OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

How it shows up

A compulsive behavior is usually carried out with little conscious thought, on impulse, or with a sense of being driven to it, and it brings a moment of relief, sometimes followed by guilt or shame afterward. For obsessive thoughts specifically, that sense of relief is often never fully achieved, which is part of what makes OCD so exhausting to live with.

OCD can show up as excessive tidiness, constant counting, intrusive thoughts, rituals around checking or symmetry, avoidance of contamination, jealousy or possessiveness in relationships, eating issues, sleep problems, paranoia, or excessive exercise. It ranges from mild, everyday quirks to patterns severe enough to significantly limit daily life. Under stress, these behaviors often intensify.

How hypnotherapy helps

What matters most with OCD isn’t the specific ritual itself, it’s the underlying reason driving the behavior, and that’s what hypnotherapy addresses rather than trying to simply stop the visible behavior from the outside. Pattie works with the subconscious mind to help shift the pattern that’s fueling the obsessive-compulsive cycle, working toward a calmer, more positive baseline rather than just symptom suppression.

What a session looks like

Every new client starts with a free 20-minute consultation, in person at Pattie’s Scottsdale office or by phone or Zoom, to talk through your specific patterns and history. From there, sessions run $150 each.

Common questions

Is OCD just about being neat or organized? No. OCD involves a compulsive drive tied to anxiety relief, which is different from a simple preference for order. It’s the degree to which the issue is limiting your life that matters.

My specific ritual isn’t in the list above, does that mean it’s not OCD? Not necessarily. Obsessive thoughts and behaviors are so varied that no list can cover every version; reach out to talk through your specific situation.

Does hypnotherapy try to just stop the ritual directly? No. The work focuses on the underlying reasons behind the behavior rather than only suppressing the visible ritual.