CBT Online OCD Therapy Group

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) manifests in various forms, often categorized by the types of obsessions and compulsions an individual experiences. The Meyer Therapy Practice now offers a CBT Online OCD Therapy Group to help you manage this condition.

Some of the most common types are:

1. Contamination and Cleaning OCD

·        Obsessions: Fear of contamination by dirt, germs, viruses, or other harmful substances.

·        Compulsions: Excessive cleaning, hand washing, or avoidance of perceived sources of contamination.

2. Checking OCD

·        Obsessions: Fear of causing harm or being responsible for a catastrophic event, like a fire or burglary.

·        Compulsions: Repeatedly checking locks, appliances, or other items to ensure safety.

3. Symmetry and Order OCD

·        Obsessions: Need for things to be symmetrical, in a specific order, or "just right."

·        Compulsions: Arranging, aligning, or counting items in a precise manner.

4. Pure Obsessional (Pure-O) OCD

·        Obsessions: Intrusive thoughts without visible compulsions. These can relate to fears about harming others such as fear of being a paedophile or a psychopath, doubts about sexual orientation, religious blasphemy, or existential fears or any other non specified fear.

·        Compulsions: Mental rituals, such as repetitive thoughts or seeking reassurance.

It’s important to note that the so called ‘pure O’ is not strictly speaking pure O as it’s not just obsessions that the person experiences. The difference is that the compulsions are mostly mental or covert rather than overt or physical compulsions that are visible to others.

At the Meyer Therapy practice we are specialists in treating OCD. Both directors and a number of our therapists have extensive experience in running OCD therapy groups for many years at the Priory Hospital while working with internationally leading experts in the treatment of this condition. The group is run by one of these therapists who is a specialist in working with OCD and running OCD therapy groups.

Group Therapy is a highly effective treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

It provides people with a supportive environment in which to share their experience of OCD with people who are facing similar challenges, gain insight into their problems and learn from and encourage each other in a safe and confidential setting.

Group Therapy offers several unique benefits for those suffering with OCD

1. Clients can connect with others who understand what they are going through
2. Build a support system of other individuals who can offer support and encouragement
3. Gain insight and strategies from different perspectives
4. Reduce feelings of isolation
5. Learn the principles and strategies to overcome OCD and how these apply to all OCD themes so the learning gets reinforced by listening to others with the condition even if their fears are different.

Group therapy allows people to practice exposure and response prevention exercises (ERP) with the support and guidance of their therapist and other group members. This can also help people to feel more motivated to consistently work on their OCD treatment outside of the group.

Exposure and Response prevention involves a person exposing themselves to obsessive thoughts and situations that might trigger compulsive behaviours while refraining from engaging in those behaviours.

Over time this helps the person to learn that their fears are unfounded and reduces the urge to perform compulsions. It is also a way of ‘retraining the brain’ and helped it to regain the perspective that it has lost around the specific OCD fears.

ERP can feel anxiety provoking and uncomfortable for some people but is made easier with the help of an experienced CBT Therapist guiding you through this at your own pace.

Other strategies such as mindfulness, compassion focussed therapy exercises and anxiety management will also be used.

We also accept people with Health Anxiety into this group. Health anxiety comes under the umbrella of Obsessional disorders like OCD. Although it is a separate diagnosis, it overlaps a lot with OCD in that people with health anxiety also have intrusive thoughts and compulsions that they carry out to try to get rid of their anxiety. This might include excessive checking and asking for reassurance amongst others.

Our group facilitator is highly experienced in working with all types of OCD as well as Health Anxiety.

Assessment and entry in group process

Clients will be initially assessed by one of the directors and if suitable for group therapy will then be seen by the group therapist for an individual assessment session before joining the group. If there were ever issues that arose in the group that the therapist felt needed to be addressed individually, they might request to see you in person for a one off session.

Group structure

Online CBT OCD Group

Maximum 6 people

Open group, new clients can join in at any time

Group Plan: Following an initial individual assessment session clients will join the group.

Clients will need to commit to attending 4 weeks at a time and to agree to keep information shared within the group confidential.

New clients will be encouraged to describe their particular OCD to the group assisted by the therapist who will use CBT techniques to illustrate how the compulsions they are carrying out strengthen and maintain their fears.

Clients are helped to identify their short- and long-term therapy goals and to think about what is of value to them in their life which their OCD prevents them from doing.

Clients in the group are encouraged to ask questions and give feedback on their own experiences in overcoming their OCD.

All group members are set tasks by the group facilitator and other clients to carry out between sessions related to overcoming their OCD. These tasks are always in line with clients’ own goals of therapy and will have been fully agreed to do by the client.

Each client will review within the group how their OCD has been since the last group session and how the therapy homework set them to them by the therapist and group have gone.

Fees and length of group sessions

The group will run for between an hour and 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on the number of participants.

The fee is £65 per session and we request an advance payment for 4 sessions (4 weeks).

Following the initial 4 weeks there’s no obligation to continue.

The initial individual assessment with the therapist prior to entering the group is £130.

Online CBT Group Therapy can be a powerful tool in treating OCD, providing not only therapeutic benefits but also a sense of community and understanding.

Our psychotherapy practice is deeply committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work including of course our online therapy group for OCD. We understand that each individual brings a unique set of experiences, cultural backgrounds, and identities to therapy, and we strive to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. Our approach is grounded in cultural humility, and we continuously educate ourselves on the diverse needs of our clients to ensure that our therapeutic interventions are respectful, relevant, and empowering. We believe that honouring and embracing diversity enriches the therapeutic process and contributes to more meaningful, effective, and personalized care.

Please get in touch if you are interested in joining this CBT Online OCD Therapy Group and one of the directors will offer you a friendly, free and confidential telephone consultation to discuss further.