09/04/2026
When someone with OCD comes to therapy worried they might act on an intrusive thought, it can be tempting for a therapist to offer reassurance. And in the short term, that reassurance feels helpful.
The problem is that reassurance seeking is at the heart of the OCD cycle. An intrusive thought creates intense anxiety, the person seeks reassurance to relieve it, and they feel better temporarily. But the uncertainty creeps back in, and the cycle starts again.
When a therapist provides reassurance, they risk replicating exactly what is already happening outside of the therapy room with loved ones, doctors, or Google searches. It maintains the cycle rather than breaking it.
A more effective approach is to sit with the difficult emotions that intrusive thoughts bring up, and to develop techniques for responding to them without needing to seek reassurance. That is where lasting change happens.
If you are looking for an OCD therapist, it is worth asking: how much reassurance are they offering? Our latest video explores what to look for.