Collaborative counselling for unwanted thoughts and repeated routines, in person in Edmonton and St. Albert or virtually across Alberta. Psychologists registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). A team of Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), Certified Canadian Counsellors certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), Mental Health Therapists and Student Therapists. Five in-person locations in Edmonton and St. Albert. Virtual sessions available across Alberta.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether OCD Counselling Is Right for You

You may not be sure whether what you live with counts as OCD. Maybe it feels like a habit you should be able to stop on your own, or a quirk other people would shrug off. You might also be holding back because some of your thoughts feel too strange or upsetting to say out loud, even to a therapist.

Perhaps you go back to check the door, the stove or a sent message, even though part of you already knows it is fine. You might replay a conversation to make sure you did not say something wrong. Or you ask the people close to you the same question until the answer finally feels settled. For some people, it is one thought that feels completely out of character and will not leave, however hard they push it away.

Most people have unwanted or odd thoughts from time to time. When those thoughts get stuck, and the routines that ease them start to take over your day, that is a pattern many people describe. It is not a sign that you are a bad person. The content of an unwanted thought does not define your character, and it does not mean something is permanently wrong with you.

If you are trying to work out whether speaking with someone could help, or you are reading for someone you care about, this page may be a useful starting point. It explains what OCD counselling involves at our clinic, what Canadian sources say about common approaches, and what to expect if you decide to reach out.

Who We Help

OCD counselling may be a good fit if:

• Unwanted thoughts, urges or images keep coming back and are hard to set aside.
• Checking, washing, counting, ordering, asking for reassurance or running through things in your head takes more time or energy than you want it to.
• You are not sure whether what you experience is OCD and would like to talk it through with someone.
• You have had support before and want to pick things up again.
• You are a parent or caregiver worried about a child or teen (see our section on children and youth).
• You are a partner or family member who wants to understand how to support someone without getting pulled further into the routines.

This service may not be the right fit if:

• You are in immediate danger or crisis. Please use the crisis resources below.
• You are looking for a formal diagnosis or psychological assessment. Assessments are a separate service, described on our OCD assessment page.
• You need a court-ordered evaluation, a legal report or another forensic service. These needs are outside this counselling service.
• You need medication started, changed or reviewed. Your family physician or a psychiatrist is the right person for that.

If You Need Help Right Now

Counselling is not set up for emergencies. If there is an immediate safety concern, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

• 911 for immediate danger
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• 9-8-8 suicide crisis line: call or text 9-8-8, any time
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What OCD Counselling Is, and What It Is Not

OCD counselling is a collaborative, talk-based service. You and your clinician look at the thoughts, routines and worries that have been taking up your time, and work out together what support fits your goals. The first conversations usually cover your concerns, your goals, relevant history and whether this service is a good fit for you.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a recognized health condition. Statistics Canada's version of the ICD-10 classification lists it under code F42 (Statistics Canada, 2019). Whether that label applies to a particular person is a question for a proper clinical assessment, which is a separate service and not part of counselling. This page is for general information and is not a diagnosis or individualized clinical advice.

A few other boundaries are worth knowing up front:

• Counselling is not a legal service, an investigative process or crisis intervention.
• You set the pace. Your clinician will not push you to share more than you are ready to.
• What you share is confidential within limits set by Alberta law. Those limits are explained in the confidentiality section below and in your first session.
• Medication is sometimes part of OCD care (Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario [CMHA Ontario], n.d.), but clinicians at our clinic do not prescribe or recommend medication. Questions about medication belong with your family physician or a psychiatrist.
• Clinicians work within their own training and scope of practice. Availability, clinician fit, and approach are confirmed during intake or consultation.

Symptoms: Signs OCD May Be Affecting You

Canadian public education sources describe OCD as having two parts. Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, urges or images that keep returning and cause distress. Compulsions are actions or mental routines a person feels driven to do to ease that distress (Canadian Psychological Association [CPA], 2020; CMHA Ontario, n.d.). Some people mainly notice one or the other.

Below are patterns people sometimes describe in everyday terms. They are not a checklist, and none of them on its own means a person has OCD.

