OCD therapists in Dresden, Ontario ON, Canada CA
OCD
Joanna Szczeskiewicz
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW
OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) is characterized by presence of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are the unwanted intrusive thoughts and images that can include unwarranted concerns about a loved one dying in their sleep, disturbing vivid images of stabbing a person standing nearby, or worrying about having grabbed a used needle and injecting oneself with drugs without even being aware of having done so. Obsessions are all about uncertainty. Compulsions represent attempts at dealing with that uncertainty. Some compulsive behaviours appear to make at least some sense (e.g., being vigilant about wellbeing of others), while others don’t make any sense at all (e.g., counting to 100 each time a thought of potential harm comes to person’s mind). Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) protocol for OCD starts with building an inventory of obsessions and compulsions that the affected person engages in. This is followed by cognitive interventions that seek to understand and challenge the beliefs that underpin these symptoms. Many persons with OCD recognize the irrational nature of their thoughts and behaviours. So we use exposure response prevention (ERP) techniques that teach at a very visceral level that despite undeniable initial discomfort, letting go of one’s rituals does not lead to danger. It might not be the most comfortable treatment but, given its proven effectiveness, it’s worth the effort.
28 Years Experience
OCD
Ms. Gorete Rodrigues
Therapist, Certified Counsellor
Lots of experience and success in this area.
14 Years Experience
OCD
Jennifer Poisson
Registered Psychotherapist, MACP, RP, CCDP, CCTP-II, Certified EMDR Therapist
I use Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to help treat symptoms of OCD. CBT based therapy will teach you how to better understand your obsessions and your compulsions so you can work to interrupt the cycle. Exposure therapy can help you learn how to better cope with uncertainty and to evaluate the reality of your worries and fears. This form of therapy is structured and will require your participation outside of session in order to achieve the greatest benefits from our time together.
4 Years Experience
OCD
EMDR and Trauma Therapy Centre
Registered Social Worker, Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) reveals a complex interplay between intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviours, and past relational experiences. Originating from the structure of attachment ties, OCD may appear as a coping strategy to reduce stress and restore control when faced with imagined dangers. Trauma, whether explicit or implicit, can exacerbate these symptoms, deepening the sense of distress and amplifying the need for ritualistic behaviours. Therapy becomes a sanctuary for exploration, providing a safe space to unpack the underlying attachment dynamics and process the echoes of past traumas. By fostering self-compassion and addressing the root causes of distress, individuals can begin to untangle the knots of OCD, reclaiming agency over their thoughts and behaviours, and forging a path towards healing and resilience.
22 Years Experience
OCD
Len Ramsay
Registered Psychotherapist, Gestalt Therapist , M.B.A.
Obsession. Compulsion. Addiction. These are first cousins, thoughts and actions that seem to happen all on their own volition. In my work, there is always something good about these 3 amigos - or they would not be here in your life. The work is to discover what that is, and like in the serentiy prayer: Deal with what you can change, accept what you can't , and know the difference. Sometimes it means changing a belief, sometimes a field or environmental condition... sometimes taking care of some emotions hiding in dark places.
11 Years Experience