Therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be a debilitating problem, causing avoidance of certain situations that may trigger the OCD and lost time due to engaging in rituals. Many people have tried therapy to no avail or have experienced some relief from medication, but still suffer due to their OCD. Whether it's an adult or child that is suffering from OCD, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and particularly Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP) can be effective.
Exposure Therapy with Response Prevention is one of the leading treatments for OCD and has been
shown to drastically reduce the suffering from OCD, significantly more than medication alone. It is a brief therapy (17 sessions in researched protocols) and one that can be provided intensely (multiple sessions per week) or in a "normal" therapy fashion of one time per week.
With children, we externalize the OCD as a bully which bosses us around and makes rules and tells us what we can and can't do. We begin to learn how to fight back against the bully, and how to do the opposite of what it says, and not let it get in the way of our fun. We map out the battle between the child and OCD and which areas the child has conquered, and which areas the OCD still has in order to take all parts of a child's live back from OCD. We also use Evolving Structural-Strategic Family Therapy (ESFT) to help parents learn the therapy techniques in order to reinforce them at home and create lasting change. Your child doesn't have to suffer any longer. There is help!
Obesessions Recurrent or persistent thoughts, impulses or images that are experienced as intrusive and inappropriate causing anxiety or distress. |
Compulsions Repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, putting things in order, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform to neutralize obsessions. |
To make an appointment for an assessment and/or discuss recommendations for treatment, call (415) 686-9544 or email [email protected] I have offices in San Francisco and Corte Madera and provide phone and/or web sessions for clients who can not come to the office.
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