After having mild OCD for 6 years, which I thought I was managing properly, it suddenly got a lot worse, when the sexual intrusive thoughts became more frequent and distressing. They were causing me a great deal of anxiety and impacting my life to a great degree.

I began Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) with Sarah. I noticed a great improvement and reduction in intrusive sexual thoughts after 5 sessions. In my following appointments we worked on contamination OCD, which has hugely improved. I have gained the tools and skills to prevent a relapse. I have also developed greater insight about what maintains OCD. I realised that I had not been managing my intrusions effectively or helpfully over the past 6 years which allowed them to increase.

I was very glad that I didn’t have to go into detail about my intrusive thoughts and I have felt very comfortable throughout my time with Sarah. I was surprised how quickly I improved because I was initially concerned that it may take many sessions. All of our sessions have been virtual as I don’t drive and I live some distance away. I have been pleased how accessible and easy it has been working this way.

(Male, aged 18, September 2020, virtual sessions)

For so many people it can feel like a daily battle with OCD. Wanting to get better and at the same time feeling scared to make changes. I have been helping clients recover from OCD for a long time and I know how hard it can seem to try to treat yourself. On the one hand the advice via self-help books, social media and other sources can seem promising and encouraging but actually putting it into practice on your own can be tough. One recurring problem I have noticed is that techniques drawn from different approaches are not always compatible and when used together may cancel each other out. Another common problem appears to be people almost managing to put something into practice but just getting it slightly wrong. This can be so deflating when you think you are putting in so much effort for something to simply not work.

So we need to help you get on the right track for you, focusing on one specific treatment plan and refining what you have been trying out already. This can make it seem less confusing because you know where you are going and what the rationale is for your treatment. OCD is a solvable problem.

In OCD compulsions are acts that you repeat over and over again in response to an obsession. E.g., checking, repeating acts, mental rituals, counting, ordering or arranging. Common obsessions that I work with:

Sexual thoughts or images
Fear of contamination from germs, viruses, bodily fluids, sticky substances etc
Thoughts or images of violence e.g. stabbing someone you love, cutting yourself with a knife
Excessive concern with exactness, order or symmetry
Obsessions with the body or physical symptoms
Recurrent thoughts about life and death e.g. why do I exist and what will happen after I die?