Counselling for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
in Menai and the Sutherland Shire

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves a pattern of unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and behaviours or mental actions (compulsions) that people feel driven to carry out to reduce anxiety or create a sense of certainty. These thoughts and behaviours can feel repetitive, distressing, and difficult to control, even when you know they don’t fully make sense.

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OCD can feel overwhelming and confusing. You might notice thoughts becoming stuck or intrusive, or feel a strong urge to carry out certain behaviours or mental rituals to ease anxiety or prevent something from going wrong. Even when you recognise these patterns, they can be difficult to interrupt.

 

​At Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology in Menai, our psychologists and counsellors work with children, adolescents and adults across the Sutherland Shire experiencing OCD at different stages of life. 

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Understanding OCD in context

 

OCD is often maintained by a cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsive responses. When an intrusive thought appears, it can create a strong sense of anxiety, discomfort, or doubt. In response, a behaviour or mental ritual is used to reduce that feeling or create a sense of certainty.

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While this may bring short-term relief, it teaches the brain that the thought is important or threatening, which can lead to the cycle repeating over time. This is why OCD can feel persistent and difficult to break without support.

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OCD can also present differently from person to person. For some, it is more visible through behaviours such as checking or cleaning. For others, it may involve internal processes like rumination, reviewing, or seeking reassurance.

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OCD may also occur alongside anxiety, low mood, perfectionistic traits, trauma, or ADHD, which can influence how symptoms show up.

 

What you might notice

 

OCD can show up in different ways:

• Intrusive thoughts, images or urges that feel persistent, unwanted, or distressing

• Repetitive behaviours such as checking, cleaning, counting or repeating actions to reduce anxiety

• Mental rituals, including reviewing, neutralising thoughts, or seeking reassurance

• A strong sense of responsibility or fear of causing harm

• A need for things to feel “just right” or complete

• Difficulty tolerating uncertainty or doubt

 

These patterns can become time-consuming and exhausting, and may interfere with daily life.

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How counselling can help

 

OCD counselling focuses on changing how you respond to intrusive thoughts and urges, rather than trying to eliminate them. This shift can reduce the intensity and impact of OCD over time.

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In sessions, you will work towards understanding patterns, identifying triggers, and gradually developing different ways of responding to anxiety and uncertainty. Therapy is paced carefully, supporting gradual and manageable change.

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Over time, many people notice a reduction in compulsive behaviours and an increased ability to tolerate discomfort without needing to act on it. Intrusive thoughts may still occur, but often become less distressing as your relationship with them changes.

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Approaches may include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR, and other approaches suited to your needs.

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Getting started

 

Appointments are available in person at our Menai practice and via secure online appointments across Australia.

 

If you would like to make an appointment or speak with our Client Care Team, you can call 02 8519 4197 or use the button below to get in touch.