindfulness skills, which are both very useful in managing OCD. Time is also given to helping the person set goals to begin re-engaging in life activities, which are important to them, if OCD has led to disruption in life roles.
In the cases of more severe OCD, medication can also be useful, therefore if you feel you may have OCD you should visit your GP for further information.
Karen Hastings is a NHS experienced mental health occupational therapist, Master NLP practitioner and hypno-therapist. Karen uses CBT, NLP and hypnotherapy in Edinburgh For more information about Hypnotherapy, Edinburgh visit http://www.karenhastings.co.uk
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Click Here to Find Out How to Put a Stop to Your OCD
Psychotherapy with or without medication is the recommended treatment for OCD. But how much do we know about whether "talk therapy" really works?
Ocd symptoms can happen in people from all over the world and can be a frightening experience for those suffering from it. Ocd symptoms are very common to those.
OCD Therapy Improves Brain Function
OCD Therapy Improves Brain Function.
OCD is just one of the areas where CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) can help. CBT can help to control OCD and help people to face their fears and help them to understand
Cognitive behavioral therapy improves your mindset by changing the way you think and act. The therapy works by breaking down your pressing problem into small parts.
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