Online OCD therapy for UK clients
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP), in English.
I’m Hatem Asadi, a clinical psychologist based in Israel. I offer online therapy for adults and adolescents struggling with intrusive thoughts, compulsive rituals and the impact of OCD on daily life.
50-minute sessions · Appointments by advance booking
What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and How Does It Usually Begin?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a disorder characterized by intrusive, recurring thoughts (obsessions) that create anxiety and distress.
These thoughts are followed by repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions), whose purpose is to reduce the anxiety or to achieve a temporary sense of safety.
Even though the person is aware that the obsessions are not logical, it is hard to stop the cycle between the anxiety and the rituals. This cycle consumes time and energy and harms studies, work, and relationships with others.
What Are the Common Types of OCD?
The disorder appears in different forms, but what they all have in common is recurring anxiety and an attempt to control it through rituals.
1) Cleanliness and Germs OCD
Excessive handwashing – a compulsive behaviour common among many clients.
Obsessive thoughts
- ✓Extreme fear of catching germs.
- ✓Worry about transmitting diseases through touch.
- ✓A belief that everything is contaminated and dangerous.
Compulsive actions
- ✓Washing hands until the skin cracks.
- ✓Excessive cleaning of surfaces.
- ✓Avoiding touching public objects, and long showers.
2) Order and Symmetry OCD
Rigid symmetry – compulsive precision in arranging objects.
Obsessive thoughts
- ✓A rigid need for order and precision.
- ✓A feeling that something bad will happen if the symmetry is broken.
Compulsive actions
- ✓Arranging objects over and over again.
- ✓Insisting on perfect symmetry.
- ✓Hours of arranging in daily life.
3) Checking OCD
Checking locks again and again – an exhausting compulsive checking pattern.
Obsessive thoughts
- ✓Fear of leaving the door or the gas on.
- ✓Worry about a fire or a leak.
- ✓Worry about causing an accident without noticing.
Compulsive actions
- ✓Checking locks and appliances dozens of times.
- ✓Returning home to make sure appliances are off.
- ✓Driving the same route again to make sure no accident happened.
4) Intrusive Thoughts About Harming Myself or Others
Unwanted thoughts and images about harm, which do not reflect a real desire.
Obsessive thoughts
- ✓Images or thoughts about harming a loved one.
- ✓Unwanted, disturbing violent imaginings.
- ✓Fear of losing control or “going crazy.”
Compulsive actions
- ✓Avoiding sharp objects or high places.
- ✓Staying away from close people for fear of harming them.
- ✓Seeking reassurance and constantly monitoring the thoughts.
5) OCD with Sexual Content
Obsessive thoughts
- ✓Unwanted sexual thoughts toward inappropriate people.
- ✓Compulsive doubts about sexual identity or orientation.
- ✓Fears of deviance despite a lack of evidence.
Compulsive actions
- ✓Avoiding certain places or the presence of children.
- ✓Excessive checking of bodily reactions.
- ✓Excessive seeking of religious or medical reassurance.
6) Religious OCD
Obsessive thoughts
- ✓A persistent fear of committing a transgression or sin.
- ✓Worry that rituals are not being performed properly.
- ✓Unwanted blasphemous thoughts that cause guilt.
Compulsive actions
- ✓Repeating a prayer or a ritual washing many times.
- ✓Excessive and prolonged seeking of forgiveness.
- ✓Constantly seeking rulings and reassurance.
7) Existential OCD
Recurring existential questions that are hard to stop.
Obsessive thoughts
- ✓Endless questions about the meaning of life.
- ✓Fear of not grasping reality as it is.
- ✓Philosophical questions that cause lasting anxiety instead of healthy curiosity.
Compulsive actions
- ✓Endless philosophical searching in books and online.
- ✓Repeatedly seeking reassurance from trusted people.
- ✓Exhausting circular thinking for many hours.
8) Emotional OCD – “Relationship OCD”
Obsessive thoughts
- ✓Constant doubt about feelings of love toward a partner.
- ✓Worry that the relationship is “not perfect enough.”
- ✓Fear of making the wrong decision – to break up or to continue.
Compulsive actions
- ✓Repeatedly checking and analyzing feelings.
- ✓Comparing the relationship to the relationships of others or to what is shown on social media.
- ✓Repeatedly seeking reassurance from a partner and friends.
What Are the Causes and Risk Factors for OCD?
There is no single direct cause, but a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors that increases the likelihood of the disorder appearing.
- ✓Biological factors: Such as disruption in serotonin and noradrenaline activity and overactivity of the frontal cortex and the limbic system.
- ✓Genetic factors: A higher likelihood when there is a family history of obsessive disorders or anxiety.
- ✓Environmental and psychological factors: Such as exposure to trauma, chronic stress, or rigid and perfectionist parenting styles.
- ✓Cognitive factors: Such as exaggerating the assessment of danger, an increased sense of responsibility, and mixing up thought with action.
How Does OCD Affect Everyday Life – at Home, in Studies, and at Work?
Over time, OCD does not stay “only in the head,” but affects relationships, studies, work, and mental and physical well-being.
Social and Family
- ✓Avoiding gatherings and difficulties in close relationships.
- ✓A feeling of shame and a sense that others do not understand.
- ✓Social isolation and a feeling of loneliness.
Professional and Academic
- ✓Reduced productivity and difficulty concentrating in studies or at work.
- ✓Wasting a lot of time on rituals and repeated checking.
