Counselling for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Are you or your child experiencing a pattern of unwanted or intrusive thoughts (obsessions), followed by an intense urge to engage in specific behaviours (compulsions) in order to try an ease the distress? Counselling can help individuals living with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) by gently exposing them to their triggers, while supporting them while they manage to control the urge to engage in compulsions. Overtime, the obsessions and compulsions loose their power, allowing the individual to regain control of their thoughts and actions.

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What is an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Obsessive compulsive disorder, also known as OCD, is a type of anxiety disorder that is characterized by unwanted, intrusive and recurring thoughts, known as obsessions, that trigger anxiety, and the specific behaviours meant to reduce that anxiety, known as compulsions. Although OCD does not have any official subtypes and can be unique to different people, psychologists and researchers observed that most people with OCD focus on one of the following categories.

  • A hand washing with soap and water to remove germs, bacteria, and viruses.

    Compulsive Handwashing

    This category includes people who have obsessive thoughts around contamination, germs and dirt; and, the compulsion to clean in order to rid themselves of these obsessive thoughts.

  • Checklist with two items marked correct and one item marked wrong, set against a yellow circular background.

    Symmetry and Order

    People in this category experience obsessive thoughts around symmetry and order, and will spend time organizing their environment by arranging, counting, and ordering items to reduce anxiety caused by asymmetry or messes.

  • A graphic illustrating mental energy with a human head profile, brain inside a circular arrow, and two clouds with lightning bolts representing mental stress or overload.

    Taboo Thoughts or Impulses

    A person may have unwanted and intrusive thoughts of committing violence against themselves or others. They may use mental rituals such as prayer, counting or word repetition to relieve the anxiety caused by their thoughts.

  • A white profile of a human head with orange inner brain and circular arrows inside, with clouds in the background, strongly suggests the concept of mental or cognitive cycles, thoughts, or cloud-based thinking, set against a yellow circular background.

    Hoarding

    Hoarding disorder is characterized by the obsessive collecting of items paired with a persistent difficulty to discard or part with them even if they are no longer useable or of value such as old newspapers or broken plates.

  • A warning icon showing a human head with an alert symbol and lightning bolts, indicating mental health or stress alert.

    Superstitions & Religion

    Another form of OCD is characterized by obsessions surrounding religious beliefs or superstitions and the compulsive behaviours such as prayer, counting, or self-harm that relieve the fear that something bad will happen.

  • Checklist with eco-friendly icons including a power plug, a fire symbol, and a key, all inside a green circular background.

    Worrying and Checking

    An individual may experience excessive worrying about forgetting something that may be dangerous. The compulsion may be ensuring doors are locked, stove is off, or the credit cards are accounted for.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Children

As with adults, children may experience unexplained, intrusive thoughts that can make them feel very upset and engage in behaviours that may not make any sense to parents or teachers. Because children can’t easily articulate their thoughts and reasoning behind the compulsions, they may become very upset when their ritual is disrupted. In some cases, compulsions can occur without any specific thought. For example, a child may become distressed if a page in their notebook was not pulled out perfectly. In other cases, obsessive thoughts and worries control the behaviours of the child, even when they try hard to ignore them. For example, they may desperately want to play with other children, but their fear of germs keeps them away. If your child is displaying signs of OCD that interfere with their lives, counselling can help.

Signs of OCD in Children

  • Animated illustration of a woman with black hair, holding her head, looking worried or distressed.

    Anger and Tantrums

    Children with OCD often experience anger and emotional distress when their rituals are disrupted or compulsions stopped.

  • Illustration of hands washing with soap under a running faucet.

    Hand washing and Cleaning

    A common fear is the fear of germs or germophobia. Children who develop this fear often engage in obsessive hand washing or cleaning.

  • A hand selecting the number three on a colorful numbered selection board with digits 1 to 4 in red, orange, green, and blue.

    Repetitive Behaviour

    In some cases, children may engage in repetitive behaviours such a tapping a specific number of times or repeating certain words.

  • Illustration of a hand pressing a doorbell next to a door lock.

    Unusual Behaviours

    Children with OCD display a broad range of diverse behaviours. Examples include unique ways to go through doors or specific bedtime rituals.

  • Colorful stacking rings arranged in increasing size from top to bottom, with a yellow ball on top.

    Arranging Toys

    Some children with OCD may arrange, organize or line up their toys and experience distress if their system gets disorganized.

  • Plate with fried egg, tomato slices, green leaves, biscuits, and sausage.

    Sorting Food

    Arranging toys and separating their peas from their carrots are similar compulsions and often occur together in children.

Tips for Parents and Guardians

  • Teach Your Child About OCD

    As you learn more about the obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), feel free to relay your newfound knowledge to your child. The more they know, the more they feel empowered.

  • Give the Condition a Cute Name

    Discussing mental health issues with children can be hard, so giving your child’s compulsive tendencies a cute name, such as “Silly Pants”, helps them better articulate how they’re feeling.

  • Don't Force It

    As tempting as it may be, confronting their obsessions and managing their compulsions is something only your child can do. Be a supportive and encouraging light.

Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Counsellors employ a number of different treatments to help people manage the obsessions and compulsions. One approach used by counsellors is called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This treatment involves identifying and challenging the irrational thoughts underlying OCD. Specifically, CBT is applied in two steps: first through what’s called Exposure Therapy, then through Response Prevention Therapy.

  • Outline of a soccer player kicking a soccer ball, with additional abstract lines and a star.

    Exposure Therapy

    Firstly, Exposure Therapy consists of gently exposing individuals with OCD to their triggers in a controlled and counsellor-supervised environment.

  • Silhouette of a person climbing a mountain.

    Response Prevention Therapy

    Once comfortable in this environment, the counsellor and the individual will begin working on developing the necessary skills to resist the urge to give in to their compulsive tendencies.

Tips for Parents and Guardians

  • Teach Your Child About OCD

    As you learn more about the obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), feel free to relay your newfound knowledge to your child. The more they know, the more they feel empowered.

  • Give the Condition a Cute Name

    Discussing mental health issues with children can be hard, so giving your child’s compulsive tendencies a cute name, such as “Silly Pants”, helps them better articulate how they’re feeling.

  • Don't Force It

    As tempting as it may be, confronting their obsessions and managing their compulsions is something only your child can do. Be a supportive and encouraging light.