A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health concern that can create havoc in the lives of those who experience its symptoms, and the individual manifestations of the issue may vary greatly from one person to the next. The consequences tend to be similar, however; difficulty carrying out daily life, problematic relationships, and concerns at work are common themes. A study performed in India has identified average ages for the onset of OCD, noting that men experience early symptoms before their twentieth year, while women tend to notice similar issues later into their twenties. The difference may impact the professional and social prospects of men who struggle with the issue.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Ann Arbor Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Typically, those who experience strong compulsions to perform certain tasks or routines repeatedly with concerns about the perceived consequences of not doing so are associated with obsessive compulsive disorder, a mental health issue that can become debilitating for some people. This issue has traditionally been classified as relating to health concerns involving anxiety, but a review carried out at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests that OCD may stem from purely biological causes. While the review is far from being conclusive, it notes that a combination of treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and cognitive behavioral therapy is most promising for modern recovery.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Simi Valley Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

While the effects, for both clients and their families, of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD can have far-reaching consequences that greatly impact elements of everyday life, many who grapple with the mental health concern remain untreated, even during the normal course of therapy. In an effort to deliver specialized care from professionals and peers alike, the annual Obsessive Compulsive Foundation’s conference is set to stage another empowering event. The conference will include keynote speeches as well as several therapeutic activities, such as a fashion show focusing on mis-matched buttons and messy hairdos for those focused on keeping a meticulous appearance, and a trashcan touching and hugging session for clients with debilitating aversions to germs. The conference, which has enjoyed a fair measure of success in the past, hopes to continue to grow and reach more people affected by the mental health concern.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Allen Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

For many therapists and other mental health professionals, the symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, are fairly clear. But for parents of children who suffer from related difficulties, it’s not always a straightforward matter to distinguish between positive and unhelpful behaviors, and sometimes parents’ efforts to help their children can have the opposite effect. Validating the behaviors associated with OCD is a common, and often unintentional, result of parents’ reactions to their children’s symptoms. But through consultation with a mental health professional and a better understanding of how OCD tends to work, parents can provide the care they seek to bestow upon their children without worsening symptoms.

A study recently published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology has revealed that a large number of families engage in what the study terms as “accommodations,” which typically take place when parents wish to soothe upset over a particular worry or concern experienced by a child. Such accommodations can include assistance in carrying out obsessive rituals, or the verbal assurance of certain conditions about which the child is worried. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Sacramento Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a condition fairly well known among mental health professionals and the psychologically-minded public at large. Yet as with so many things, there exist extreme departures from what we’d normally envision of a person afflicted with OCD –and the co-author of a recently released book on the subject is an excellent example. The man, who suffered from the disorder for most of his life, had developed extreme rituals that kept him from leaving his house or carrying out the vast majority of daily tasks; he became unable to bathe himself and spent hours each day carrying out elaborate counting and organizing rituals. That is, until he met the man who would help him triumph over his condition: his psychotherapist.

The two met after the afflicted man’s family called for help, and the psychotherapist, a renowned expert on OCD at the Harvard Medical School, drove three hours to meet and assess the man –and the mind– that would occupy his professional efforts for years to come. That initial meeting was difficult; the young man had developed strict rules for what actions could be taken in his home or around his person, yet psychologist and client were eventually able to find common ground. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Mill Valley Bureau - All Rights Reserved.