Online counselling across the UK and worldwide
Online OCD counselling in the UK and worldwide
Intrusive thoughts that won’t leave you alone. Rituals you can’t stop, even though you know they don’t make sense. OCD counselling helps you understand the cycle and gradually loosen its grip.
Does this sound familiar?
- Unwanted thoughts, images or urges keep pushing into your mind.
- You feel you have to check, clean, count or repeat things until it feels “right”.
- You seek reassurance again and again, but the relief never lasts.
- You avoid people, places or objects that set off your worries.
- You feel ashamed of your thoughts and keep them hidden.
- OCD is taking up hours of your day, your sleep or your relationships.
Understanding the OCD cycle
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) works in a loop. An intrusive thought causes intense anxiety, and a compulsion such as checking or seeking reassurance brings brief relief. That relief teaches your brain the compulsion is needed, so the cycle tightens.
Having a distressing thought does not mean you want it or will act on it. Intrusive thoughts are common; OCD is about how stuck you get with them. Common forms include contamination fears, checking, “just right” feelings, harm thoughts, relationship doubts and religious or moral worries.
How I can help
Together we can:
- map out your own OCD cycle, so you can see how it keeps going
- learn to respond differently to intrusive thoughts, using CBT and ACT skills
- gradually reduce checking, reassurance seeking and avoidance, at a pace you agree to
- ease the shame and self-criticism that often come with OCD
- manage the anxiety and low mood that can sit alongside it
For severe or long-standing OCD, NICE guidelines recommend CBT with exposure and response prevention (ERP). If you need a specialist ERP therapist or a referral through your GP, I’ll be honest about that and help you find the right support.
About your OCD counsellor
I’m Natalie, a trauma-informed counsellor and clinical hypnotherapist. I’ve supported English-speaking adults online for four years. My training includes Integrative CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Hypnotherapy and CBT, and I tailor the approach to you.
Working with an OCD therapist online
Finding an OCD therapist who understands how the condition works can make a big difference. OCD isn’t about being tidy or liking things a certain way; it’s a cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsions that can take over hours of your day. Online OCD therapy means you can work on this from home, which many people find helpful when their worries are about contamination or leaving the house.
Types of OCD I work with
- Contamination OCD: fears about germs, illness or dirt, with washing or cleaning compulsions
- Checking OCD: repeatedly checking locks, appliances or that you haven’t caused harm
- Harm OCD and intrusive thoughts: unwanted, distressing thoughts about hurting someone
- Relationship OCD (ROCD): constant doubts about your partner or your feelings
- “Just right” OCD: needing things to feel symmetrical, ordered or complete
- Pure O: mainly mental compulsions such as reviewing, praying or seeking reassurance
What does OCD treatment involve?
Treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder usually involves understanding your OCD cycle, learning to respond differently to intrusive thoughts, and gradually reducing compulsions and reassurance-seeking. I use CBT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) skills, always at a pace you agree to.
How it works
- Book a free 30-minute chat. We talk on Zoom about what’s going on and whether we’re a good fit. There’s no pressure to continue.
- Weekly 50-minute sessions on Zoom, seven days a week, 7am to 8pm UK time (8am to 9pm CET). WhatsApp video or a phone call are also available.
- Support between sessions. By agreement, you can book free 15-minute check-ins when things feel hard.
Fees: sessions are from £55 for 50 minutes, with monthly packages available. Your first 30-minute chat is free.
★★★★★
“Working with Natalie Jane through CBT has been incredibly supportive. In just a few short weeks, I’ve become more self aware of my unhelpful belief patterns and gained practical strategies to change this.”
OCD counselling FAQs
Does having intrusive thoughts mean I’m a bad person?
No. Intrusive thoughts are unwanted and go against what you value, which is why they’re so distressing. Therapy helps you relate to them differently.
Can OCD be treated online?
Yes. CBT-based approaches for OCD can work well online, and many people find it easier to talk about embarrassing thoughts from home.
Will you make me face my fears straight away?
No. Any changes to compulsions or avoidance happen gradually, at a pace we agree together.
Do I need a diagnosis first?
No. You don’t need a formal diagnosis to start counselling. If it would help, we can talk about speaking to your GP.
How much does OCD counselling cost?
Sessions are from £55 for 50 minutes, with monthly packages available. Your first 30-minute chat is free.
Can I have sessions if I live outside the UK?
Yes. I work online with English-speaking adults in the UK and worldwide, including expats in Spain and Portugal, seven days a week from 7am to 8pm UK time.
Related reading
Ready to talk?
Book a free 30-minute chat. There’s no commitment. It’s simply a chance to ask questions and see whether we’re a good fit.
You may also find these pages helpful: anxiety counselling, stress and burnout counselling and my self-help resources.
I’m not an emergency service. If you’re in crisis or worried about your safety, call your local emergency number (999 in the UK, 112 in the EU). In the UK you can also call NHS 111 (choose option 2 for mental health in England and Wales) or Samaritans on 116 123, any time.