OCD Therapy Sydney

If intrusive thoughts and compulsive rituals are taking up more and more of your day, increasing your distress, you are not alone, and support is available.

More Than Just "Being Particular"

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. Pop culture has turned it into a shorthand for being tidy or organized, but for those living with it, OCD can be exhausting, distressing, and deeply disruptive to daily life.

If you find yourself trapped in cycles of intrusive thoughts that feel impossible to dismiss, followed by rituals or behaviours that offer only brief relief, you may be experiencing OCD. Many people with OCD describe a sense of shame or confusion, wondering why they can't simply "stop" the thoughts, or whether their thoughts say something about who they are. They don't.

Therapy can offer a way to understand these patterns and develop a different relationship with them, one where thoughts and urges hold less power over your actions and wellbeing.

Understanding OCD

OCD is characterised by two core experiences: obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that feel distressing and difficult to control. They are not reflections of your character or values. Compulsions are the repetitive behaviours or mental acts carried out in response to obsessions, to reduce distress or prevent a feared outcome. While compulsions may provide temporary relief, they tend to reinforce the cycle over time.

OCD is estimated to affect around 2% of the global population, making it one of the more common mental health experiences people seek support for. Despite this, it is frequently misdiagnosed or goes unrecognised for years. OCD often first emerges in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood, though it can develop at any life stage.

What Contributes to OCD?

There is no single cause of OCD. Research points to a combination of factors:

Biological factors: including differences in how the brain processes threat and uncertainty
Genetic factors: OCD can run in families
Psychological factors: including how we interpret and respond to intrusive thoughts
Life events and stress: symptoms can emerge or intensify during periods of significant change or stress

How OCD Can Present

OCD looks different from person to person. Common presentations include:

Contamination and cleaning: fears around germs, illness, or contamination, often accompanied by washing or cleaning rituals
Checking: repeatedly checking locks, appliances, or situations to prevent a feared harm from occurring
Symmetry and ordering: a need for things to feel "just right", often involving arranging or repeating actions until the feeling passes
Intrusive thoughts: distressing thoughts of a sexual, religious, moral, or aggressive nature that are entirely unwanted and inconsistent with the person's values. Sometimes called "Pure O" (Purely Obsessional), this presentation involves no visible compulsions, however mental compulsions are very much present, including mental reviewing, thought suppression, and internal reassurance-seeking, which can be just as maintaining as physical compulsions.
Hoarding: difficulty discarding items due to distress about potential loss or harm

It is also common for OCD to overlap with other conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, and in some cases ADHD or tic disorders.

How OCD Shows Up in Daily Life

Living with OCD often means spending significant time each day caught in cycles of obsession and compulsion. This can show up as:

Difficulty leaving the house due to checking rituals
Feeling unable to complete tasks because things don't feel "right"
Avoiding certain places, people, or situations that trigger obsessions
Seeking constant reassurance from others
Spending time mentally reviewing situations to feel certain nothing went wrong
Withdrawing from relationships or work due to the demands of managing OCD

Because many OCD presentations are internal, particularly intrusive thoughts, people often suffer in silence, believing their experiences are unique to them or that they are "going crazy." This is not the case. OCD is a well-understood condition and one that responds to the right kind of support.

You don't need to wait until things feel unbearable to reach out. Many people find it helpful to speak with a psychologist early, before patterns become more entrenched.

If you are in immediate distress, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

Ready to find a different way forward with OCD?

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Our Approach to Therapy for OCD

Therapy for OCD is different to general talk therapy. The approaches with the strongest evidence base for OCD are active and structured, they involve working directly with thoughts and behaviours rather than simply talking about them.

At FORME Psychology, we draw on the following evidence-informed approaches:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

CBT with ERP is the most well-researched psychological approach for OCD. ERP involves gradually and deliberately facing the situations, thoughts, or objects that trigger obsessions, while choosing not to engage in the compulsive response. Over time, this process aims to support the brain in learning that feared outcomes do not occur, and that distress can be tolerated without compulsions.

ERP can feel challenging, facing fears without performing the usual response is uncomfortable. Therapy is paced collaboratively, and you will never be pushed into exposures before you feel ready. The goal is to support a gradual shift in how you relate to obsessional content, at a pace that feels workable for you.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT offers a complementary lens for working with OCD, particularly for those who find pure exposure-based approaches difficult to engage with. Rather than focusing on eliminating intrusive thoughts, ACT aims to support you in changing your relationship with those thoughts, learning to notice them without fusing with their content or allowing them to dictate your actions.

ACT also emphasises identifying what matters to you, your values, and taking steps toward a meaningful life even in the presence of difficult thoughts and feelings. Current evidence suggests ACT may support a reduction in OCD symptoms and can be a useful adjunct to CBT-based approaches.

What Can I Expect from Therapy?

Step 1: Your Initial Consultation

In your first session we'll explore what you've been experiencing, your history with OCD, and what you would like to work on. This helps us understand your specific presentation and tailor an approach to suit you.

Step 2: Understanding Your OCD

Before beginning active treatment, we spend time building a clear picture of your obsessional cycle, what triggers it, how it maintains itself, and how it is affecting your life. Psychoeducation is a core part of this stage.

Step 3: Building Your Toolkit

Depending on the approach, this may involve developing a hierarchy of fears to work through in ERP, or exploring how you currently relate to and respond to intrusive thoughts. You will be supported to practise skills both in and outside of sessions.

