Although it has received more attention in past years, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, remains a condition that is still growing in the number of sufferers each year, especially in the Orange County area. The number of Orange County therapy centers that specialize in OCD are quite few and a patient may have difficulty finding one that they feel comfortable with. Another option for a therapist Orange County solution is to call marriage counseling Orange County offices and ask directly if the therapist has any experience in working with OCD patients. Other conditions that are related to OCD and may be a specialization of a therapist are anxiety, stress management, and depression.

The first line of treatment for OCD can differ slightly depending on the therapist. However, behavioral therapy is often a critical component in the treatment plan. In this form of therapy, the specific manifestations of the OCD disorder are examined in a technique called exposure or ritual prevention. By directly addressing the specific problem, steps can be taken to focus the person's attention away from the ritual behavior or fear and reduce the amount of anxiety that is felt. By becoming more comfortable with exposure or less reliant on a certain ritual, a patient will be able to gain more control over their life.

Medications for OCD are a controversial topic, with some therapists preferring to direct a management plan without them. When they are used, the most common ones are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a class of medicines that is also used for depression treatment. In combination with the SSRIs, antipsychotics may provide some benefits, but there are often issues with patient tolerance of the drugs. Because the diagnosis of OCD is relatively new, there are also several experimental treatment techniques, such as vitamin supplements, St. John's Wort, and nicotine. To date, no clinical studies have adequately proven that these new techniques are effective against the condition.