OCD Therapy Sydney

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dr Bernadette Maunick is an AHPRA-registered and endorsed Clinical Psychologist with over 10 years' experience in mental health, supporting children, adolescents and adults across Australia and the United Kingdom.

Her clinical training was undertaken in Australia, where she has worked across public and private settings, gaining extensive experience in adult mental health and child and family services. She brings a breadth of clinical experience and a depth of therapeutic skill to her private practice in Sydney.

Her work is grounded in evidence-based, integrative therapy, including CBT, ACT, CFT, DBT, Schema Therapy, delivered within a warm, collaborative therapeutic relationship.

Dr Maunick is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and College of Clinical Psychologists and is committed to helping each client move towards meaningful, lasting change, at a pace that feels right for them.

Ready to take the next step? Book an appointment with Dr Maunick