• Going back to check doors, appliances, messages or your own work, even when you already know it is probably fine.
• Washing or cleaning for longer than you want to, because something still feels dirty or unsafe.
• A thought, image or urge that feels completely unlike you, such as a fear of causing harm, that returns however hard you push it away.
• Needing things to be even, ordered or "just right" before you can move on.
• Counting, repeating words in your head or mentally reviewing events to cancel out a bad feeling.
• Asking for reassurance again and again, or avoiding places and situations that might set off the worry.
• Feeling tense or unsettled until a routine is finished, and distressed when you cannot finish it.
• Routines that eat into work, school, sleep or time with people.
• People close to you getting drawn in, answering the same questions or doing things for you so you can avoid a trigger.

Many people know their obsessions and compulsions do not make sense, yet still feel unable to control them (CMHA Ontario, n.d.). That gap can bring a lot of shame. These patterns are common human responses to anxiety and doubt, not a measure of who you are or a permanent feature of your life. Structured support may help you relate to them differently.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can read profiles on our Our Therapists page or try the Match with a Therapist tool. If you would rather talk it through, our admin team can help at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. You can book through our online booking system or by phone. The first session includes a discussion of confidentiality, consent and your goals. You can also ask about the clinician's approach, session format and fees. You decide how much to share.
• Build your plan together. You and your clinician create a plan that reflects your priorities and preferences. You can ask whether CBT or exposure-based work is appropriate and available for your situation.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes. Follow-up appointments are typically weekly or bi-weekly, adjusted as needed.
• Progress check-ins. Your clinician reviews progress with you regularly, and the plan changes as your needs change.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Counselling is collaborative, and your voice shapes the work at every stage. Our Getting Started with Therapy page walks through the process in more detail.

Evidence and Approaches

The approaches below are described in Canadian public education material from professional and mental health organizations. Each summary notes what the source says and where its limits are. You can ask whether CBT or exposure-based work is appropriate and available for your situation.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

What it helps with: Compulsions such as checking, washing or seeking reassurance, and the cycle they keep going.

Evidence summary: The CPA describes exposure and response prevention as gradually facing situations that trigger obsessions while not carrying out the usual compulsion (CPA, 2020). It reports that research since the early 1970s has found meaningful reductions in obsessions and compulsions for many people who complete it. CMHA Ontario also lists it as a strategy therapy for OCD may include (CMHA Ontario, n.d.).

Limitations: Exposure involves some discomfort, and the CPA notes that some people decline or stop early for this reason (CPA, 2020). These are public education summaries, not systematic reviews, and responses vary.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it helps with: Beliefs and interpretations that can make intrusive thoughts feel urgent, dangerous or meaningful, especially when obsessions are the main struggle.

Evidence summary: The CPA describes CBT for OCD as adding cognitive strategies to exposure and response prevention, aimed at changing thoughts and beliefs that may reinforce obsessions and compulsions (CPA, 2020). It notes these strategies may make exposure exercises feel less frightening and may be especially useful when someone struggles mainly with obsessions. CMHA Ontario describes CBT as a therapy that can help people with OCD (CMHA Ontario, n.d.).

Limitations: These sources are plain-language summaries, not systematic reviews. CBT usually involves practising skills between sessions, and how much it helps varies from person to person.

Family-Involved Counselling

What it helps with: Family patterns that grow around OCD, such as joining in with rituals or helping a loved one avoid triggers.

Evidence summary: CMHA Ontario notes that family members often feel they must go along with a loved one's compulsions, and that helping someone avoid anxiety-provoking situations can make healthy coping harder over time (CMHA Ontario, n.d.). It suggests counselling for everyone when OCD affects others, especially young people. The CPA notes that relationships can become strained as family and friends are drawn into OCD concerns (CPA, 2020).

Limitations: This guidance comes from public education material, not research reviews. Family sessions may not suit every situation, and who takes part is decided together.

What Results to Expect

Progress with OCD is rarely a straight line. The CPA describes OCD symptoms as often rising and easing in response to stress and other life events (CPA, 2020). A harder week during counselling does not necessarily mean the work is failing.

Some people notice changes within a few months. Others find that longer-term work suits them better. A few things tend to shape how counselling goes:

• the nature of your experiences and how long they have been part of your life
• what is happening in your life right now, including stress, work, school and relationships
• the fit between you and your clinician, and whether the approach suits you

No form of therapy can guarantee a particular outcome, and results vary from person to person. Therapeutic fit matters. If something does not feel right, changing therapists or trying a different approach is always an option.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is kept confidential, within limits set by law and professional standards. Confidentiality and its applicable limits are reviewed as part of informed consent.

