OGDEN, UTAH - WEBER COUNTY - WASATCH FRONT
You are more than
your intrusive thoughts.
OCD thrives in secrecy and avoidance. Effective treatment requires facing it openly, and we have proven, structured tools. Evidence-based ERP therapy and psychiatric medication management for OCD in children, teens, and adults in Ogden, Utah. Typically seen within 3 days.
OCD
Unwanted thoughts. Rituals that don't stop the dread.
What is OCD?
OCD is characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) performed to reduce distress. Crucially, the obsessions are ego-dystonic — they conflict with the person's values. People with OCD do not want these thoughts.
Standard CBT for anxiety is insufficient for OCD. OCD requires ERP — Exposure and Response Prevention therapy — which specifically targets the obsession-compulsion cycle.
At Good Day Mental Health, we offer ERP and CBT therapy, psychiatric medication management, and psychological testing to confirm diagnosis when presentations are complex. We treat all ages.
Highly Treatable
ERP and SSRIs together produce strong outcomes. The biggest barrier is delayed diagnosis — on average a decade passes before people get the right help. Source: NIMH.
Ego-Dystonic
The person with OCD does not want these thoughts. Their distress at the content is evidence the thoughts are alien to their values. This is what distinguishes OCD from OCPD.
Types of OCD
OCD goes beyond checking and cleaning.
Most Recognized
Contamination OCD
Fear of germs, illness, or feeling "dirty." Compulsions include excessive handwashing, cleaning, or avoidance of surfaces and people.
Very Common
Checking and Harm OCD
Repeated checking of locks, appliances, or that no harm was caused. Obsessive fear of having hurt someone — intentionally or accidentally.
Symmetry
Symmetry and Order OCD
Things must feel "just right" or be arranged in a particular way. Not preference — an overwhelming sense that something bad will happen otherwise.
Often Misunderstood
Intrusive Thought OCD
Unwanted thoughts about violence, sexual content, or taboo subjects that deeply disturb the person. The distress itself is the evidence these thoughts are not desired.
Religious
Scrupulosity OCD
Religious or moral perfectionism — excessive fear of sin, blasphemy, or moral failure. Compulsions include excessive prayer, confession, or reassurance-seeking.
Often Unrecognized
Pure-O (Mental OCD)
Primarily mental obsessions with less visible compulsions. The compulsions are mental — reviewing, reassuring, neutralizing. Easily mistaken for general anxiety.
WHO IT AFFECTS
OCD does not discriminate. It affects all ages.
ADULTS
OCD in adults
Often goes undiagnosed for years. On average, 10 years pass between symptom onset and first treatment. Our ERP therapists and psychiatric providers coordinate care for adults in Ogden and throughout Utah.
Children and Teens
OCD in children
Can begin in childhood and intensifies with stress. Some children develop OCD symptoms after strep infections (PANDAS/PANS). Our pediatric team is trained in age-appropriate ERP - OCD in kids guide.
Complex presentations
OCD with overlapping conditions
OCD frequently co-occurs with anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and depression. Accurate differentiation is critical. Our psychological testing team evaluates the full picture before treatment begins.
Do I have OCD?
How can I tell?
OCD is broken down into two parts, the obsession and the compulsion. While lots of people follow routines or like to double-check things, OCD becomes a disorder when it takes up a lot of time (often hours a day), it causes significant distress, or it interferes with daily life, work, school, or relationships.
Obsessions are thoughts, images, or urges that pop up against your will and feel distressing or scary. Common ones include fear of germs or contamination, worry about harming someone, needing things to be “just right” or perfectly symmetrical, and disturbing or taboo thoughts.
Compulsions are actions or mental rituals done to reduce anxiety or prevent something bad from happening. The relief from compulsions is usually temporary, so the cycle repeats. Some examples include:
Excessive hand-washing or cleaning
Checking locks, stoves, or appliances over and over
Counting, repeating words, or praying in a specific way
Re-arranging things until they feel “right”
Seeking reassurance constantly
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Perfectionism is driven by high standards and achievement. There are thoughts of “I want to do this really well.” The discomfort of perfectionism comes from not meeting your own expectations or a fear of judgment.
OCD is driven by anxiety and fear. There are thoughts of “something is wrong or dangerous—and I have to fix it.” The discomfort of OCD comes from intrusive thoughts that feel urgent and threatening.
Perfectionist thoughts are usually logical and based on personal values. OCD thoughts usually feel intrusive, unwanted, and extreme in nature.
