Professional Memberships

I am a registered member of various professional, reputable, world-wide organisations. Each organisation requires me to adhere to a Strict Code of Ethics. This means that I am committed to a high level of professionalism, on-going training, and supervision ensuring that my clients always receive a safe, sound therapy.

My memberships are with:

• The Association of Professional Hypnosis and Psychotherapy (APHP).
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The British National Register of Advanced Hypnotherapists (NRAH).
  
  





• The National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP).
  
  





• The UK Confederation of Hypnotherapy Organisations (UKCHO).
  
  
  

Please visit these websites if you require further details.

Therapy > Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

(OCD)

Are you suffering symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
Do you need OCD help and stress relief?

Hypnotherapy treatment for OCD could help you manage your stress levels and overcome your anxiety.

What is OCD?

OCD is a serious anxiety-related condition consisting of an ‘obsession’ and a ‘compulsion’. It can be one of the hardest behavioural stress reactions to understand, especially to the non-sufferer.

The OCD sufferer is constantly plagued by persistent ideas or intrusive thoughts which are often terrifying, even though they know that they are totally irrational. These obsessive thoughts seem to come out of the blue, for example ‘Did I lock the front door?’, ‘I think I left the cooker on?’ ‘I’m going to harm somebody’, ‘Today I am going to die’. Even though the OCD sufferer tries to reject these thoughts they seem unable to stop them.

How the OCD sufferer copes

In order to deal with these distressing and often terrifying thoughts and feelings, the OCD sufferer will often go through a ritualistic compulsive action. This can be, for example, washing their hands every time they have touched something or continually checking that they have locked their front door. Although the OCD sufferer may try to break this vicious cycle or somebody else may try to stop them, they become increasingly agitated, anxious and panicky and usually end up giving into the ritualistic compulsive action.

The Obsessions, Compulsions and Rituals

Some of the most common OCD disorders include:

• Fear of contamination.
• Fear of accidentally causing harm to yourself or others.
• Preoccupation with order or symmetry.
• Aggressive obsessions.
• Religious obsessions, for example ‘Fear of offending God’.
• Sexual obsessions, for example ‘Fear of being a paedophile’.
• Fear of losing something important (such as possession, paperwork or ideas).
• Fear of becoming violent or aggressive.
• Checking (for example, if a light is switched off, or the front door is locked).
• Cleaning or washing (such as yourself, others or home).
• Counting.
• Touching.
• Repeating actions, special words, images and scenes or numbers in one’s mind.
• Ordering and making things ‘just so’.
• Compulsive slowness.
• Hoarding (excessive keeping of possessions such as newspapers that have no real value, interest or function).
• Making lists.
• Pure obsessing.

Related OCD Disorders

Some related OCD disorders include:

• Hypochondriasis: Preoccupation with fears of having, or the idea that one has, a serious disease based on misinterpretation of one or more bodily signs or symptoms.
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
: Preoccupation with a defect in appearance. This is either imagined or if a slight physical anomaly is present, the person’s concern is markedly obsessive.
• Trichotillomania: Recurrent pulling out of one’s hair resulting in noticeable hair loss.
• Compulsive buying.
• Compulsive stealing.
• Addictions (often disputed by the professionals).

Deciding whether professional help is needed

If you want to determine whether your obsession or compulsion is normal, or in fact a problem which requires professional assistance, then please consult the checklist below:

1. Your problems are impacting on your physical health. You may not be taking prescribed medication, attending medical appointments or looking after yourself properly (e.g. washing, eating or drinking enough).
2. Your problems are preventing you from leaving your home. (Sometimes people with OCD or BDD become housebound).
3. Your problems are seriously affecting your work and social life. You are unable to continue working, you’ve lost your job, you are avoiding seeing friends and family, your partner has left you.
4. Your problems are preventing you from caring adequately for your children. (OCD sufferers usually take too much responsibility for caring for their loved ones).
5. You’ve tried many different self-help options but you are unable to overcome the problems on your own.

Seeking Professional Help

Fortunately nowadays, OCD is more widely recognised by both OCD sufferers and professionals due to increased information being available. This means that more accurate diagnosis and relevant assistance can be offered to the OCD sufferer.

Medication

In some instances your GP/Medical Practitioner may feel it relevant to prescribe you medication to help you deal with the stress, anxiety and/or depression that you are experiencing as a result of the OCD. This is usually beneficial and can help the individual get through some very difficult times. However, it is also essential to deal with the underlying stress actually causing the problem.

Therapy

There are many ways that we can successfully work with OCD, one of the most well-recognised being Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This combined with Clinical Hypnotherapy is an excellent way to reduce anxiety and start regaining control of your life.

Some Facts about OCD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects up to three in every one hundred people in the United Kingdom from young children right through to older adults. The illness can have a totally devastating effect on work, social life and personal relationships. In fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO) ranks OCD as the tenth most disabling illness of any kind, in terms of lost earnings and diminished quality of life.

Who suffers with OCD?

Many people have some degree of obsessive behaviour such as checking or ordering but it doesn’t particularly interfere with their daily lives. In fact, OCD-type symptoms are probably experienced at one time or another by most people, especially in times of stress.

Anyone can develop obsessions and compulsions. A mild form of compulsion is one that many people go through as children, for example - not stepping on cracks on the pavement or walking under ladders. These are otherwise known as ‘superstitions’ and are fairly harmless. However, when a habit or thought begins to disrupt the person’s everyday life becoming increasingly distressing and severe, clearly they need to seek professional help.

People who suffer with OCD tend to be highly critical of themselves and others, have strong perfectionist traits, and are over-conscientious about most things they do.

When OCD usually starts

Generally, the average OCD sufferer will develop this condition before the age of 25. It is rare for someone over the age of 35 to suddenly develop symptoms of OCD. Unfortunately, a large number of cases go undiagnosed and untreated for many years, and it is not uncommon for some OCD sufferers to never receive any help. This is partly due to a lack of understanding of the condition, and partly because of the intense feelings of embarrassment, guilt and shame experienced by the OCD sufferer.

Understanding OCD

To sufferers and non-sufferers alike, thoughts and fears related to OCD can seem profoundly shocking. It must be stressed, however, that they are just thoughts and not fantasies or impulses which will necessarily be acted upon.

Avoidance Behaviour is more damaging

People who are persistently troubled by intrusive, obsessive thoughts often start to avoid situations that might trigger them in order to help them cope. Although this may help to reduce the anxiety initially, it can lead to increased anxiety and more serious problems in the long run. Facing your fears is the way start to tacking your problems.

The Effects of OCD

The severity and impact of OCD varies greatly from one person to another. In the most extreme cases, the OCD sufferer can become totally housebound and sometimes even bedridden. The severity of the symptoms tends to vary according to what is going on in the person’s life, stress levels etc. However most people with OCD do function, have relationships and hold down jobs or education but they do so under considerable strain.