Help for OCD in the UK: Where to Start

The NHS describes OCD as a mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. An obsession is an unwanted, unpleasant thought, image or urge that keeps coming back. A compulsion is something you feel you need to do, physically or in your head, to relieve the feeling for a while. OCD can affect men, women and children. Some women have OCD during pregnancy or after their baby is born; the NHS suggests talking to your GP or health visitor if this affects daily life. Source: NHS: OCD.

The NHS gives two main ways to get help: refer yourself directly to an NHS talking therapies service in England (find your local service), or see a GP, who can refer you if needed. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, a GP is usually the first step. For under-18s, see NHS: mental health support for children and young people. The NHS says OCD is unlikely to get better without proper treatment and support.

• CBT with exposure and response prevention (ERP): you work with your therapist to face fears and obsessive thoughts gradually, starting with what feels least difficult, without putting them right with compulsions. The NHS says people with fairly mild OCD usually need about 8 to 20 sessions, with exercises at home between sessions, and more severe OCD may need longer.
• Medicine: usually an antidepressant called an SSRI, if therapy alone isn't helping or OCD is more severe. The NHS says it can take up to 12 weeks to notice a benefit. Medicines are a decision for you and a doctor.
• If these don't help, the NHS says you may be offered a different medicine, therapy and medicine together, or a referral to a specialist mental health service.

Source: NHS: OCD treatment.

The NHS suggests these for information and support, including local groups:

• OCD-UK
• OCD Action
• Free and low-cost therapy: charities, workplaces, universities and training clinics.

If you see someone privately, ask whether they are trained in CBT with ERP for OCD and how much of their work is with OCD. Professions that may offer this include:

• CBT therapists.
• Practitioner psychologists, such as clinical and counselling psychologists, who are on the HCPC register.
• Psychotherapists and counsellors with OCD training.
• Occupational therapists, who can help when OCD affects daily routines, work or study.
• Child and adolescent psychotherapists and family therapists, for children and families.
• Psychiatrists, medical doctors who can assess, diagnose and prescribe.

Whoever you choose, check their register and ask about fees, session length and how you will review progress together. See questions to ask before you book and how much therapy costs. On Therapist Circle, each practitioner's registration is checked when they join, and their profile shows the register and number so you can check it yourself.