Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Living with OCD can truly take a toll on one’s daily life and relationships. Nevertheless, you are not alone, and these experiences are more common than you might think. At PULSE+ , we provide evidence-based therapy for OCD by a clinical psychologist. You will find support and a safe space to explore the roots of your OCD symptoms, develop effective coping mechanisms, and build a life filled with greater peace and fulfilment.
Emily's Story
Emily suffers from a variety of symptoms stemming from her OCD which significantly impact her quality of life
Symptoms
Constantly worried and anxious
Fear of falling ill and obsesses over maintaining cleanliness and hygiene
After touching something which might be contaminated, she will wash her hand with soap repeatedly until she feels “clean”
Elaborate and detailed bathing routine which takes her about two hours to complete. Due to this, she is often late for work.
Perfectionist and fears making mistakes
At work, she pays attention to details and checks her work repeatedly, making her slow and sometimes misses deadlines. Very often, she has to work overtime to complete her work.
Constantly worried and anxious
Fear of falling ill and obsesses over maintaining cleanliness and hygiene
After touching something which might be contaminated, she will wash her hand with soap repeatedly until she feels “clean”
Elaborate and detailed bathing routine which takes her about two hours to complete. Due to this, she is often late for work.
Perfectionist and fears making mistakes
At work, she pays attention to details and checks her work repeatedly, making her slow and sometimes misses deadlines. Very often, she has to work overtime to complete her work.
What is OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterised by:
1. Recurring, intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety and distress
While we usually associate OCD with being overly concerned about cleanliness or neatness, in reality the obsessive thoughts can be on any topic. Some of the most common themes include:
- Contamination obsessions
- Symmetry or order obsessions
- Intrusive sexual thoughts
- Health-related obsessions
- Checking obsessions
- Intrusive harm thoughts
- Hoarding obsessions
2. Time-consuming, repetitive behaviours called “rituals”
Individuals with OCD would also compulsively perform certain rituals (e.g. Emily’s detailed bathing routine and constant checking) to suppress the intrusive thoughts or alleviate the anxiety brought on by them. The rituals are often time-consuming and strongly interfere with their daily functioning.
What Causes OCD?
With most mental health conditions, there is usually no single determined cause. It usually involves a complex combination of:
- biological factors
- psychological factors
- environmental stressors & life events
How can Therapy Help with OCD?
Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP)
This is considered the most effective form of psychotherapy for OCD. ERP involves gradually exposing the individual to the situations or thoughts that trigger their obsessions (exposure) and then preventing them from performing the compulsive behaviours (response prevention).
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
The fears and intrusive thoughts in OCD are usually not likely to happen realistically.
CBT helps individuals with OCD to identify and challenge the irrational thoughts related to their obsessions.
When individuals with OCD realise how unrealistic their fears were, it usually helps to reduce their anxiety and for them to undertake further actions towards recovery, such as exposure therapy.
Meet our Psychologist
Lead Clinical Psychologist
Dr Jaswyn Chin
Doctor of Psychology (Clinical), James Cook University Singapore
Bachelors of Art in Psychology, Murdoch University Australia
Registered Psychologist with Singapore Psychological Society (SPS)
Languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese
Dr. Jaswyn is a registered clinical psychologist with over 10 years of experience. She has extensive experience providing intervention for various a wide range of mental health issues from anxiety, depression, grief, insomnia, OCD, personality disorders, stress management to trauma.
Dr Jaswyn adopts a person-centred approach to therapy where she believes in working collaboratively with individuals through the process of recovery. She is also trained in multiple therapeutic modalities including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and eye movement desensitisation reprocessing therapy (EMDR).
During her free time, Jaswyn enjoys music and plays the piano. She is also a keen learner of new languages and loves to travel.
Do you or someone you know might have OCD?
Book a PULSE+ psychologist to get the help you need.
Book appointment
FAQ
A clinical psychologist usually has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s or Doctoral degree in clinical psychology. They would have received longer, more comprehensive training on psychological theories, mental health conditions, assessments, and therapeutic techniques. They are qualified to work with clients on a wider range of issues, from general life challenges, emotional problems, to mental health conditions.
A counsellor or therapist, on the other hand, usually holds either a bachelor’s degree in counselling or psychology and/or a postgraduate diploma or master’s degree in counselling, which usually focus on general counselling or therapy skills. A counsellor or therapist typically helps clients on general life problems and challenges, such as stress, family or relationship issues. They may not have the resources or capacity to handle mental health cases such as clinical depression, anxiety or other diagnosed psychological conditions.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have completed medical school with further specialised training in psychiatry. In practice, they focus on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions through prescribing psychotropic medications (e.g. antidepressants, anxiety medications). A psychologist, on the other hand, aims to help clients improve through therapeutic interventions. They focus on psychoeducation as well as changing the way clients respond (think and behave) to improve their conditions.
Psychiatrist consultations are usually much briefer than therapy sessions, typically ranging from 15 to 30 minutes. The session usually focuses on keeping track of the patient’s symptoms and responses to medication, and in adjusting the prescription. Some psychiatrists; although less common; may also provide psychological interventions.
It is common for clients with mental health conditions to see a psychiatrist to help alleviate some of their symptoms through medication, and also work with a psychologist to make longer-term changes that will help them recover from their conditions. Our psychologist would refer a client to also see a psychiatrist whenever it is deemed necessary.
There isn’t anything specific required from you. Our psychologist would guide you through the session by asking questions to get the information needed. Simply show up on time or slightly early on the appointment day to fill out the necessary forms.
The therapy sessions at PULSE is up to 60 minutes. When needed, there is also the option to extend the therapy time (charges apply).
This varies widely among clients and usually depends on many factors, including the severity of their conditions, or complications of their presenting issues, motivation towards the therapy work, and more. Some clients may resolve their issues within a few sessions, while others may need long-term support. As a general guide, four to eight sessions are more common.
PULSE+ Allied Health clinic is located at Camden Medical Centre, by Orchard Boulevard MRT.
Simply fill out our Appointment form below and we will get back to you to confirm the appointment.
Please visit our Charges page for our rates.
If you have further questions, you may SMS or whatsapp us at 9831 9912 or email us at psychologist@pulseallied.health.
Have more questions?
Visit our AskPULSE portal to ask our PULSE+ Allied Health specialists or PULSE TCM Physicians any questions about your health or our services.
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