Feeling Trapped in Repetitive Thoughts or Rituals?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects approximately 3% of Australians over their lifetime (Source: Our Research: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD | Swinburne). It is typically characterised by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental rituals (compulsions) carried out to relieve anxiety or discomfort.

At Rose Park Psychology, we offer evidence-based support for children, teenagers, and adults to reduce the impact of OCD and create meaningful, las ting change through practical, tailored therapy.

What OCD Can Feel Like

OCD presents differently for everyone, but common experiences may include:

• Persistent, intrusive thoughts: such as fears of contamination, harm, losing control, offending others, or doing something “wrong”
• Repetitive behaviours or mental rituals: including checking, cleaning, counting, arranging, repeating words or phrases, or seeking constant reassurance
• Significant disruptions to work, school, relationships, or daily routines
• Feeling ashamed or confused about the content of your thoughts

These patterns can become exhausting and isolating, especially if they take up significant time each day or cause distress when you try to resist them. It’s also common for OCD to co-occur with other conditions such as depression or health anxiety.

What Contributes to OCD?

There is no single cause of OCD, but several factors can play a role:

• Family history of OCD or other anxiety disorders
• Cognitive styles such as perfectionism or intolerance of uncertainty
• Stressful life events or trauma
• Environmental factors such as family accommodation or bullying

Our psychologists will work with you to understand how these factors relate to your experience and support you in shifting the cycle of thoughts and behaviours.

How We Support You at Rose Park Psychology

We offer evidence-based therapy tailored to your age, needs, and experience of OCD. Our approach focuses on helping you reduce distress, change your relationship with intrusive thoughts, and build confidence in managing everyday life.

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) – Involves gradual exposure to feared situations while resisting compulsions.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – Helps identify and reframe unhelpful beliefs and build more constructive ways to respond to obsessive thoughts.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – Encourages flexibility in how you relate to thoughts and supports you to live in line with your values.
• Psychoeducation – Understanding how OCD works helps reduce shame and empowers change.

Support for Young People and Families

While OCD can develop at any age, the average onset is around 19 years old (Our Research: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD | Swinburne), with many people noticing symptoms during adolescence. For young people, OCD can significantly impact day-to-day life, often contributing to anxiety, school refusal, family conflict, and sleep difficulties. (Our Research: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD | Swinburne)

If you’re a young person wanting to understand better OCD, or a parent seeking to support your teen, the following resources offer helpful overviews of how OCD may present in youth:

• OCD | What is OCD & The Effects in Young People – headspace
• How to deal with OCD | ReachOut Australia

Book a session today

Living with OCD can feel exhausting and isolating, but with the right support, many people learn to manage their thoughts more flexibly, reduce compulsions, and regain freedom in their daily lives.

Call our friendly team or book an appointment online to connect with an OCD-informed psychologist. We offer in-person sessions in Adelaide and telehealth across