OCD therapy in London
What is OCD, and how can ERP help?
OCD is a cycle of intrusive thoughts that spike anxiety and compulsions, checking, washing, mental reviewing and reassurance-seeking, that bring brief relief and lock the loop tighter. Exposure and Response Prevention, which NICE recommends for OCD, works by facing the trigger without the compulsion until the anxiety falls on its own. At The Lyceum, Sanah Younis, a BABCP-accredited CBT therapist, delivers ERP in Chiswick, Ealing and Richmond, or online. The intrusive thought can be frightening, but the exhausting work often sits in the attempts to obtain certainty or neutralise it. A careful assessment maps the particular trigger, ritual and relief cycle before agreeing a pace for treatment. The agreed approach is compassionate, highly structured ERP. Together, the work identifies the beliefs and compulsions maintaining the cycle, then plans graded practice at a pace you can review together. The task is not to argue with the thought; it is to reduce the ritual that keeps its urgency in place. How we measure progress GAD-7 and PHQ-9 alongside OCI-R. These measures inform the clinical conversation; they do not diagnose you or reduce progress to a score. I see someone profoundly exhausted by the labour of certainty. They sit with me, carrying the heavy belief that they alone are responsible for preventing catastrophe. The pathology isn't the intrusive thought; it's the exhausting ritual of trying to neutralise it. The profound shift happens in the silence, when they encounter the trigger, feel the surge of terror, and courageously choose to stay still. We don't fight the thought; we gently remove the compulsion, showing them they are strong enough to weather the uncertainty.
Practical questions
How long does CBT for ocd take?
The pace and scope are set through assessment. Where focused work or a formal review is appropriate, this is agreed collaboratively rather than assumed from a page.
How much does ocd therapy cost in London?
Published fees are £110 for online appointments and £140 for face-to-face sessions. Current availability, practical arrangements and funding options can be discussed before booking. View fees and funding information.
Frequently asked questions
Is ERP the same as exposure therapy?
ERP is a structured CBT approach that includes carefully planned exposure to triggers and, crucially, support to reduce the response or ritual that normally follows. Assessment helps decide whether and how it fits your situation.
Does ERP work for OCD?
NICE recommends ERP for OCD. Whether it is appropriate, and how it is introduced, is considered through assessment rather than assumed from a label alone.
Will I have to do things that terrify me?
No. ERP is graded and collaborative. You agree the pace and the next step with your therapist; the work is not about being pushed into an unplanned situation.
Do I need a diagnosis first?
No. An assessment can explore the pattern you are living with and whether CBT is likely to be useful. It can also identify when another form of support or medical input may be needed.
What are the signs of OCD?
OCD can involve intrusive thoughts together with compulsions such as checking, washing, mental reviewing or reassurance-seeking. The key pattern is often the urgent attempt to obtain certainty or neutralise a thought, even when relief is brief.
What are the types of OCD?
OCD can centre on themes such as contamination, harm, relationships, symmetry, scrupulosity, false memory or a need for things to feel right. Assessment explores the particular trigger, ritual and relief cycle rather than assuming a theme alone determines treatment.
What is Pure O?
"Pure O" is an informal term for OCD where the compulsions aren't visible physical actions (like washing hands), but are performed entirely in the mind. This includes mentally reviewing memories, secretly seeking reassurance, or trying to neutralise a terrifying intrusive thought. Because the mental ritual is exactly what keeps the distress alive, our CBT work targets and interrupts these invisible compulsions just as rigorously as physical ones.
Does CBT work for OCD without medication?
ERP is a structured CBT approach recommended by NICE for OCD. Assessment can discuss whether it is appropriate and how it might be introduced. This page does not make medication decisions or present one pathway as suitable for every person.
What causes OCD?
A website cannot determine the cause of an individual’s OCD. CBT assessment focuses on the current pattern of intrusive thoughts, feared meanings, rituals, avoidance and temporary relief, then agrees whether structured ERP may be useful.
How long does ERP for OCD take?
Focused ERP work is commonly planned over 8 to 20 sessions, with a formal review every six sessions. Where other beliefs or difficulties remain important, further work may be discussed and reviewed collaboratively rather than assumed in advance.