Kathleen struggles with anxiety about two main issues: accidentally setting her house on fire, and getting vulnerable relatives sick from her germs. Compelled by pervasive self-doubt, she repeatedly checks to make sure her stove is turned off and washes her hands up to 30 times a day to ward off contamination. This need for absolute certainty also extends to checking her door locks and kitchen faucets, which robs her of valuable time. She tells Wilson this behavior is distressing and time-consuming, yet her belief in the persuasive content of her fears requires Wilson to skillfully manage her ambivalence.

In two live sessions with Kathleen, Wilson shows us how a pragmatic assessment, clear protocols for exposure experiments, and a thorough briefing about the insidious nature of OCD can alleviate, rather than validate, the need for reassurance that drives anxiety. With humor and clarity, he passionately encourages Kathleen to rise above the content of her obsessive thoughts and practice moving towards that which she fears, supporting her in learning to tolerate uncertainty. With practice and patience, Kathleen’s checking behavior decreases significantly.

If you’re looking for a fresh understanding of OCD and effective ways to treat its self-reinforcing nature, you’ll find it in Wilson’s engaging, lively approach.