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OCD is often quieter and more exhausting than people think. It can look like waking up anxious and immediately scanning for danger, showering until it feels “just right”, or repeating routines in exactly the same order. Sometimes there is “mental noise” of intrusive or distressing thoughts or a constant mental review of past conversations and questioning yourself.
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OCD can show up early, even before children can fully explain their thoughts, though it typically comes to the forefront in the teen years. OCD that shows up in adulthood has usually been sitting quietly for years and gone unrealized or untreated. OCD can be treated at any age and treatment is very effective.
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Yes, however due to the interactive nature of ERP therapy, it is strongly advised that you find a therapist to work with in person. Telehealth therapy and psychiatric care available throughout Utah, Missouri, California, Minnesota and other states. Serving Ogden, North Ogden, Roy, Clearfield, Layton, Weber County, Davis County, and the Wasatch Front. Contact us or call (801) 791-4975.
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Medication is considered when a patient's response to ERP has not been effective and medical causes have been ruled out. SSRIs are first-line. They reduce emotional reactivity and give patients more time to use their ERP skills. The combination of ERP and SSRIs produces substantially better outcomes than either alone.
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Yes. Our pediatric therapy team uses age-appropriate ERP for children and teens. Some children develop OCD symptoms following strep infections (PANDAS/PANS). Our pediatric psychiatry team coordinates medication when appropriate. FDA-approved OCD medications exist for children as young as age 6. Read our guide on OCD in children and teens.
How Do You Diagnose OCD?
At Good Day Mental Health, OCD is diagnosed through a comprehensive, team-based evaluation process designed to get it right the first time. Our psychiatric providers work closely with a licensed testing psychologist, allowing us to look beyond surface symptoms and understand how OCD is affecting your daily life.
Our diagnostic process may include a detailed clinical interview, developmental and academic history, behavioral questionnaires, and formal psychological testing when appropriate. The result is a clear, evidence-based diagnosis and a thorough report that explains findings in plain language and outlines personalized treatment recommendations.
By combining psychiatric expertise with in-depth psychological testing, we help patients and families feel confident, informed, and supported in the next steps of care. We offer OCD testing and treatment in Ogden, UT.
How ERP breaks the OCD cycle
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard treatment for OCD. It systematically breaks the obsession-compulsion cycle by teaching the brain that feared outcomes do not occur and that anxiety can be tolerated without performing a ritual. Our therapists are trained in ERP and CBT.
ERP Therapy
🟡Build a fear hierarchy
Map triggers and obsessions from least to most distressing. ERP always starts at a tolerable level and progresses systematically.
🟡Exposure: face the trigger
Gradually approach feared situations or thoughts in a structured, supported way. Proves to the brain the feared outcome does not occur.
🟡Response prevention: resist the ritual
Tolerate anxiety without performing the compulsion. Over time, anxiety extinguishes and the compulsion loses its power.
🟡Pediatric ERP — different pace, same approach
ERP works for children and teens. Age-appropriate pacing, parental involvement. Our pediatric therapy team specializes in this. See our OCD in children guide.
OCD medication
Medication helps ERP work better.
Medication is not the first step. ERP is tried first. When ERP alone has not produced sufficient relief, SSRIs significantly improve outcomes by reducing emotional reactivity and giving patients more time to use their ERP training. Our providers explain every option before prescribing.
"ERP therapy works much better in the presence of medication — medication works to reduce the perception of anxiety and give the patient more time to use their ERP training."
Bryce Gosney, PMHNP · Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
How do you treat OCD?
The best treatment for OCD is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with exposure therapy. This style of therapy consists of teaching the patient about how thoughts, feelings, and actions can influence each other in order to reduce anxiety. Critically, successful treatment for OCD also involves the therapist and the patient going outside the office and exposing the client to their trigger while not giving in to the compulsion. This therapy helps the client challenge the belief that leads to their compulsion, in order to exhibit control in the future. It is by far the most effective treatment for OCD with the best outcomes in the medium and long-term.
Sometimes the compulsions can be too overwhelming to be overcome with therapy alone. This is where the psychiatric professionals at Good Day Psychiatry can help. We can prescribe psychiatric medication that can take the edge off the anxiety of the obsession, allowing you to exert control. If you are already in therapy, it can enhance the benefits of therapy. The most common and safest treatment for OCD are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors such as escitalopram and sertraline. More advanced treatments can involve ondansetron or aripiprazole. The latest in cutting edge treatments such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) or ketamine can also be discussed.
True Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is rarer in children than it is adults. More often highly-sensitive or highly-anxious children can develop strong preferences for rituals, but these preferences are more closely associated with anxiety rather than true OCD. The treatment remains very similar for these two problems.
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