When we hear that someone has an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) diagnosis, we often think this means they are very clean and like to wash their hands! Although these symptoms can be true for some individuals experiencing OCD, this is also a very limited perspective. First, let’s break this down by getting into the obsessions, then the compulsions, how they work together and lastly, what OCD treatment looks like.

When most people hear about intimate partner violence (IPV), thoughts of physical abuse usually come to mind. However, another insidious form of abuse, coercive control, is often overlooked since the scars are not always visible. Some coercive controllers are physically violent, while others are not.

So many of my clients have shared with me that meditation (mindfulness) coping skills ‘Don’t work for me!’ or ‘They make my anxiety worse!’ or ‘I could never sit and think about nothing!’ Maybe you can relate? For most of us, when we think of meditating, we think of a monk sitting cross legged on the floor experiencing a state of quiet and focus. Honestly, that’s what comes to my mind too.