You are not your thoughts.
Unwanted thoughts that won't leave. Checking the door a fourth time. Counting, washing, arranging, or a mental ritual nobody else can see. This assessment looks at what's happening and how much of your day it takes.
What is an OCD assessment?
OCD is made of obsessions (intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images or urges) and compulsions (things you do, or think, to get relief). The assessment measures both, and how much time and distress they cause.
This assessment helps you see
- ✓ Which kinds of thoughts and rituals are involved: checking, washing, counting, order, hoarding, or unwanted thoughts
- ✓ How much time they take and how much they bother you
- ✓ Whether mental rituals are part of it, even if nothing is visible
- ✓ How it differs from perfectionism, habit or worry
Secure, confidential scheduling
The questionnaires we use
I choose from these depending on your question.
- OCI-R. Eighteen statements about the past month, covering checking, washing, counting and numbers, needing things in a certain order, hoarding, and unwanted thoughts. You fill it in at home.
- A conversation about what it's like for you. I ask about the thoughts and rituals, including mental ones. You tell me as much or as little as you're comfortable with.
- Other forms, if needed. Anxiety and low mood often come with OCD, so I may add the GAD-7 or PHQ-9.
How it works
The OCI-R comes first, at home, and its statements are general, so you don't have to describe anything in detail. In session we look at your answers together, and I ask about what happens when you try not to do the ritual.
Questions people ask
Can OCD happen without visible rituals?
Yes. Some people have mostly mental rituals, such as counting, repeating phrases or going over events, and intrusive thoughts. Nothing shows from the outside.
Is liking things tidy OCD?
No. Preferring order is common. The question is whether it takes up a lot of time and causes real distress.
Do I have to say my thoughts out loud?
No. The form asks about types of thoughts, not their content. In session you decide what to share.