May 5, 202611 min read
Types of Family Therapy Explained
Learn about the main types of family therapy, how each approach works, and how therapy can help families build stronger relationships.
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Same-day assessments · Orange County, CA
Same-day assessments · Orange County, CA
Clinically Reviewed by Brittany Astrom Brittany has 15 years of experience in the Mental Health and Substance Abuse field. Brittany has been licensed for almost 8 years and has worked in various settings throughout her career, including inpatient psychiatric treatment, outpatient, residential treatm
Jake
Clinical Editorial Team
Clinically Reviewed by Brittany Astrom Brittany has 15 years of experience in the Mental Health and Substance Abuse field. Brittany has been licensed for almost 8 years and has worked in various settings throughout her career, including inpatient psychiatric treatment, outpatient, residential treatm
Brittany has 15 years of experience in the Mental Health and Substance Abuse field. Brittany has been licensed for almost 8 years and has worked in various settings throughout her career, including inpatient psychiatric treatment, outpatient, residential treatment center, PHP and IOP settings.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects behavior, cognition, and emotion. This mental disorder causes intrusive thoughts, compulsive behavior, and repeated rituals that bring temporary relief from anxiety. OCD disrupts daily life, impacting mood, sleep, and mental health. At Rize OC, we offer effective, evidence-based treatment for OCD that focuses on improving health and quality of life.
Learn about the main types of family therapy, how each approach works, and how therapy can help families build stronger relationships.
Explore how family therapy for addiction recovery helps loved ones rebuild trust, improve support, and create a healthier path forward.
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OCD is a psychiatric disorder where unwanted thoughts trigger fear, shame, or distress, leading to repeated compulsions or habits like excessive hand washing or checking. These behaviors are driven by altered neural circuits, particularly in the prefrontal cortex and reward system of the brain. The American Psychiatric Association classifies OCD as an anxiety disorder, although it also overlaps with mood disorders, personality disorders, and somatic symptom disorders.
OCD and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) are different disorders. OCD involves compulsions the patient recognizes as excessive (insight), while OCPD is characterized by perfectionism, rigid habits, and conduct disorder traits the individual believes are appropriate. Both can cause distress, but the treatment and goal differ.
OCD can affect any age of onset, including children, adolescents, and adults. It appears across all genders, cultures, and sexual orientations. Certain genes, neuropsychiatry, and childhood trauma increase risk. OCD is also linked to other mental health disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, body dysmorphic disorder, hoarding disorder, trichotillomania, and excoriation disorder. In rare cases, PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus) can trigger OCD-like symptoms in children.
According to the World Health Organization, OCD affects millions globally, with about 1–2% of the population diagnosed. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and National Health Service report OCD as one of the more common mental health disorders, often presenting alongside generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, seasonal affective disorder, postpartum depression, and major depressive disorder.
A mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or physician, diagnoses OCD through a detailed psychoanalysis, clinical interview, and data from assessments. Epidemiology shows that many people delay seeking help due to inferential confusion, stigma, or distress over their sexual obsessions, body image, religion, or gender dysphoria. Early diagnosis improves efficacy of treatments.
OCD can be mistaken for phobias, panic, depression, dementia, dissociative disorders, or substance abuse. Comorbidity with ADHD, tic disorders, autism, and conduct disorder complicates the clinical picture. Providers must gather accurate information and rule out other disorders.
OCD symptoms include obsessions such as fear of germs (mysophobia), contamination, sexual obsessions, perfectionism, or harm. Compulsions include repetitive hand washing, checking, meditation, counting, arranging, or exercise to reduce stress. OCD behaviors often involve the nucleus accumbens, which controls pleasure and reward.
The cause of OCD involves neuroscience, neurotransmitter imbalances, particularly serotonin, and abnormal reuptake in the brain. OCD is often treated with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which improve serotonin signaling. Other factors include gene variations, childhood trauma, alcohol or drug use, and epilepsy.
Rize OC provides effective OCD treatment using talking therapies, medication, and stress management.
Lifestyle changes like a healthy diet, regular exercise, and meditation support recovery. Working closely with a health professional ensures the safest medicine, dose, and monitoring for side effects.
While OCD cannot always be prevented, early intervention, stress management, and support from a parent, caregiver, or clinic improve outcomes. Maintaining regular primary care and seeking help at the emergency department if symptoms worsen can reduce risk of complications.
Living with OCD requires ongoing treatment, support, and monitoring for mood, anxiety, and distress. Staying in contact with a mental health professional helps patients adjust medications, monitor efficacy, and adapt therapies. Patients often experience improved reward system, feeling of control, and better overall health when treatment plans are followed.
Building insight, managing shame, and addressing related mental health concerns can improve global mental health outcomes. The goal is a life with reduced compulsive behaviors and restored functioning.
If you or a loved one needs treatment for OCD, Rize OC is here to help. Our team of dedicated health professionals creates customized, effective plans based on the latest evidence, data, and guidelines from the ADAa, WHO, and APA. Call us today at (949) 919-6601 or visit rizeoc.com to learn more about OCD treatment and other mental health services.
1\. How does OCD affect the brain and behavior?
OCD impacts the brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex, neural circuits, and the nucleus accumbens, which regulate emotion, cognition, and the reward system. Abnormal levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin and faulty neuroscience pathways contribute to intrusive thoughts, fear, and repetitive rituals such as excessive hand washing. These compulsions may offer short-term relief, but they reinforce unhealthy habits and compulsive behavior over time. Neuropsychiatry research continues to study the efficacy of different treatments in correcting these disorders and improving mental health outcomes.
2\. What treatments are effective for OCD?
Several evidence-based treatments are recommended by the American Psychiatric Association, World Health Organization, and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Exposure therapy, habit reversal training, and other talking therapies are highly effective at reducing compulsions and improving insight. Pharmacotherapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, escitalopram, citalopram, paroxetine, and venlafaxine, or tricyclic antidepressants like clomipramine, is also widely used. In severe cases, antipsychotics, electroconvulsive therapy, or aripiprazole may be considered. A doctor or mental health professional can help determine the right dose and monitor side effects of each medication.
3\. Can OCD occur with other mental health disorders?
Yes, OCD often occurs alongside other mental disorders. This comorbidity is common with generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, seasonal affective disorder, and postpartum depression. It is also linked to personality disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, hoarding disorder, trichotillomania, excoriation disorder, tic disorders, and even dissociative disorders. Conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mysophobia, specific phobias, sexual obsessions, gender dysphoria, and substance abuse can complicate the clinical picture. A mental health professional will gather information, assess risk, and provide an individualized treatment plan.
4\. How can patients and caregivers support recovery?
Recovery involves more than medication and therapy. Maintaining a healthy diet, practicing stress management, avoiding alcohol and drug use, and getting enough sleep all contribute to improved mental health. Support from a parent, caregiver, or trusted health professional helps the patient stay engaged in treatment and follow up with primary care or the emergency department if symptoms worsen. Education about epidemiology, inferential confusion, childhood trauma, body image, religion, sexual orientation, and feeling states can help reduce stigma and improve global mental health. The goal is to empower the patient to achieve lasting relief and a better quality of life.
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