Intrusive thoughts or images
Unwanted material that feels alarming, shameful or inconsistent with the person you want to be.
OCD and ERP
Help for obsessive doubt, compulsions and the search for certainty.
OCD can involve visible rituals, private mental acts, avoidance or repeated reassurance. Therapy begins by understanding the person’s particular cycle rather than judging the content of the thoughts.
How OCD can appear
The ritual is not always visible.
The problem is often a cycle of uncertainty, distress and responses that bring short-term relief but strengthen the need for certainty over time.
Checking and repeating
Actions intended to prevent harm, achieve certainty or make something feel complete or correct.
Reassurance-seeking
Repeatedly asking others, reviewing memories or searching for certainty that never lasts for long.
Mental rituals
Silently analysing, neutralising, reviewing, counting or replacing one thought with another.
Avoidance
Steering away from people, places, objects, decisions or responsibilities that trigger doubt or distress.
Family involvement
Routines or reassurance that gradually draw partners or family members into managing the anxiety.
Exposure and response prevention
Learning to respond differently to doubt and discomfort.
ERP involves gradually approaching situations, thoughts or uncertainty that trigger distress while reducing the usual compulsive response. It is collaborative and planned, with attention to readiness and the person's goals.
Other approaches may also be useful when shame, trauma, depression, relationships or longstanding patterns are part of the picture. The aim is not to apply one protocol without understanding the wider person.
Common questions
Understanding the treatment before you begin.
Does having an intrusive thought mean I want it to happen?
No. OCD commonly attaches importance to unwanted thoughts precisely because they conflict with a person’s values. Assessment considers the meaning given to the thought and the responses that keep the cycle going.
Will exposure mean being forced into the most frightening situation?
No. ERP is planned collaboratively. The pace, purpose and level of difficulty are discussed, and learning is reviewed as the work develops.
Can OCD therapy be provided by telehealth?
Yes. Australia-wide telehealth and face-to-face appointments in Perth CBD are both available, with the format discussed at the first appointment.
Taking the next step
You can describe the pattern without disclosing every detail online.
Use the pathway form to request an OCD and ERP appointment in Perth CBD or by Australia-wide telehealth.
Request an appointment