Counselling for OCD

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER COUNSELLING BIRMINGHAM, UK

At Kay’s Counselling in Birmingham, we understand the unique challenges faced by individuals living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Our specialised OCD counselling services are designed to offer support and effective treatment strategies to those seeking relief and management of OCD symptoms.

WHAT IS OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER?

OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder) is a condition where you become obsessive in your behaviour and/or you have compulsive thoughts. Having any sort of obsession is an unwanted, unpleasant thought and or image which repeatedly enters your mind and you may benefit from OCD counselling in Birmingham.

A compulsion is a repetitive behaviour or acts that you feel you must do to prevent your obsession from coming true. An example of this is if you think you’ve left your door unlocked: when you’re leaving your home, you go back and check to see if the doors are locked a number of times before eventually leaving.

OCD counselling in Birmingham involves therapy sessions designed to help individuals manage and alleviate the symptoms of OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder).

Statistics on OCD in the UK

 

 

  1. Prevalence: It’s estimated that 1.2% of the UK population is affected by OCD, which equates to about 1.2 million people living with the condition.
  2. Age of Onset: OCD typically begins to become problematic during late adolescence for men and during their early twenties for women. However, the disorder can start in children as young as six, with 25% of cases starting by age 14.
  3. Gender: Although there’s a perception that OCD is slightly more prevalent in women, service-user statistics suggest that the impact is likely equal across genders, with a reported user contact coming predominantly from women at a ratio of about 75%. This may reflect a greater comfort among women in discussing feelings and emotions, and it implies that actual prevalence between men and women might be similar.
  4. Severity: About 50% of those with OCD are estimated to fall into the severe category, with less than a quarter being classed as mild cases.
  5. Family Impact: The figures for those living with OCD could potentially be doubled if considering the involvement of loved ones in an individual’s OCD compulsions, suggesting that over a million people in the UK could be affected by OCD .

OCD symptoms are mentioned below:

• Obsessions. Your thoughts are overwhelming because they have a constant fearful effect on you

• Anxiety. This obsession can have a physical feeling where you experience anxiety and or stress

• Compulsion. By repeatedly behaving in a certain way to reduce your anxiety or stress

• Temporary relief.  The compulsive behaviour mentioned above may bring a sense of relief, however, this is short lived and the anxiety/stress will return thus being in a never-ending cycle

The Impact of OCD

 

The impact of OCD can be profound, with the condition often leading to:

  1. Distress: Persistent and intrusive thoughts can cause significant emotional distress.
  2. Impairment: Compulsions can become time-consuming and interfere with daily activities, work, and relationships.

Some people who have OCD can also develop depression. Do not ignore these symptoms because if they’re left untreated they can get more severe. Do visit your OCD counsellor in Birmingham to discuss this – he/she will be able to provide you with some support and provide medication should you wish to take this avenue. They will also likely mention OCD therapy.

COUNSELLING IN BIRMINGHAM FOR OCD

During our OCD Counselling, we look at your thought patterns, beliefs and the consequences for example if your OCD is triggered with a belief that you might be burgled.

You will have a thought; ‘I didn’t lock the door which means I’m going to be burgled’, the belief here is that this thought is true and the consequence is that you end up returning to check to see if you locked your door. Then the thought reappears when you leave, meaning you have to repeat the above a number of times.

The way we would look at this is by focusing on your belief system because the thoughts are irrational. You know you would have physically closed the door, turned the handle, put the key in and locked the door. This a method is known as ABC model which stems from CBT.

We have Counsellors working from Kay’s Counselling office in Birmingham and online via video calling. All our therapists go through a rigorous interview process, aiming to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to help you work through your issues through counselling or psychotherapy.

All our therapists know the level of courage it takes for you to contact us to start your journey, we aim to match the same level of courage in our OCD counsellors, who have a desire to help you achieve your goals with their expertise.

If you’re in the Birmingham area and struggling with OCD, Kay’s Counselling is here to support you every step of the way. Our team of experienced therapists is dedicated to providing you with the tools and strategies needed for managing OCD and improving your quality of life.

No matter how you choose to reach out, we’re ready to listen and help you navigate the path to better mental health. Contact Kay’s Counselling Birmingham today, and take the first step towards overcoming OCD.

Reach Out to Us

 
  1. Phone: Connect with us directly for immediate assistance or to schedule an appointment. Call us at 01216796200.
  2. Email: Prefer to write to us? Send your queries or share your story at Enquiries@kayscounselling.co.uk, and we’ll get back to you promptly.
  3. Online Form: Fill out our easy-to-use form on the website. Provide your details, and we’ll be in touch to discuss how we can assist you.

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Emergency Contacts

 

If you find yourself in need of immediate mental health support outside of our operating hours, please contact:

  1. NHS 111: For urgent but non-life-threatening health concerns.
  2. Samaritans: Call 116 123 for 24/7 confidential support.
OCD counselling in Birmingham involves therapy sessions with a trained mental health professional to help individuals understand and manage their obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours associated with OCD.

 

 
During an OCD counselling session, our therapist will work with the individual to identify specific obsessions and compulsions, explore the underlying causes and triggers, and develop coping strategies to manage symptoms.

 

 

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is the most common type of therapy used for OCD counselling. Specifically, exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a type of CBT that is highly effective in treating OCD symptoms.

 

 
The duration of OCD counselling varies depending on the severity of symptoms, individual progress, and treatment goals. Some people may benefit from short-term counselling, while others may require more long-term therapy.
 
 
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