What I treat

Conditions I treat: OCD and anxiety disorders

OCD and anxiety in adults, teenagers and children. Each page below describes one problem and how it is treated.

For adults

These problems often work the same way, with a feared outcome and habits that ease the fear at the time but keep it going.

OCD in adults

Intrusive thoughts, contamination fears, checking and rumination.

Health anxiety

Body-checking, symptom googling, and relief that does not last.

Social anxiety

Rehearsing, self-monitoring and replaying conversations afterwards.

Panic & agoraphobia

Panic attacks, fear of the sensations, a narrowing life.

Generalised anxiety and worry

Worry that moves from one subject to the next and is hard to stop.

Specific phobias

Needles, vomiting, flying, driving, animals. Often a short course of treatment.

Emetophobia

Fear of vomiting, and the avoidance of food, travel and illness that grows around it.

Body dysmorphic disorder, skin picking & hair pulling

Checking and covering up appearance, and repeated picking or pulling, and how each is treated.

OCD themes

OCD is one condition whatever its theme, treated on the same principles, and these pages describe the compulsions and worries particular to each theme.

POCD

Unwanted sexual thoughts about children that horrify the person having them.

Harm OCD

Violent intrusive thoughts, knives, and checking the road after driving.

Relationship OCD

Doubt about whether you love your partner, and the checking and comparing it drives.

Pure O

OCD where the compulsions happen in your head, and how ERP works on them.

Contamination OCD

Germs, chemicals and feeling dirty from a person or memory, and what normal hygiene looks like.

For children and teenagers

There is no minimum age. Much of the work is done through parents, and it can help whether or not the young person attends. Young people aged 16 and over can consent to treatment themselves.

OCD in children & teens

Rituals, repeated questions, bathroom routines, and anger when interrupted.

Anxiety in children

Worry, stomach aches, bedtime tears, and what sustains them.

School refusal

A graded return to school, planned in small steps.

ARFID

Restricted eating driven by fear or sensory difficulty, not body image.

Social anxiety in teenagers

Often read as shyness, and it can close down friendships.

How family treatment works

Parent-based treatment, what to do if they will not attend, and how a graded return is planned.

For parents

What I do not treat

Eating disorders. Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder need a specialist service. I do treat ARFID where the person is medically stable.

Tic disorders. I do not treat tics or Tourette syndrome, but I assess and treat OCD that occurs alongside them.

Depression as the main problem. I address low mood that comes with anxiety or OCD, but not depression as the main problem.

ADHD and autism assessment. I do not diagnose either, but I treat anxiety and OCD in people diagnosed or waiting for assessment.

Disruptive or oppositional behaviour as the main problem. I address difficult behaviour that comes with a child’s anxiety or OCD, but not when it is the main concern.

Medication. I do not prescribe. Decisions about medication are for you and your GP or psychiatrist.

If what you need is not listed, tell me on the free call and I will try to suggest someone who can help.

Request a free call Common questions

Free 20-minute call

Not sure whether this is the right fit?

Start with a free 20-minute call. We talk through what is going on, I answer any questions you have, and I tell you whether I think I can help. If I cannot, I will try to point you to someone who can. The call is free and there is no obligation to book.

Request a free call See fees and insurance

Weekdays, 9am to 5pm. No GP referral needed.