Can coaching help if you have OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) doesn’t mean being 'a bit of a perfectionist'; that isn’t OCD. What I’m talking about is full-blown and debilitating OCD.

Most people have barriers preventing them from realising their goals; otherwise, they would have already achieved them. However, when you have OCD, a lot of these barriers are related to your disorder.

Coaching and therapy work differently

I believe that people living with OCD should receive appropriate therapeutic support before beginning coaching. Understanding your triggers, intrusive thoughts, and compulsions provides a strong foundation before focusing on future goals.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP) are widely recognised as effective treatments for OCD. Coaching plays a different role. Rather than treating OCD itself, coaching focuses on helping you move forward with your life, supporting you to build confidence, develop healthier habits and work towards goals that feel meaningful to you.

For many people, coaching becomes particularly valuable once they're making progress in their recovery. It can help fill the space that OCD has occupied for so long, replacing it with purpose, growth and a renewed sense of possibility.

3 goal-setting tips

• Only set one goal at a time. Trying to do too much at once can be stressful, which can aggravate your feelings or compulsions.
• Although your goal needs to be challenging, make sure you break it down into achievable steps to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Remember, even a small step is better than no step at all.
• Ask yourself safeguarding questions such as "What are the warning signs that this may be interfering with my recovery?", "If the signs arise, what will I do next?" Some coaches may view this as a negative outlook, but it is important that you protect yourself from relapse; your OCD recovery must come first. This doesn’t mean you have to give up on your goal - a change in your approach may be all that is required.

7 things to consider when working with a coach

• Know that a coach is not going to cure, reassure, or make decisions for you.
• You need to be able to trust your coach. If you feel unable to tell your coach the true barriers to your goal, then you may spend time working on an issue that doesn’t exist. Some OCD themes can be difficult to talk about due to the nature of the intrusive thoughts. In that case, try to find a coach who has an understanding of this type of OCD.
• It is good to work with a coach who has knowledge about your choice of therapy, so the coaching approach doesn’t interfere with your progress. For example, in some circumstances, clients practising ERP should not be encouraged to 'think positively', as this can result in reassurance, which is a compulsion.
• You need to make your own decisions and take responsibility for your actions so you don’t become reliant on your coach.
• The coach mustn’t reassure you, as this may lead to reassurance seeking, which is detrimental to the progress of therapy.
• If coaching is having a negative effect on your recovery, then stop and speak to your therapist before proceeding. Your OCD recovery must come first, and a good coach will understand this. You can always return to coaching at a later date.
• If you have a particular coach in mind but they don’t have experience with OCD, then you can still work with them as long as you understand your OCD, your therapy process, and also feel that you can stop at any time.

Learning to stop waiting

I’ve had OCD for twenty years and have fully recovered from pure 'O', about 80% recovered from responsibility OCD, and 40% recovered from contamination OCD. I continue with ERP exercises every day to progress my recovery further.

A few years ago, I accepted that I would have OCD for the rest of my life. This isn’t being negative; it’s being aware that my brain works differently. I am OK with this because I know I can manage my disorder. This insight made me realise that I had to stop delaying my dreams until the day when I would be 'cured'. I used to think "I’ll do that when I’m recovered". When I accepted that I may never fully recover, I realised I had to set my goals now, and not wait for that imaginary future date.

I am proof that, despite having OCD, it is possible to achieve your goals, be happy, and have a fulfilling life.