But those who seek therapy do get better. Patients work with me to set their treatment goals, changing what they wish to change. Then the patient and I together assess how they are doing, each step of the way. People with OCD seem to have a biochemical imbalance which links with the troubling behaviors and thoughts. Medication helps correct this imbalance, giving the patient a jump-start in the healing process.
Behavioral therapy works to actively change the unwanted habits of behaviors and thoughts.
Behavioral cognitive therapy allows the patient to reframe his or her experiences and actions in a different light. This approach, called dynamic interactive psychotherapy, is more helpful for those with OCD than the traditional role of the therapist as simply a listener.