Step 4: Active Work

This is where the core therapeutic work takes place, working through exposures, building tolerance for uncertainty, and developing a more flexible relationship with difficult thoughts.

Step 5: Consolidating and Moving Forward

We review progress, address any remaining patterns, and build a plan for maintaining your gains going forward.

Who We Support

At FORME Psychology, we support individuals across a range of life stages and circumstances.

Adults

OCD in adults can affect every area of life, work, relationships, parenting, and sense of self. Therapy is tailored to your specific presentation and the areas of life most affected.

Adolescents

OCD often first appears during adolescence. Young people may find it harder to name or explain what they are experiencing, and may go to significant lengths to hide their compulsions from those around them. Therapy with adolescents is adapted to be developmentally appropriate and genuinely collaborative.

Those with Complex or Long-Standing OCD

For those who have been experiencing OCD for many years, or whose presentation involves significant co-occurring conditions such as anxiety or depression, therapy may be longer-term and involve a broader exploration of the patterns that have developed over time.

Those Who Have Tried Therapy Before

If previous therapy has not helped, it may be that OCD-informed approaches such as ERP were not part of the work. Many people with OCD benefit from working with a psychologist who is familiar with this area and can apply a targeted approach.

Fees and Medicare Rebates

Initial Assessment (50 minutes):

$320 per session (Approx. $170.95 after Medicare rebate)

Ongoing Individual Therapy Sessions (50 minutes):

$300 per session (Approx. $150.95 after Medicare rebate)

Medicare Rebates

If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan prepared by your GP, you may be eligible to claim a Medicare rebate for up to 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year. Telehealth sessions are also available for eligible clients.

Please speak with your GP to discuss your eligibility and obtain a referral before your first appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OCD just about being clean or organised?

No. While contamination and cleanliness concerns are one presentation of OCD, the condition encompasses a wide range of obsessions and compulsions, including intrusive thoughts of a violent, sexual, or religious nature, checking behaviours, and a need for symmetry or "rightness." Many people with OCD describe their experience as deeply distressing and entirely at odds with who they are.

How is OCD different from anxiety?

OCD and anxiety share some features, both involve distressing thoughts and avoidance, but they are distinct conditions. In OCD, distress is driven specifically by obsessions and is managed through compulsions. Anxiety more broadly involves worry about real-world events and situations. OCD frequently co-occurs with anxiety disorders, and therapy can address both.

What if I have intrusive thoughts but no visible compulsions?

This is a common experience. Many people with OCD have mental compulsions, such as mentally reviewing, counting, praying, or seeking internal reassurance, that are not visible to others. This is sometimes referred to as "Pure O," though compulsions are still present, just internal. Therapy can address these patterns.

Will therapy involve me having to face my worst fears?

ERP does involve gradually approaching situations that trigger obsessions. However, this is always done at a pace that is agreed upon collaboratively. You will never be pushed into an exposure you are not ready for. The aim is to build your capacity to tolerate uncertainty and distress over time, not to overwhelm you.

How long does therapy for OCD take?

This varies depending on the severity and complexity of your presentation. Some people notice meaningful shifts relatively quickly; for others, particularly those with longstanding or complex OCD, the work may take longer. Your psychologist will discuss what to expect based on your individual circumstances.

Can OCD improve without therapy?

OCD is generally considered a condition that does not tend to resolve on its own without support. While symptoms can fluctuate, sometimes easing during lower-stress periods, seeking support early can make a meaningful difference to how OCD affects your life.

Do I need a GP referral to access psychology?

You do not need a referral to book an appointment with a psychologist. However, to access Medicare rebates through the Better Access scheme, you will need a Mental Health Treatment Plan prepared by your GP.

Can I access sessions via telehealth?

Yes. Telehealth sessions are available for clients who prefer to attend remotely. Medicare telehealth rebates are also available for eligible clients.

Meet Your Psychologist

Dr Bernadette Maunick is a registered clinical psychologist with extensive experience working with adults and young people experiencing OCD and anxiety-related conditions.

OCD is a condition that responds well to a structured, evidence-informed approach, and Bernadette's work is grounded in exactly that. She draws on CBT with ERP and ACT to support clients in developing a different relationship with intrusive thoughts and breaking the cycles that keep OCD in place. She understands that reaching out can be a difficult first step, particularly when OCD has been present for a long time, and she approaches each client with patience and without judgement.

For Bernadette's full biography and training background, visit our Team page.

Why FORME Psychology

A Focused, Evidence-Informed Approach

Therapy at FORME Psychology is grounded in approaches with a strong research base. For OCD, this means drawing on CBT with ERP and ACT, tailored to your individual presentation and the specific ways OCD shows up in your life.

A Collaborative Relationship

You are the one doing the work. Our role is to walk alongside you, at your pace, supporting you to build the skills and insight to navigate OCD with greater confidence.

Continuity of Care

You will work with the same psychologist throughout your care. Building a trusting therapeutic relationship takes time, and we believe consistency matters.

Accessible and Flexible

Sessions are available in person and via telehealth, with flexible scheduling to accommodate your life. Medicare rebates are available for eligible clients.

Ready to Take the First Step?

Living with OCD can be isolating and exhausting, but you do not have to manage it alone. With the right support, many people are able to reduce the hold that OCD has on their daily life and reconnect with the things that matter most to them.

If you are ready to explore how therapy may help, we invite you to get in touch.

Book now