Grand Rapids OCD Therapist - Therapy and OCD Treatment
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is a condition that tends to rob you of joy and take your attention away from what matters most.
Individuals with OCD become so preoccupied with behaviors, mental rituals, and assurance seeking that they have no time to live their lives.
My approach to treatment, which integrates traditional, evidence-based Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and MBCBT (Mindfulness-Based CBT) is effective at helping you free yourself from your mind. This is done with compassion, through collaboratively establishing and carrying out an exposure hierarchy while learning to look at thoughts as temporary, separate from the person, and unable to cause harm.
The good news . . . is that many people who worry and repeat unnecessary behaviors can now help themselves.
Edna B. Foa and Reid Wilson (1)
What are the 4 types of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
The four types of OCD are:
Contamination and washing
Accidental harm and checking
Symmetry, arranging, and counting
Forbidden thoughts and mental rituals (sometimes termed “Pure-O” OCD)
What causes OCD?
OCD is caused, many believe, by a combination of heredity and genetic factors, combined with chemical and structural factors in the brain, and reinforced by repetitive behaviors.
OCD is characterized by a constant need for certainty, creating the illusion that repetitive checking and assurance-seeking will provide the person with the answers they need and relieve the anxiety. What inevitably occurs, however, is that the checking or mental rituals create very temporary relief while strengthening the condition.
This is why response prevention is quite effective.
The person learns that the anxiety eventually dissipates on its own, without assurance seeking behaviors, creating freedom from the urges to compulse. Incidentally, it should be noted that well-intentioned, less-experienced therapists may reassure clients, inadvertently strengthening their OCD.
How effective is therapy?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) has a rich evidence base and has been repeatedly identified as “a highly efficacious treatment for many people who suffer from OCD” (Hezel and Simpson, 2019). (2) Clients learn through exposing themselves (in real life or their imagination) that simply having thoughts or exposing oneself to anxious events does not lead to feared outcomes.
Is OCD a mental illness?
OCD is a mental illness, as characterized in the DSM-5.
Like many conditions, mental and physical, it is highly treatable through therapy and practicing exposure exercises without responding to behavioral or cognitive urges.
While I don’t think of people as being “cured” from OCD, it can be well-managed, giving the person the ability to live a full, meaningful life with limited interference.
What are the signs in adults?
The signs of OCD in adults are:
Recurrent and persistent thoughts or impulses that are intrusive, inappropriate (not merely excessive worries about real-life problems) and cause significant distress
Attempts to suppress or ignore the symptoms with some other thought or action
Person recognizes his thoughts are a product of his own mind
Repetitive behaviors such as hand-washing or mental activities (counting, repeating words, praying) that person feels driven to engage in based on obsessive thoughts
Compulsions or rituals are done to reduce distress or prevent some catastrophic outcome that the person realizes is exaggerated or excessive (3)
Whatever your symptoms or situation, I promise you an experienced, compassionate, evidence-based approach that has been very effective for many of my clients over the years. Feel free to schedule an appointment today.
Grand Rapids Therapist
Do you ever feel like you're stuck in a never-ending cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors? If so, you may be struggling with obsessive compulsive disorder. Fortunately, there is help available. True Therapy can help you understand your condition and develop strategies for managing it. If you're looking for someone in Grand Rapids MI, consider contacting Aaron at True Therapy. He offers online and in-person counseling sessions for adults with this disorder. Aaron has been working in the mental health field for over 20 years. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor. He understands the challenges this disorder can present and has helped many overcome it. In addition to seeing patients in his Grand Rapids office, Aaron also provides online therapy for those who are struggling with OCD or other mental health disorders. One of the benefits of working with a Grand Rapids OCD therapist such as Aaron is that he understands how difficult it can be and will work diligently to help you overcome its challenges. He uses models that have been shown to be effective, including CBT and ERP (exposure and response prevention). In the process, you'll learn how your thoughts influence your feelings and behaviors. As you make progress on specific goals that Aaron will help you create, you'll start to see a general improvement in your overall wellbeing.
Obsessive Compulsive Therapy nearby Grand Rapids, MI
Are you looking for Grand Rapids OCD help? Anxiety disorder can be debilitating and difficult to manage. If you are struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder, it is important to talk to a professional about your options. You may feel like there is no hope, but the reality is that there are many effective treatments available for the disorder. The more educated you are on your options, the easier it will be to find the right one for you. CBT is one type that has been shown to be effective. In CBT, you will learn how your thoughts influence your feelings and behaviors. You will also learn how to challenge and change your thinking patterns. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is another method that has been found to be helpful for obsessive compulsive disorder. With ERP, you will gradually expose yourself to the things that cause you anxiety or fear. You will then learn how to resist the urge to engage in compulsive behavior.
ERP therapy near me for compulsive disorder
Let's start by talking about ERP. It stands for Exposure Response Prevention which means that the person will be exposed to their obsessions or compulsions, then they are prevented from performing them. This works because it helps people learn that their thoughts do not have any control over them and they don't need to perform rituals as a result of unwanted thoughts. This is very effective with ERP. You can learn more about these types of therapies when you read more about this disorder and ERP.
One of the benefits of working with a Grand Rapids OCD therapist such as Aaron is that he understands how difficult it can be and will work diligently to help you overcome the obsessive compulsive challenges. He uses counseling models that have been shown to be effective, including CBT and ERP (exposure and response prevention). In the process, you'll learn how your thoughts influence your feelings and behaviors. As you make progress on specific goals that Aaron will help you create, you'll start to see a general improvement in your overall wellbeing.
OCD Treatment
Finding the right help in nearby Grand Rapids is essential. If you're looking for OCD treatment in Grand Rapids MI, there are a few things you should know. First of all, there are several different types available. There are also a number of self-help techniques that can be helpful in managing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Whatever type you choose, it's important to stick with it and be patient. It may take some time to find the right approach for you. If you're struggling or if it is proving difficult to manage, don't hesitate to seek help from a mental health professional. There is no shame in seeking assistance when you need it. It is also important to get help for any co-occurring conditions that may be impacting your OCD. These include anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder.
Occasionally you will find someone in Grand Rapids who only focuses on obsessive compulsive and not other issues. This can make it harder to manage because they don't always have a good support system when they are trying to work through OCD therapy. If this is something that you feel would benefit from, then be sure to bring this up when you are getting ready to choose someone. There are many around who will help with multiple concerns if this is just one concern that you have.
I am committed to providing a compassionate haven to anyone who seeks my help, and I work hard to make sure that all of my clients feel valued. When working with me in Grand Rapids, I will take the time to learn more about you. Only by understanding how Obsessive Compulsive Disorder works can I help you overcome it.