We provide therapeutic and ancillary services (See 'Services' Tab) focusing on some specific and a wide range of others disorders (see also below)
We have extensive experience with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ('OCD') or Hoarding Disorder ('Hoarding'), sometimes client's with both. Our other experience is with Phobic('phobias'), Anxiety and Depressive Disorders, generally referred to as Mood Disorders. We have dealt a lot with Personality Disorders and Relationship Issues, and to a lesser extend with Psychotic Disorders. We prefer not to deal with substance use disorders (addictions)
OCD - one of the two major focuses in our practice. OCD is a result of unreasonable fears/concerns about issues such as germs, orderliness, propriety, safety, and the like. These concerns are classified as 'obsessions'. If a person reacts by developing responses to 'solve' or 'resolve' such issues, then generally this is considered a 'compulsions', usually in the form of routine behaviour or rituals. Often these 'solutions' solve the issue short term, so 'doubling up' can occur to ensure long term resolution, yet causing intrusion in one's life and those around them..
Hoarding is a long term tendency to retain excessive items, to the loss of the normal utility of living (or auxialliary) space. It goes beyond mere collections or hobbies. Several possible 'rationales' for this accumulation, can be 'value', 'need', 'saving', sentimentality, etc.; but the excess can often lead to dangerous situations such as fire traps, insect/rodent infestation and unhealthiness in general.
Phobias are diverse/widespread, and nearly all humans have one or more, such as snakes, spiders, water, heights, etc.. They are clinically significant when they limit one's lifestyle, and treatment involves progressive exposure to the fearful item/situation in small increments while acquiring tolerance for the situation. Sometimes this means firstly imagination or video exposure to limit distress in the early stages.
Mood Disorders are anxiety and depression usually resulting from life's experiences, although both can be inherited with tendencies running in families. Both are usually treated by exploring how the client behaves and thinks and making changes to each through counseling (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy or CBT). Medication is often helpful to be prescribed by GPs or Psychiatrists. Combined with CBT, clients often 'feel better' and lead productive lives thereafter.
Personality Disorders are treatment resistant disorders that persist over nearly all one's life environments and segments and often involve dishonesty, selfishness, lack of empathy, and cruelty. The client can be taught to recognize the consequences and to control to some extent their contribution to achieve better relationships and living skills.
Relationship Issues are largely learned over a lifetime but fundamentals mostly through one's first 20 years. CBT is effective through better thought processes learnt through behavioural experimenting and deriving lessons learned