- ✓Absence or dropping out of studies or work because of exhaustion.
Emotional and Psychological
- ✓Intense anxiety and ongoing frustration.
- ✓Accompanying depression and a feeling of losing control.
Physical
- ✓Cracks in the skin from excessive washing.
- ✓Physical exhaustion from the rituals and from chronic stress.
How does CBT with ERP help with OCD?
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a recommended psychological treatment for OCD. Treatment options depend on how symptoms affect your life; some people also benefit from medication.
In this therapy, the client learns to cope with their fears gradually, without turning to rituals. In this way the brain learns that anxiety goes down naturally and that thoughts are not commands that must be carried out.
- ✓Building a shared understanding of obsessive-compulsive disorder and of how the cycle between the obsessive thought and the compulsive action works.
- ✓Building a gradual exposure ladder of frightening stimuli or situations.
- ✓Exposure to situations step by step, with gradual and safe prevention of the compulsive behaviour.
- ✓Working on distorted thoughts, such as exaggerating the assessment of danger or excessive responsibility.
- ✓Training in tolerating anxiety and building a renewed sense of control and flexibility.
I use CBT and ERP in online sessions, adapting the pace and exercises to your difficulties and circumstances. We agree goals together and review progress throughout treatment.
Extended Guide to OCD
Hatem Asadi founded the Comprehensive Medical Center for OCD Treatment, a specialized website that explains in detail, in Arabic, about obsessive-compulsive disorder, its types, and the ways to treat it. You can read more about:
- ✓Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy
- ✓Types of OCD
- ✓Religious OCD
- ✓Harm OCD
- ✓Relationship OCD
Visit the center's website →
Frequently Asked Questions About OCD Treatment
How long does OCD treatment with CBT-ERP usually take?
Each session lasts 50 minutes. The number of sessions varies with your needs, symptoms and progress. We discuss an individual plan and review it together; improvement is not guaranteed within a fixed number of weeks.
Is medication always required for OCD treatment?
Medication is not always required. In some cases, SSRI-class medication may be recommended in cooperation with a psychiatrist, alongside cognitive behavioural therapy and exposure and response prevention.
Does exposure in therapy mean exposure to danger or harm?
Exposure in CBT-ERP is done gradually, safely, and with professional planning. Realistic but safe situations are chosen. The goal is to teach the brain that anxiety goes down on its own without rituals, without exposing you to real harm.
Can I receive OCD therapy online from the UK?
Yes. I am based in Israel and offer online therapy in English to UK clients, subject to individual suitability. Sessions last 50 minutes and must be booked in advance.
What Is the Drug Treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
Medication can be part of OCD treatment, particularly when symptoms are more severe or talking therapy alone has not helped enough. SSRIs are commonly used. A GP or psychiatrist can assess whether medication is appropriate and discuss its benefits and side effects.
My service is psychological therapy. Medication decisions and monitoring should be handled by an appropriately licensed prescriber.
Read the NHS guide to OCD treatment.
Who Am I?
I am Hatem Asadi, a clinical psychologist based in Israel, working with adults and adolescents and offering online therapy in English to UK clients.
Training
- ✓A graduate of the Hebrew University and Hadassah Ein Kerem in clinical psychology, with clinical training in evidence-based psychological therapy, with an emphasis on anxiety disorders and OCD.
- ✓Broad experience using advanced protocols in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP).
- ✓Experience accompanying clients coping with obsessive religious thoughts, harm thoughts, cleanliness OCD, relationship OCD, and other patterns.
- ✓A graduate of the joint training program of the Ministry of Health and the Hebrew University for implementing CBT.
How Is OCD Treatment Conducted at Hatem Asadi's Clinic?
At Hatem Asadi's clinic, treatment is carried out in a scientific, clear, and personalized way, with an emphasis on:
- ✓Understanding the roots of OCD and how it works in the brain and in behaviour.
- ✓Building a gradual and safe exposure plan that suits your abilities.
- ✓Practising responses to intrusive thoughts that reduce reliance on compulsions.
- ✓Regular follow-up to review progress and adjust the treatment plan.
What Will You Get During Treatment?
During OCD treatment at Hatem Asadi's clinic, we work on:
- ✓Learning how to stop the cycle of fear and compulsive rituals.
- ✓Building stronger inner confidence in the face of disturbing thoughts.
- ✓Improvement in sleep, concentration, mood, and relationships.
- ✓A greater sense of control over your day, instead of OCD controlling you.
What Makes Treatment Here Special?
Treatment at Hatem Asadi's clinic is provided in a way that is:
- ✓Practical and clear.
- ✓Culturally and linguistically sensitive.
- ✓Based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence.
- ✓Suitable for adults and adolescents.
Who Is Treatment For?
OCD treatment with CBT-ERP is especially suitable:
- ✓For those who suffer from recurring, disturbing obsessive thoughts.
- ✓For those who have daily rituals or compulsive actions they feel forced to perform.
- ✓For those who feel that OCD consumes time and energy.
- ✓For those who tried other treatments and did not see clear results.
Online sessions for UK clients
I am based in Israel and offer online therapy in English to clients physically located in the United Kingdom. In-person appointments are available in Israel.
Sessions last 50 minutes. Appointments are available by booking in advance.
When enquiring, please include your country and, for UK clients, whether you are in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. We will confirm suitability and appointment arrangements before starting therapy. If you are elsewhere, please enquire about availability for your location.
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