Close to 4 million Americans have, or one day will have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, otherwise known as OCD. Obsessions are very upsetting thoughts, mental pictures, or impulses that just keep coming back uninvited. Compulsions are actions that people do in an attempt to decrease the very uncomfortable negative emotions caused by the obsessions. Most people with OCD have both obsessions and compulsions, although some people have one or the other.
More then anything, OCD has a tendency to trap people in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that seem senseless and are distressing. This can make it very difficult to function well in many areas of life including at work, school, and in relationships. Unfortunately, these patterns can be hard to overcome and most people with these symptoms feel tremendous shame about having them, so they try to conceal the symptoms as best they can. This frequently delays their seeking treatment which is unfortunate since for most people their distress can be fairly rapidly reduced.
We offer a type of cognitive behavioral therapy called Exposure and Response Prevention or ERP. It is a relatively short-term therapy which studies have shown it to be highly effective. For those coming to our program already involved in a different type of therapy, this treatment can serve as a useful, short-term addition.