Patient resources
We believe informed patients make better progress. The resources below are drawn from the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) and other trusted clinical sources — the same organizations that guide our treatment approach.
The IOCDF is the leading nonprofit dedicated to OCD and related disorders. Their website offers clinician-reviewed information on every OCD subtype, treatment options, and how to find specialized care.
OCD presents differently for everyone. These IOCDF pages explain the specific thought patterns and compulsions associated with each subtype — helpful whether you're newly diagnosed or trying to understand your experience more deeply.
Fear of germs, illness, or spreading harm to others — often involving excessive washing, cleaning, or avoidance.
IOCDF.org
Intrusive thoughts about accidentally or intentionally harming yourself or others — despite having no desire to do so.
IOCDF.org
Obsessions centered on religious, moral, or ethical themes — fear of sinning, offending God, or being a bad person.
IOCDF.org
Persistent doubt about the rightness of a relationship, a partner's feelings, or one's own love — often mistaken for genuine relationship problems.
IOCDF.org
OCD where compulsions are mostly mental rather than visible — rumination, mental reviewing, and reassurance-seeking that happens internally.
IOCDF.org
Intrusive doubts about one's sexual orientation — not a reflection of actual identity, but a form of OCD that causes significant distress.
IOCDF.org
Unwanted, distressing intrusive thoughts about harming children — the opposite of actual attraction, and a recognized OCD subtype.
IOCDF.org
Obsessive questioning about the nature of reality, existence, consciousness, or the meaning of life — beyond normal philosophical curiosity.
IOCDF.org
Persistent fear of having or developing a serious illness, often involving repeated checking, reassurance-seeking, or medical avoidance.
IOCDF.org
A need for things to feel 'just right' — arranging, ordering, or repeating actions until a sense of completeness is achieved.
IOCDF.org
Resources can be a useful starting point, but they are not a substitute for individualized care. If you recognize a pattern that is taking up time, narrowing your life, or causing distress, these steps can help you move forward without trying to solve everything at once.
When a thought feels urgent or frightening, it can help to notice whether you are caught in a cycle of checking, avoiding, reviewing, or seeking reassurance. The pattern is often more informative than the specific thought.
You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis. Sharing what has been difficult, what you have tried, and what you hope will change can help determine whether specialized therapy or assessment may be a good fit.
Online information can be helpful when it is clinically grounded and does not become another way to seek certainty. Consider saving a few trusted resources and discussing questions that remain with a qualified clinician.
A clear explanation of Exposure and Response Prevention — the gold-standard treatment for OCD — including what to expect in sessions.
IOCDF
An overview of evidence-based treatment options for OCD, including ERP, medication, and combined approaches.
IOCDF
Guidance on what to look for in a therapist, questions to ask, and how to verify that a provider is genuinely trained in ERP.
IOCDF
How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) complements ERP — helping patients relate differently to intrusive thoughts.
IOCDF
BDD involves obsessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance. It is closely related to OCD and responds to similar treatments.
IOCDF
Difficulty discarding possessions regardless of value, often causing significant distress and impairment. Related to but distinct from OCD.
IOCDF
Recurrent, compulsive urges to pull out hair — a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) related to OCD.
IOCDF
Repetitive picking at skin that causes tissue damage — another BFRB in the OCD-related disorder family.
IOCDF
We're happy to talk through what you're experiencing before you commit to anything. Reach out and we'll be in touch soon.
