OCD

…the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you… – 1 Chronicles 28:9

When we feel bound by things that are beyond our control, it’s natural to give into feelings of desperation or hopelessness. God knows what you struggle with, including every unwanted thought, emotion, and behavior. If you battle OCD, we are glad you found us. At Seattle Christian Counseling, we have helped people like you find real solutions for overcoming OCD symptoms through a highly-effective combination of proven therapies and the healing promises of Jesus Christ.

Do I Have OCD?

You might be surprised to hear that about 1 in 40 adults were diagnosed with OCD in 2015 (it’s more common than you thought, isn’t it?). When people think of OCD, people with extreme obsessive-compulsive behaviors might come to mind. In reality, these make up only a small portion of those who struggle with OCD, and in fact, many who struggle are able to maintain a fairly high level of functionality in their daily lives. If you wonder whether you or a loved one suffers from OCD, consider the following questions:

• Do you have repeated, anxiety provoking thoughts that won’t go away?
• Do you wash your hands frequently or keep things ordered in a very particular way?
• Do you excessively check or count things?
• Do you feel you have obsessions that are “in your head” and don’t make sense?

The things that trigger obsessive thoughts or actions varies greatly from person to person. It might be your hair, dirt on the windows, or slightly crooked pictures on the wall. It might be persistent worrisome thoughts that won’t go away. Maybe your battle is a silent one or maybe it is so severe that it keeps you from a fully functional life. Whatever your struggle, no matter how severe it might seem, Christian OCD counseling offers the compassionate solutions you need.

What Are Obsessions and Compulsions?

People with OCD struggle with a constant cycle of unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and the behaviors that are required to temporarily relieve those thoughts (compulsions). Together, these make up the varying signs and symptoms of OCD.

OCD symptoms include:

Obsessions – People with OCD often describe feeling trapped by ongoing or “running” thoughts. These include any unwanted ideas or impulses that often cause extreme anxiety or fear, usually intruding normal thoughts and daily life. Obsessions can include thoughts related to:

• A strong need to do things perfectly.
• Fear of getting dirty, germs, or sickness.
• Worry over the thoughts and motivations of others.
• Fear of harming yourself or others.
• Obsessively ruminating over things like relationship issues.

Compulsions – To silence (usually temporarily) the obsessive thoughts, a person with OCD will fall into ritualistic behaviors. These can remain the same for long periods of time, while others are complex and changing. Examples of compulsive behaviors include:

• Washing or checking that something has been done correctly.
• Counting, often while performing a related action.
• Frequently moving or organizing items to keep them in perfect order.
• Hoarding.

Obsessive compulsive disorder can have very serious effects on a person’s emotional, mental, social, and spiritual well-being – even for those whose symptoms seem fairly minor. Sadly, many who struggle with OCD don’t reach out for help because of shame or fear. At Seattle Christian Counseling, you have a judgment-free space where you are respected for who you are while working at your own pace towards recovery from your OCD symptoms.

Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. – James 5:16

Christian OCD counseling offers you a place where you can feel safe just as you are. In an environment of compassion and trust, we will help you find healing at a pace that works for you. When we seek Christ with a heart that is open to God’s Word and healing, amazing things can happen; your Christian counselor is here to facilitate healing for your specific situation. This can involve many things including evidence-based therapies, Bible study and prayer.

Can Therapy Cure OCD?

There are many effective treatments for managing symptoms of OCD. Secular groups say that there is no real “cure” for OCD, but as Christians we know that all things are possible through faith. Elijah was a human being, even as we are.

He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years – James 5:17

That is what makes Christian counseling so different. In addition to evidence-based treatments, we take it a step further in looking toward the author and finisher of our faith for healing that only he can provide.

Benefits of Christian counseling for OCD include:

• Helping you to better understand your OCD symptoms.
• Offering support and a non-judgmental space for exploring your thoughts and emotions.
• Finding ways to better manage your OCD symptoms so they no longer keep you from the life you want.
• Learning how to talk to loved ones about OCD as well as support for how your symptoms affect your relationships.

Providing you with hope, inner peace, and healing through faith in Christ.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. – Colossians 3:1

A Note on Faith and Fear – When OCD Meets Christianity

Our Christian counselors have experience helping people overcome a wide-variety of OCD symptoms – even those whose obsessions involve issues of the faith. Maybe you obsessively worry that you will be punished by God if you don’t do things a certain way, perform certain rituals or prayers, or worry that you are under spiritual attack. When this happens, you might mistake your symptoms with a strong zeal for the things of God, when in fact you struggle with thoughts and behaviors that are actually damaging to your faith.

Having people of faith walk you through these challenges is especially important. We can help you discern what is of God and what could be hindering your spiritual growth. While secular groups might dismiss your concerns entirely, we will work with you while encouraging your faith rather than trying to downplay it or make you feel foolish for what you might feel is an earnest attempt at seeking after God.

The approach to Christian counseling for OCD can vary greatly depending on the needs of each person. In general, you can expect your counselor to develop an individualized plan of treatment for helping you learn to control unwanted thoughts and behaviors. Our goals are to decrease your symptoms and reverse some of the negative effects of OCD on your life and relationships. Sometimes full recovery requires treating other co-occurring conditions like depression or chemical dependency.

As for counseling approach, the most effective and common form of therapy used in Christian counseling for OCD is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy called exposure and response prevention, which includes:

• Identifying your obsessions and rituals (compulsions) and the things you avoid.
• Ranking the amount of anxiety each obsession causes from highest to lowest.
• Repeated exposure to the obsession while denying the compulsive act, beginning with those that cause least anxiety.
• Gradually working towards exposure to obsessions, which cause more anxiety at a reasonable pace.
• Overcoming faulty beliefs that lead to OCD behaviors.

Christian counseling for OCD can be difficult. Our counselors are here to support you through results-driven Christian counseling and faith in Christ. If you are ready to end the grasp and control OCD has on your life, we are eager to help.

Christian Counseling for OCD in Children and Teens

If you worry that your child suffers from OCD, we can help. Counseling for OCD in children is similar to treatment for adults, but can vary depending on the age and unique needs of your child. Your child’s counseling might use cognitive-behavioral therapy using similar steps to those shown above, as well as a technique that works especially well for children called “cognitive restructuring.” This method engages your child in story telling based on his or her obsession to help reduce the frequency and severity of their symptoms.

OCD in children and teens requires help from a professional who is familiar with the special challenges that come with OCD at a young age. Young children often have difficulty expressing their symptoms and lack the skills to address their irrational fears and compulsive behaviors. Older children and teens might resist talking about their symptoms due to feelings of shame or embarrassment. Our Christian child and adolescent counselors offer a compassionate environment that encourages young people to discover expression of difficult emotions and encourages connection with Christ.

If your child or teen has obsessive compulsive disorder, we know how hard that can be on you and your child. Seattle Christian Counseling includes experienced counselors who specialize in Christian counseling for children and teens who suffer with obsessive compulsive disorder.

Christian Counseling for OCD offers hope and healing. Partner with us on your road to recovery today.

If you’re ready to begin Christian counseling for OCD or for more information, we welcome you to give us a call at 206-388-3929 or contact us online to schedule a risk-free initial session*.