Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Therapy Calgary

OCD Therapy Calgary

Struggling with OCD can feel overwhelming — but you don’t have to face it alone. At Clear Minds Psychology, we specialise in OCD therapy in Calgary to help you break free from obsessive thoughts and compulsions. We use proven, evidence-based treatments like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). We also use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). Our personalised approach ensures you get the right OCD treatment in Calgary for your needs. With the right tools and support, you can reclaim your life and focus on what truly matters.

What is OCD?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is a serious mental health condition characterised by obsessive thoughts and compulsive, repetitive behaviours. These patterns often cause distress, consume significant time, and interfere with daily activities.

What are Obsessions?

Most people experience intrusive thoughts occasionally — for example, wondering if you locked the door or imagining swerving off a bridge. Research shows 80%–99% of people have unwanted thoughts at some point.

For most, these thoughts are fleeting. However, in OCD, they are persistent, distressing, and difficult to dismiss. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines obsessions as “recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or impulses” that cause marked anxiety or distress.

Obsessions are typically “ego-dystonic,” meaning they conflict with your values and beliefs. For example, a religious person may develop scrupulosity — obsessive guilt or fears about morality and faith. This mismatch between values and intrusive thoughts fuels intense anxiety, often leading to compulsions aimed at reducing the discomfort.

What are Compulsions?

Many people have routines or quirks, but compulsions in OCD are not about preference. They are repetitive behaviours or mental rituals done to prevent or reduce anxiety or to avoid a feared event.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines compulsions as being repetitive behaviours or rituals that an individual feels driven to perform, such as:

  • Overt behaviours: checking, handwashing, seeking reassurance
  • Covert acts: mental counting, silent praying, repeating phrases

While intended to reduce distress, compulsions often create additional stress, trapping individuals in a cycle of anxiety and relief.

What are the Different Types of OCD?

While there are no official ‘types’ of OCD, symptoms are categorised into different common themes.

Common obsessions in OCD include:

  • Fear of germs or contamination
  • Intrusive sexual thoughts or images
  • Fear of causing harm to oneself or others
  • Religious fears (also known as scrupulosity)
  • Moral obsessions related to excessive concerns with right and wrong
  • Preoccupation with symmetry or exactness
  • Existential worries about the meaning of life
  • Identity related worries regarding one’s sexual orientation or gender identity
  • Relationship obsessions regarding being in love, or one’s partner being “the one”

Common compulsions in OCD include:

  • Excessive cleaning or handwashing
  • Avoiding perceived contaminants
  • Repeated checking, for example, locks, appliances, harm, errors
  • Repeating things multiple times or in a certain way
  • Ordering or arranging items until they “feel right”
  • Seeking reassurance repeatedly from others or self
  • Counting during a task and ending on a “good/safe/right” number
  • Praying or repeating words silently
  • Performing a mental review of events
  • Cancelling or undoing words/thoughts or images by replacing a “bad” word with a “good” word

How is OCD Diagnosed?

An important part of OCD therapy in Calgary is receiving an accurate diagnosis. Only trained therapists can diagnose OCD, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other licensed mental health professional. At Clear Minds in Calgary, I conduct a thorough assessment to evaluate the presence and severity of obsessions and compulsions. I also assess their daily impact on your life to determine whether they meet the diagnostic criteria.

For an OCD diagnosis, symptoms must:

  • Take up at least one hour daily
  • Cause significant distress
  • Interfere with work, school, relationships, or daily activities

The best OCD Treatments in Calgary

OCD Treatment Calgary – Effective, Evidence-Based Approaches

At Clear Minds Psychology, I offer OCD Treatment Calgary using approaches backed by research:

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) OCD Therapy in Calgary

ERP is a form of CBT and is the gold-standard treatment for OCD therapy in Calgary. It involves gradually facing situations that trigger obsessions while resisting the urge to perform compulsions. This helps break the obsession–compulsion cycle and teaches your brain that anxiety can pass without rituals.

At Clear Minds, I use ERP informed by the latest inhibitory learning research. This approach strengthens new safety associations and reduces the risk of relapse.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for OCD Therapy in Calgary

ACT complements ERP by helping you develop psychological flexibility. It helps you accept intrusive thoughts without judgement and take action based on your values rather than fear.

Combined with ERP, ACT improves psychological flexibility and reduces the grip of obsessions and compulsions. This helps you live your life in alignment with your values instead of avoiding discomfort.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) for OCD Therapy in Calgary

ART is another approach used in the treatment of OCD. It uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, and imaginal exposure to reprocess distressing images and sensations. The emotional distress linked to obsessions is reduced, making obsessions less emotionally charged, and effectively complements ERP.

Why Choose Clear Minds for OCD Therapy in Calgary?

  • Specialised training in OCD and anxiety disorders
  • Research-backed methods
  • Compassionate, non-judgmental environment
  • Flexible in-person and online sessions

You don’t have to live trapped in the cycle of obsessions and compulsions.

Take the First Step Toward Recovery

Don’t face OCD alone.

At Clear Minds, therapy is tailored to your unique needs using evidence-based treatments like ERP, ACT, and ART. With the right treatment, you can reclaim your time, relationships, and peace of mind.

Contact Clear Minds Psychology to book a free 15-minute consultation or schedule your first OCD Therapy Calgary session. Together, we can create a personalised treatment plan that works for you.