Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Therapy In-Person and Online
Foster Counseling and Therapy provides individual therapy to empower you around your experience with OCD, guiding you toward hope and confidence. In-person services are accessible to the communities of Lake in the Hills, Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Huntley, and McHenry County, and online services are provided throughout Illinois.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health pattern characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that a person feels driven to perform. These compulsions are often undertaken in an effort to alleviate the distress caused by the obsessions, but typically only provide temporary relief. OCD targets what is most important to an individual.
"Embrace your journey, for every step you take in managing OCD is a step toward reclaiming your freedom."
OCD often leaves people feeling stuck or trapped. They experience unwanted and intrusive thoughts with underlying fear and/or disgust and this leads to compulsions in an effort to find relief. OCD often doesn’t look like the stereotype and misperception of excessive cleaning and order, it looks like:
having thoughts that bother you, scare you, or disgust you
engaging in repetitive actions
checking things over and over
engaging in an action to make something “right”, even, symmetrical
feeling trapped in your own mind
feeling like your mind is trying to trick you
fear of uncertainty
constantly seeking reassurance
obsessive thoughts around the feared outcome
avoiding situations, thoughts, behaviors
having trouble trusting self or knowing what thoughts and feelings are really you
Common OCD Subtypes
Harm/Violence OCD
Harm/violence OCD is a distressing subtype of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts or impulses about causing harm to oneself or others. Individuals with this form of OCD are plagued by fears that they might act on these unwanted thoughts, despite having no desire to do so. This leads to extreme anxiety and the implementation of various compulsive behaviors aimed at preventing these feared actions, such as avoiding knives or other potentially dangerous objects. Self-doubt is perpetuated by the avoidance and the constant battle can cause significant disruption.
Contamination/Health OCD
Health OCD is a subtype of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder where individuals experience excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness. These fears are typically triggered by normal bodily sensations or minor symptoms, which are interpreted as signs of severe medical conditions. Sufferers may obsessively check their bodies, seek reassurance from medical professionals repeatedly, or excessively research health information, yet remain unconvinced by any reassurance. This constant preoccupation with health can lead to significant distress and interfere with daily life.
Real Event/False Memory OCD
Real event/false memory OCD is a subtype of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder where individuals are tormented by obsessive doubts about past events, often fearing that they have done something terribly wrong or inappropriate. This condition blurs the line between what actually happened and imagined scenarios, leading sufferers to question their memories incessantly. They may ruminate over these events, reanalyzing them repeatedly to determine the accuracy of their recollections and the possible consequences of their actions. Seeking reassurance and frequent confessions are hallmarks of this manifestation of OCD.
Moral/Religious OCD
Moral OCD, also known as scrupulosity, is a subtype of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) characterized by excessive concerns about morality, ethics, and doing the "right" thing. Individuals with moral OCD experience intense, intrusive thoughts about whether their actions, thoughts, sensations, and urges are moral or immoral, often leading to significant anxiety and distress. These thoughts can provoke compulsive behaviors aimed at resolving or alleviating these moral doubts, such as repeated confessing, seeking reassurance, or excessively researching ethical issues. The focus on morality can be so overwhelming that it disrupts daily functioning and personal relationships, as sufferers strive to meet impossibly high moral standards they set for themselves.
Perinatal/Postpartum OCD
Perinatal/postpartum OCD is a form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder that emerges during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth. This subtype focuses on intense, unwanted thoughts and fears about the safety or well-being of the newborn, often manifesting as fears of accidentally harming the baby or of the baby becoming severely ill. Sometimes this form of OCD focuses on an older sibling rather than the new infant. The intense anxiety and compulsions can severely disrupt the parent's ability to function and enjoy parenthood. These obsessions are very distressing and often create an intense amount of self-doubt, making the individual question themselves incessantly.
Pure OCD
Pure O OCD, or Purely Obsessional Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, is a subtype of OCD where individuals experience distressing obsessions without visible compulsions. These obsessions often manifest as intrusive, unwanted thoughts, fears, or mental images concerning harm, sexuality, relationships, or religious blasphemy. Although termed "purely obsessional," sufferers may still engage in less obvious compulsive behaviors, such as mental rituals or reassurance seeking. This internal struggle can be immensely distressing and often goes unnoticed by others, making Pure O OCD a particularly isolating form of the disorder. The absence of external compulsive actions often impedes detection and complicates understanding of this pattern.
Existential OCD
Existential OCD is a subtype of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder characterized by persistent and intrusive thoughts concerning existential themes such as the meaning of life, death, free will, and the nature of reality. Individuals with existential OCD often find themselves caught in a loop of deep, philosophical questioning that can lead to significant distress and impairment in daily functioning. Unlike typical philosophical inquiry, the compulsive search for answers in existential OCD does not provide relief or satisfaction; instead, it intensifies the individual's anxiety and existential dread.
We’re here to help.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is an effective approach to address OCD and reduce its power over one’s life. It works by gradually exposing an individual to their obsessions paired with practicing refraining/resisting their compulsions, whether mental, physical or both. Written, imaginal and real life (in vivo) exposures are utilized to assist individuals in building confidence around sitting with discomfort and tolerating uncertainty. This approach relies on in-session work as well as practice between sessions. Consistent ERP leads to habituation, a reduction in the distress caused by the obsessions. This translates to empowerment and a significant reduction in the OCD’s interference.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is used in tandem with ERP to increase your psychological flexibility in relationship with OCD.
ACT is a form of psychotherapy that encourages individuals to embrace their thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or working to change them. Central to ACT is the concept of psychological flexibility, which refers to the process of making contact with the present moment and continually choosing actions aligned with values. Unlike therapies that aim to control or modify thoughts, ACT focuses on helping individuals to accept the chatter the brains make up, thus taking obsessions less seriously and decreasing avoidance. It utilizes mindfulness strategies, commitment, and behavior-change techniques to increase psychological flexibility aiming to help individuals live a rich, full, and meaningful life, while effectively handling the pain and uncertainty that inevitably comes with it.
Our OCD Specialists
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Katie Higgins, LCPC, PMH-C
Katie specializes in OCD and has vast experience working with many subtypes. Katie provides a warm and compassionate approach with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) frameworks which help to foster confidence and psychological flexibility in embracing uncertainty and creating new and healthier responses to the fears that drive OCD, ultimately reducing the engagement in compulsions and reducing the power of the obsessions.
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Sarah Pottle, LPC, ADHD-CCSP
Sarah provides support with OCD, utilizing an exposure-based approach, incorporating Internal Family Systems to increase insight into protective measures your OCD may be trying to provide for you that have overtime gone into overdrive. She is gentle and nurturing but direct when needed and helps to foster insight throughout the process.