OCD Treatment

Specialized treatment using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)—the gold-standard therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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Quick Summary

What is it? OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) involves unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) done to reduce anxiety. Common symptoms include checking, washing, counting, ordering, and intrusive thoughts about harm, contamination, or symmetry.

How we help: Our Windsor, Ontario psychologists provide Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard treatment for OCD. ERP has a 60-85% success rate and helps you gradually face fears without performing compulsions, breaking the OCD cycle.

Last reviewed: April 2026

Understanding OCD

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety. While OCD can feel overwhelming, it's highly treatable with specialized therapy.

OCD in Canada: By the Numbers

1 in 100

Canadians have OCD

Canadian study, 2018

14.5 years

average age when OCD symptoms begin

Canadian research

60-85%

success rate with ERP therapy

Clinical trials

Sources: The prevalence of diagnosed obsessive compulsive disorder, Canadian study (2018); Children's Health Policy Centre, BC; Frontiers in Psychiatry (2022)

Common Signs & Symptoms

OCD can take many forms. Common symptoms include:

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Intrusive Thoughts

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Repetitive Behaviors

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Checking Rituals

🧼

Contamination Fears

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Need for Symmetry

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Mental Rituals

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Avoidance

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Distress & Anxiety

How We Can Help

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

The gold-standard treatment for OCD. Gradually face feared situations while resisting compulsions, breaking the OCD cycle.

Cognitive Therapy for OCD

Challenge distorted beliefs about intrusive thoughts, responsibility, and the need for certainty.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Learn to accept intrusive thoughts without engaging in compulsions, while taking valued action.

Mindfulness-Based Approaches

Develop awareness of thoughts as mental events, reducing the need to respond to obsessions.

Research shows that ERP is the first-line, evidence-based treatment for OCD with 60-85% success rates in clinical trials. About 70-80% of people show significant improvement when ERP is delivered by properly trained therapists. ERP combined with medication is significantly better than medication alone.

What to Expect in ERP Treatment

Comprehensive Assessment

We'll explore your obsessions, compulsions, and how OCD impacts your daily life.

Psychoeducation

Learn how OCD works and why compulsions maintain the cycle of obsessions.

Gradual Exposure

Start with easier exposures and gradually work up to more challenging situations at your pace.

Response Prevention

Practice resisting compulsions while tolerating the discomfort, rewiring your brain's response.

Frequently Asked Questions

ERP is specifically designed for OCD. Instead of trying to reduce anxiety through compulsions, you learn that anxiety decreases naturally without rituals. This breaks the OCD cycle and leads to lasting improvement. Research shows 60-85% of people significantly improve with ERP.

Initially, anxiety may temporarily increase during exposures. However, this is expected and part of the healing process. We work gradually at a pace you're comfortable with, and anxiety naturally decreases as your brain learns that feared outcomes don't occur. Most people find ERP empowering.

Many people see meaningful improvement within 12-20 sessions of ERP. Some notice changes within weeks, while others need longer-term support. About 70-80% of people show significant improvement when ERP is delivered by properly trained therapists. Long-term remission rates are around 57%.

Break Free from OCD

You don't have to let OCD control your life. With specialized ERP therapy and expert support, you can reduce obsessions and compulsions significantly.

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