Frequently Asked Questions

OCD looks different for everyone, but common signs include:

• Intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that feel disturbing or unwanted

• Compulsions such as checking, reassurance-seeking, mental reviewing, or avoidance

• Needing things to feel “just right”

• High levels of anxiety, guilt, or doubt

• Difficulty tolerating uncertainty

OCD can focus on many themes, including harm, relationships, contamination, religion, sexuality, or morality.

Although they sound similar, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) are different conditions.

• OCD involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety.

• OCPD involves a long-standing pattern of perfectionism, rigidity, and control that feels right or necessary to the person, even when it causes stress or relationship issues.

People with OCD are usually distressed by their thoughts and behaviors, while people with OCPD often see their traits as part of who they are.

Yes. It’s possible to meet criteria for both. When this happens, treatment needs to address both anxiety-driven compulsions and deeply ingrained patterns around control, perfectionism, and self-worth.

OCPD often includes:

• Extreme perfectionism and fear of making mistakes

• Rigid rules, schedules, or standards

• Difficulty delegating or trusting others to do things “correctly”

• Over-valuing productivity and responsibility

• Struggles with flexibility, rest, or emotional expression

• Relationship tension due to control or high expectations

These patterns usually develop over time and can impact work, relationships, and well-being.

No. This is a common myth. While some people with OCD struggle with contamination fears, many do not. OCD can involve thoughts and rituals that are completely invisible to others, such as mental checking, reassurance-seeking, or avoidance.

Not exactly. Many high-achieving people do not have OCPD. OCPD becomes a concern when perfectionism, rigidity, or control:

• Causes significant stress or burnout

• Damages relationships

• Makes it hard to adapt, rest, or feel satisfied

• Feels driven by fear rather than values

No. OCD thoughts are not desires, intentions, or character flaws. They are intrusive and often target what matters most to you. Having a thought does not mean you want it, believe it, or will act on it.

Yes. Both are very treatable with the right approach.

• OCD is most effectively treated with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and related evidence-based therapies.

• OCPD treatment focuses on increasing flexibility, addressing perfectionism and control, and building a more compassionate relationship with self and others.

Treatment is collaborative and tailored to your goals—not about taking away your values or strengths.

No. Treatment is not about becoming less capable or less responsible. It’s about learning how to:

• Hold standards without rigidity

• Make decisions without paralysis

• Rest without guilt

• Stay connected to values rather than fear

Working with a specialist can be especially helpful if:

• You’ve tried therapy before and felt misunderstood

• Your symptoms are complex, “purely mental,” or hard to explain

• You struggle with high insight but feel stuck

• Perfectionism or control feels intertwined with your identity

Specialized treatment can make therapy more efficient and effective.

You don’t need a diagnosis before starting therapy. Part of the work is clarifying what’s happening and what approach will be most helpful. We move at your pace and focus on what’s causing distress and getting in the way of your life.

No. While OCPD is classified as a personality disorder, this does not mean treatment is hopeless or ineffective.

OCPD reflects long-standing patterns related to control, perfectionism, and self-worth that often developed as adaptive responses earlier in life. Because there is no single “gold standard” treatment for OCPD, effective therapy focuses on understanding these patterns in depth rather than trying to eliminate traits or apply one-size-fits-all techniques.

In a psychoanalytic and psychodynamic approach, treatment explores the emotional meanings, internal conflicts, and relational experiences that shape OCPD patterns. Parts-based work helps identify and understand the protective roles of perfectionism and control, while also creating space for more flexible, compassionate ways of relating to self and others.

This work is typically slower and more relational than symptom-focused treatments, but it can lead to meaningful and lasting change. Clients often report increased emotional freedom, improved relationships, reduced shame and rigidity, and a greater sense of choice rather than compulsion.

The goal is not to change who you are or remove valued strengths, but to help you understand yourself more fully and live with greater ease, connection, and authenticity.