OCD Therapy in Orange County, CA

It’s not “just being picky” — OCD is exhausting

Many people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) know their thoughts and behaviors don’t fully make sense, but they still feel impossible to stop. You might:

Spend large chunks of time checking, cleaning, or arranging until it “feels right”
Be flooded with intrusive thoughts or images that feel disturbing or out of character
Need repeated reassurance from others to feel temporarily calm
Fear that if you don’t do a ritual, something terrible will happen
Hide your rituals or mental compulsions because you’re worried people will “think you’re crazy”

OCD is more than a preference for order or being “a little OCD.” It’s a treatable anxiety disorder that can respond very well to the right kind of therapy.

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a chronic condition in which a person experiences:

Obsessions – intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that create anxiety, guilt, shame, or disgust
Compulsions – repetitive behaviors or mental rituals done to try to neutralize that anxiety or prevent something bad from happening

Both the obsessions and compulsions tend to be irrational and time-consuming. They may provide brief relief, but they usually make anxiety worse in the long run. OCD is common, and with specialized treatment it is highly treatable.

The OCD cycle

Regardless of subtype, OCD usually follows the same loop:

Obsessive thought – an intrusive “what if?” thought, image, or urge appears
Fear and anxiety – “What if this means I’m dangerous or bad? What if something terrible happens?”
Compulsion – a behavior or mental ritual to try to feel safe or certain (checking, washing, repeating, mentally reviewing, praying, seeking reassurance, etc.)
Temporary relief – anxiety drops for a short time… and then the doubt returns, restarting the cycle

Therapy for OCD focuses on understanding this cycle and gradually responding differently, so anxiety can come down on its own without needing a ritual.

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Let’s take the first step together. Call so we can schedule a consultation.

Common types and themes of OCD

OCD can attach itself to almost any topic. Below are some common patterns people experience:

Contamination & cleaning

Fear of germs, illness, bodily fluids, chemicals, or “contaminated” items. This can lead to excessive hand-washing, cleaning, showering, or avoiding public spaces, doorknobs, money, or people who feel “unsafe.”

Symmetry, “just right” feelings & ordering

A powerful need for things to be even, aligned, or “perfect.” You might arrange objects in a particular way, repeat actions until they feel right, or count internally. Stepping on a crack with one foot could create pressure to repeat with the other until it feels balanced.

Harm & checking

Fear of causing harm to yourself or others, even when you don’t want to. You might:

Check stoves, locks, or appliances repeatedly
Replay conversations or events to be sure you didn’t hurt someone
Worry you’ll lose control and act violently or in ways that violate your values

These fears are about who you are at your core, and often the fact that they horrify you is actually evidence of your values.

Intrusive & taboo thoughts

Unwanted thoughts or images about things that feel morally wrong or deeply upsetting, such as:

Violent images or fears of harming others
Sexual thoughts that feel disturbing or out of character
Blasphemous or religiously “wrong” thoughts (scrupulosity)
“Magical” thinking – believing that certain numbers, words, or actions will cause or prevent bad events

With this form of OCD, compulsions are often mental: reviewing, neutralizing with “good” thoughts, praying a certain way, or avoiding anything that could trigger the thought.

Hoarding and difficulty discarding

Trouble throwing things away, even items that look like trash to others. Objects may feel emotionally significant or potentially important “just in case.” Over time, clutter can create shame, isolation, conflict with family, and even safety issues.

Ruminations & mental compulsions

Endless overthinking, analyzing, or trying to “figure out” certainty about a decision, a memory, or whether you’re a good person. You might spend hours mentally reviewing events, researching, or seeking reassurance from others, yet never feel fully resolved.

These categories are not exhaustive, and many people have more than one theme. Whatever your OCD looks like, the underlying mechanism – anxiety + compulsions – is similar and treatable.

What triggers OCD?

Having OCD is different from having triggers. The causes are usually a combination of:

Genetics: OCD often runs in families and has a strong hereditary component.
Brain differences: Research shows differences in brain circuits involved with threat detection, habit, and error-checking.
Life events: Illness, trauma, major stress, or significant loss may trigger or worsen symptoms in someone who’s vulnerable.

For many people with OCD, the brain struggles to reach a sense of “done” or certainty. Most people can decide, feel reassured, and move on; someone with OCD often doesn’t get that feeling, so the brain keeps sending the same doubt back for more checking.

Triggers are very individual. A situation that barely affects one person might spike another’s anxiety. Part of therapy is mapping your personal triggers and learning how to face them in new ways.

Is OCD a mental disorder?

Yes. OCD is a recognized mental health disorder with both neurobiological and learned components. That means:

Your brain may be wired to produce more doubt, alarm, or “error messages.”
Over time, your mind learns that compulsions briefly relieve anxiety, so those patterns get reinforced.

The good news: the brain is changeable. With effective treatment, you can build new pathways that no longer link your triggers to rituals in the same way.

How is OCD diagnosed?

There’s no single blood test or scan for OCD. Diagnosis usually involves a thorough evaluation by a licensed mental health professional who will:

Ask about your thoughts, fears, and repetitive behaviors (including mental rituals)
Explore how much time OCD is consuming and how it affects school, work, relationships, or daily life
Screen for related conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, or tics

OCD can be misdiagnosed as “just anxiety,” perfectionism, or personality problems. Working with someone familiar with OCD and its many forms can make an enormous difference.

How do you break the OCD cycle?

The gold-standard therapy for OCD is called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a specialized form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

In ERP, we:

Identify your obsessions, compulsions, and triggers
Gradually face feared situations or thoughts in a planned, supportive way (exposure)
Practice resisting or changing the usual ritual (response prevention)

Over time, your brain learns that anxiety can rise and fall on its own, without needing a ritual to make it go away. Many people also experience a shift in how they relate to their thoughts — seeing them as mental events, not truths or commands.

Depending on your needs, treatment might also include:

CBT for challenging unhelpful beliefs about responsibility, danger, or certainty
Mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies to reduce fighting with thoughts and feelings
Family or partner work to reduce “accommodations” that unintentionally feed OCD (like repeated reassurance)
Coordination with prescribers when medication (often SSRIs) is part of your treatment plan

Treatment is structured, collaborative, and paced so that you feel challenged but not overwhelmed.

Meet Jim Brillon – OCD Therapist in California

I’m a licensed therapist in California (LMFT, LPCC) with specialized training in treating OCD and anxiety disorders. I work with adults who feel stuck in cycles of intrusive thoughts, rituals, and shame — and are ready to try a different approach.

OCD and related conditions (harm OCD, contamination, scrupulosity, “Pure O,” checking, symmetry, relationship-focused OCD, and more)
Co-occurring anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship issues
In-person sessions in Orange County and secure online therapy throughout California

My approach is active, compassionate, and evidence-based. We’ll go at a pace that respects your nervous system while still helping you move toward the life you want to live — one that isn’t dictated by fear or rituals.