Several counsellors at Island Clinical Counselling specialize in working with clients with OCD.  There is help for OCD.  OCD therapy can be accessed in person in Nanaimo, BC or virtually from anywhere in British Columbia.  Some of the types of OCD we see at our clinic include, checking, symmetry and order, relationship OCD, sexuality and gender based OCD, harm-OCD, responsibility OCD, perfectionism, magical thinking OCD, derealization and depersonalization, contamination OCD, spiritual OCD, and pure OCD.

For those who feel caught in the OCD Loop, therapy can be very useful.  Obsessions (intrusive thoughts, unpleasant images, unwanted ideas) lead to distress (often shame, fear, disgust).  The next step in the OCD cycle is engagement in compulsive behaviours (such as repetitive thoughts, images, behaviours) that can result in a temporary relief of the distress.  People tend to believe that they are in a never-ending loop because the relief is in fact temporary and they feel they need to engage in their compulsions again and again to regain this relief.  It is important to  note that some people do not experience compulsions, only intrusive thoughts.

Exposure Response Prevention (ERPs) helps clients work through OCD symptoms in a progressive way.  ERP therapy helps clients resist OCD compulsions and expose themselves to OCD’s threats and intrusive thoughts in a safe way.  Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) techniques are utilized to enhance client control over their symptoms.  Clients learn to recognize when they are experiencing an OCD attack.   We also use techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT for OCD) and Inference Based CBT for OCD.  We work with families to reduce family accommodation and reassurance seeking compulsions. 

Counsellors offer group and individual therapy services.  We have virtual support groups for children and youth as well as for adults.  Many clients have reported that working with counsellors who do not have adequate training for OCD has been ineffective.  In some cases, clients have refused to seek out further support because they were discouraged with their therapy experience.  The right training is crucial to ensure your counsellor can help you in your battle against OCD.  There is hope for OCD and we want clients to feel confident in our training and experience.