Psychologists at our clinic are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and follow the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists, published by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). Two Alberta privacy laws are most relevant to counselling records:

• Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA): sets rules for how private organizations collect, use, disclose and keep personal information. It generally applies to private clinics offering psychological services.
• Health Information Act (HIA): governs health information held by health custodians, such as Alberta Health Services, and by people providing services on their behalf.

There are a small number of situations where a clinician may need to share information without your consent:

• when there is a likely risk of serious harm to you or to someone else
• when there is reason to believe a child is being abused or neglected, which must be reported under Alberta law, including the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act
• when a court orders records to be produced

In those situations, only the information needed is shared, and only with the people who need it. Your clinician will explain these limits clearly in your first session. You are welcome to ask questions about privacy before you share anything personal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe my thoughts or what has been happening in detail?

No. You decide what to share and when. Many people start by talking about how the routines affect their day, rather than the content of the thoughts themselves. Your clinician may ask questions to understand the pattern, and you can always say you are not ready to go there yet.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, within limits. What you share is confidential, protected under Alberta privacy law and professional standards. The exceptions are a likely risk of serious harm, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, and a court order. Your clinician reviews these limits with you in the first session. You can read more in our confidentiality and privacy section above.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer. Some people prefer a shorter, focused piece of work, while others find longer-term support more helpful. Your clinician reviews progress with you regularly, so you can decide together how often to meet and when to change course.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is fine to say so. Our admin team can help you find a different clinician whose approach or style suits you better. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I access counselling online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available for people located anywhere in Alberta. The same confidentiality standards apply to virtual sessions as to in-person ones. If you are outside Alberta, please ask our admin team before booking.

What if my thoughts are disturbing, or about harming someone I love?

This worry stops many people from reaching out. The CPA describes obsessions as thoughts a person finds unwanted and personally unacceptable (CPA, 2020). The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) notes that what makes a thought an obsession is its intrusive, unwanted and hard-to-suppress quality, not its content (CAMH, n.d.). If you are worried about how confidentiality applies, you can ask your clinician to explain the limits before you share anything.

How can I support a family member who might have OCD?

CMHA Ontario suggests that arguing with obsessions tends not to help, and that helping a loved one avoid their triggers can make healthy coping harder over time (CMHA Ontario, n.d.). Focusing on the feelings behind the behaviour, and getting support for yourself, may help more. You are welcome to book a session for yourself, even if your family member is not ready.

Do I need a diagnosis before booking counselling?

No. You can start counselling by talking about what you have been experiencing and whether the service is a good fit. If you are looking for a formal assessment, that is a separate service. Our OCD assessment page explains it.

Meet Your Clinicians

Our team includes Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Certified Canadian Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists and Student Therapists. All psychologists at the clinic are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Registered Provisional Psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist. Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW).

Each clinician's profile on our Our Therapists page describes their training and areas of focus, so you can look for experience with OCD, anxiety, CBT or exposure-based work. The Match with a Therapist tool can help narrow your options. You can also call our admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance.

Children and Youth

OCD is not only an adult experience. The CPA notes that it is also seen in childhood and adolescence, with a pattern similar to adults, and that many people first notice it in late adolescence or early adulthood (CPA, 2020).

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents and young people. Clinicians who work with younger clients use approaches suited to the child's age and stage. They also work with parents and caregivers, so that support at home lines up with the work in sessions. This matters with OCD, because families can be drawn into routines and reassurance without meaning to (CMHA Ontario, n.d.).

You can read more on our child and youth counselling page, our child and youth anxiety page and our guide to preparing children for therapy.

If You Would Like to Take a Next Step

If you would like to learn more, you can take the next step in whichever way feels manageable:

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist
• Call our admin team at 780-904-4880
• Email info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Read Getting Started with Therapy

Starting the conversation is enough.

New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

References

• Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario. (n.d.). Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2020). "Psychology Works" fact sheet: Obsessive compulsive disorder.
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (n.d.). OCD: Screening and assessment. https://www.camh.ca/en/professionals/treating-conditions-and-disorders/ocd/ocd---screening-and-assessment
• Statistics Canada. (2019). Variant of International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) - ICD-10 - Health: 8.5.5.3 Obsessive-compulsive disorder [F42].