Ros Falconer
Counselling and Psychotherapy 

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Areas of Expertise

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is usually grouped with anxiety disorders. OCD consists of two components - obsessive thinking and compulsive actions.

The textbook example is someone who compulsively washes their hands. This person may obsess about germs or dirt. In order to stop these thoughts they wash their hands. When the thoughts return they wash their hands again. These compulsive actions can become ritualised. Rationally we know we are behaving nonsensically and we become annoyed at ourselves causing our self esteem and self belief to dissipate.

OCD is presently treated with antidepressant medications and cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has proven to be highly effective. We are given the opportunity to explore our behavioural patterns and thought processes, feelings, dreams and behaviour. The aim is to alleviate distress by helping us to understand their inner conflicts and to find new ways of dealing with them.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder is described as a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts.

Sufferers of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder:

• Are preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules
• Show perfectionism that interferes with task completion
• Are excessively devoted to work and productivity
• Are over conscientious and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values
• Are reluctant to delegate tasks they submit to exactly his or her way of doing things
• Shows rigidity and stubbornness

Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy has proven to be highly effective. We are given the opportunity to explore behavioural patterns and thought processes, feelings, dreams and behaviour. The aim is to alleviate distress through the understanding of inner conflicts and to find new ways of dealing with them.

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