How is OCD Diagnosed
By Katherine Pica LCSW
Let’s face it: You’re different compared to most people. You’ve been thinking this for a while, and you’re finally able to admit it to yourself. When comparing yourself to friends, family, and loved ones, you know something is off. Something is setting you apart from everyone else. Everyone has different personalities and quirks, but what you’re experiencing feels different.
Fears consume you. You’re worried about losing control, contaminating yourself or others, and losing personal items. You obsess over certain things, and get stuck in thought spirals. You repeatedly check doors, switches, and locks. Your hands are always clean because you’re constantly washing them. You’ve done your research. The signs and symptoms all point to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). But how can you confirm if that’s what you have? Here’s how OCD is diagnosed.
The OCD Assessment Process
One of the best ways to determine if you actually have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is to seek guidance from a professional. It can be easy to search on Google or take quizzes online to self-diagnose yourself, but that can often lead you down a deep rabbit hole. To get an accurate diagnosis, leave it to a professional.
There isn’t a set test to determine if someone has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. OCD is a mental health disorder. This means that there isn’t an X-ray or a blood test that can tell you if you have it or not. To diagnose Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, a therapist will ask you questions to determine if you meet the criteria laid out in the DSM-5.
What an OCD Therapist Looks For
The DSM-5 is a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used by the American Psychiatric Association. The questions that your therapist may ask you may come from the diagnostic criteria set forth by the DSM-5.
Typically, a therapist will look for a few different things to determine if someone has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Here are the three main factors a therapist will look for when diagnosing OCD:
If the person has obsessions.
If the person does compulsions to counteract the obsessions.
If the obsession and compulsions take a significant amount of time or get in the way of the person’s daily life and routine. (i.e.: work, school, spending time with loved ones)
You don’t have to prepare in advance for OCD testing. Your therapist will just want to know the signs, symptoms, compulsions, and obsessions you may be experiencing. They may also be interested in knowing how often these situations occur. A therapist will use your answers to rule out any other condition, as well as try to determine if Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is the proper diagnosis.
Next Steps for OCD Treatment
So you have OCD, now what? There are treatment options available to you after you are diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Therapy is one of the best treatment options for OCD. No matter the intensity of the signs, symptoms, obsessions, and compulsions you’re facing, treatment is readily available to you. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the most evidenced based form of therapy for OCD.
Exposure and Response Prevention is a structured and evidence-based approach for treating OCD. ERP works by gradually helping individuals face feared thoughts, images, sensations, situations. Also, by learning not to engage in compulsions. Instead of trying to make anxiety go away, ERP focuses on building the ability to tolerate uncertainty and discomfort, allowing anxiety to rise and fall naturally over time.
Through ERP, people learn that they do not need to engage in compulsions, avoidance, or reassurance-seeking to stay safe. With repeated practice, the brain begins to relearn that feared outcomes are less threatening than they feel in the moment, and that anxiety is manageable even when it shows up strongly. ERP is always collaborative and intentional, with exposures carefully planned to match a person’s specific OCD patterns and readiness.
Over time, ERP can lead to meaningful and lasting change. Many people notice that intrusive thoughts lose their intensity, compulsions take up less mental and physical space, and daily life feels more flexible and values-driven. ERP is not about forcing or overwhelming someone, but about building confidence through consistent, supported practice that helps individuals reclaim their lives from OCD.
OCD ERP therapy
ERP- is a supported approach to help you face your fears. It offers so much hope to the OCD sufferer. Don’t delay treatment just because you think you can handle it on your own or if you think you’re symptoms aren’t as severe. The good news is: You’re not alone, and you don’t have to handle this all on your own. Therapy can provide you the relief you need to get through your day-to-day, worry-free again.
OCD treatment - near me in San Diego, CA
Living with OCD can feel exhausting and isolating, especially when intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors start to shape daily routines, relationships, and self trust. Progress often begins not by trying to eliminate thoughts, but by learning how to respond to them differently. With the right support, people can build tolerance for uncertainty, reduce compulsions, and reconnect with the parts of life that matter most to them.
San Diego, CA OCD therapy
At Resilience Counseling, we approach OCD treatment with care, structure, and evidence-based strategies that are tailored to each individual. Our therapists understand that OCD looks different for every person, whether it shows up through mental rituals, avoidance, reassurance seeking, or intense doubt. Treatment is collaborative and goal focused, helping clients move forward at a pace that feels challenging but supportive, while building skills that last beyond the therapy room.
If OCD has been taking up too much space in your life, you do not have to manage it alone. Resilience Counseling offers specialized OCD therapy for children, teens, and adults, with services available in person in San Diego and virtually throughout California. Reaching out can be the first step toward feeling more grounded, more confident, and more connected to the life you want to live. Whether you’re interested in learning more about getting properly diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or if you’re already diagnosed and interested in treatment options for OCD, we are here to help you become the best version of yourself. We have helped so many overcome their struggles with OCD and can help you too.
Author Bio: Katherine Pica OCD Treatment - San Diego, CA
Katherine Pica, LCSW - Clinical Director and Practice Owner of Resilience Counseling. She supervises the therapists at Resilience Counseling brining her 19 years of experience to the therapy team. Trained in ERP for OCD. Katherine and her OCD therapists team are available in San Diego, CA. Available for in-person sessions and all over California for virtual therapy. Contact us today!
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The information provided on the Resilience Counseling website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Do not ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of information you have read on this website. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, contact your doctor, call 911, or reach out to your local emergency number right away.
