Stop experiencing intense and insistent OCD thoughts
Those struggling to manage OCD have two things in common, intrusive thoughts which become intense when anxious or worried and the desire to do something to alleviate those feelings. As a therapist, I help clients to reduce their arousal from negative emotions while encouraging them to notice what they have achieved despite the OCD. Then, when ready, we explore times when the OCD didn’t affect them- by acknowledging existing skills, clients are reminded of their capability to manage their thoughts and behaviours. OCD hypnotherapy is a gentle process compared to other therapies.
What is OCD?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is usually triggered when a person has faced a traumatic event. Their primitive mind takes over and creates an inappropriate coping strategy becoming the default response to future negative triggers. This can lead to the person experiencing intense and insistent thoughts which have a significant impact on their life. During OCD Hypnotherapy, we begin by tackling negative thoughts to have a greater sense of control of the compulsive actions.
The 4 main types of OCD are:
- Fear of contamination leading to cleaning
- Symmetry and ordering
- Concerns with unintentional harm and repeated checking (e.g locking doors)
- Hoarding
Please note: hypnotherapy is a strength-based approach. Everyone is different and results can’t be guaranteed. It works best when you’re ready to make changes, and it doesn’t replace medical care, so please keep your GP in the loop. Your FREE initial consultation is a 15-minute telephone consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Will my OCD go away completely with hypnotherapy?
The neural pathway associated with OCD doesn’t disappear because of the heightened emotion attached to it. But hypnotherapy can significantly reduce its power over you. Most clients find that their intrusive thoughts become less frequent, less intense and much easier to manage. The goal isn’t elimination — it’s freedom from being consumed by OCD.
How does hypnotherapy help with OCD?
Solution-focused hypnotherapy works by reducing the anxiety that drives OCD. When anxiety levels drop, intrusive thoughts lose their intensity and compulsive behaviours become easier to resist because we recognise they don’t serve a purpose. We also use the relaxed hypnotic state to build new, calmer responses to triggers.
Is hypnotherapyay any good for OCD?
Yes, solution-focused hypnotherapy is particularly effective for OCD because it targets the anxiety that drives the condition rather than the compulsive behaviour itself. By calming the nervous system and building new responses to triggers, clients find intrusive thoughts become less frequent and less powerful. It works best alongside other support for severe OCD.
What is the 15 minute rule for OCD?
The 15 minute rule is a delay technique. When you feel the urge to carry out a compulsion, you wait 15 minutes before acting on it. The idea is to gradually increase your tolerance for anxiety without immediately responding to it. In hypnotherapy sessions at mindAbility, we use similar principles building your capacity to sit with discomfort while reducing the underlying anxiety that makes it feel unbearable.
How do you get out of an OCD spiral?
An OCD spiral happens when anxiety triggers an intrusive thought, which triggers a compulsion, which provides temporary relief – reinforcing the cycle. Breaking it requires interrupting the anxiety response before the compulsion kicks in. Techniques include grounding exercises, breathing techniques and over time, hypnotherapy to reduce the baseline anxiety that starts the spiral in the first place.
Take the first step — book a FREE 15-minute call.
If you recognise the symptoms mentioned above take the opportunity to contact Mindability on 07902580703
or contact us below to arrange your free telephone consultation