“My OCD is not who I am. It’s just a part of me. And every day I choose courage over fear.”

— Rose Bretécher
Do you ever feel stuck, caught up in repetitive thoughts or rituals you can’t escape? Maybe you find yourself repeatedly checking the door lock, fearing something awful will happen if you don’t. Your routines might be consuming your days, leaving you anxious, drained, or ashamed. At Pathways Counseling Services, we genuinely understand how overwhelming Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can feel. We’re here to support you as you regain peace and rediscover the joy in life..
What is OCD?
Have you ever heard someone casually say, “Oh man! I’m so OCD—I love organizing!”? The truth is, OCD goes much deeper than just liking things tidy or having particular routines. It’s a mental health condition where you’re trapped in recurring, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and compelled to perform repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions). These patterns can seriously disrupt your daily life, creating stress and making simple tasks feel exhausting.
What Does OCD Look Like?
OCD can look differently for everyone. Here are some common experiences that might resonate with you if you are struggling with OCD.

External Signs:

Repetitive Behaviors: Doing things repeatedly, often in very specific patterns—like needing to tap a doorframe a certain number of times.

Excessive Double-Checking: Continuously checking locks, appliances, or switches, even when you know you have checked it already.

Cleaning Rituals: Constantly washing your hands or obsessively cleaning. This is usually driven by fears of germs or contamination.

Need for Order: Feeling extremely uncomfortable when things aren’t arranged “just right”.
Hoarding: Difficulty throwing things away, even when they’re no longer useful or needed.
Internal Experiences:

Intrusive Thoughts: Constant and troubling thoughts you feel like you cant control or “push away” such as worrying intensely about germs, harm coming to a loved one, or things not being perfectly arranged.
Mental Rituals: Counting, repeating words, or mentally replaying situations to sooth anxiety

Avoidance: Avoiding places, objects, or people that trigger obsessive thoughts.
Time-Consuming Rituals: Obsessions and/ or compulsions use up large parts of your day which make it tough to do regular tasks.

Life Interference: These rituals are negatively impacting your work, relationships, or social activities.

If these experiences resonate with you, schedule a FREE 15-minute phone consultation with one of our trained counselors.

How We Support You in Overcoming OCD

At Pathways Counseling Services, we offer compassionate, personalized care using trauma-informed and evidence-based therapies designed to help you reclaim your life:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): To help shift patterns of thinking and behaviors related to OCD.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): A specialized CBT approach widely regarded as the most effective treatment, gently guiding you to face fears without engaging in compulsive behaviors.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Fostering acceptance of thoughts while aligning actions with your values.
Medication & Therapy Combination: Partnering with medical professionals for medication management alongside therapy to enhance recovery.

Family Therapy: Supporting your loved ones by educating them about OCD and equipping them to support your journey without enabling compulsions.

Mindfulness & Somatic Therapy: Techniques that ground you in the present moment and help manage intrusive thoughts and anxiety.

Lifestyle Support: Recommendations for exercise, sleep hygiene, healthy eating, and avoidance of substances like alcohol and drugs, which can exacerbate OCD symptoms.
We work with individuals across all age groups—children, teens, and adults—to find the therapeutic approach that best fits your needs and circumstances.

Living with OCD—A Path to Healing

Recovery from OCD can feel challenging, but you don’t have to face it alone. At Pathways Counseling Services, our counselors support you every step of your unique journey, offering practical tools and strategies tailored specifically to you.

Remember, OCD doesn’t have the power to define your story—you do.
Conveniently located in Scottsdale, Arizona, we offer personalized care through both in-person and virtual sessions.

If you’re ready to start taking your life back from OCD, Pathways Counseling Services is here with compassion, understanding, and professional expertise to guide you forward.