OCD One-to-one Intensive Treatment Program

Yes. All one-to-one intensive treatment options require an assessment before treatment begins. The assessment allows us to understand your OCD presentation, relevant symptoms, and current difficulties, and to consider whether a one-to-one intensive is clinically appropriate.

Wherever possible, the assessment is carried out by the therapist who would deliver the intensive. Where this is not possible, care is taken to ensure continuity of understanding and a clear handover before treatment begins.

Following the assessment, recommendations are discussed with you and possible next steps are outlined.

No. A one-to-one intensive is not suitable for everyone, and it is not always the most appropriate starting point. Suitability is considered carefully as part of the assessment process, taking into account factors such as the nature of the difficulties being experienced, current stability, and whether OCD is the primary focus of treatment.

In some cases, a different treatment format, pace, or type of support may be more appropriate. Where a one-to-one intensive is not recommended, this is discussed openly, and alternative options or next steps are explored, including signposting where relevant.

The OCD Treatment Centre primarily works with adults. In some circumstances, we are able to assess and work with children and teenagers where this is considered appropriate.

Suitability for a one-to-one intensive with a younger person is assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis, taking into account age, developmental needs, family involvement, and whether specialist child or adolescent services would be more suitable.

For clients under the age of 16, a parent or caregiver is required to attend initial appointments and be appropriately involved in the process, as discussed during assessment.

Many people seeking treatment for OCD also experience additional difficulties, such as low mood, anxiety, or trauma-related symptoms. Suitability for a one-to-one intensive is considered as part of the assessment process, with a focus on whether OCD is the primary difficulty being addressed.
Where additional needs are present, these are considered carefully to ensure that the proposed treatment format is appropriate and clinically safe.

All one-to-one intensives are assessment-led. This means that an intensive is only recommended where it is considered clinically appropriate following assessment and formulation.

If a one-to-one intensive is not recommended, this will be discussed with you carefully and transparently. Where possible, alternative treatment options may be suggested, which could include a different therapy format within the service or signposting to external support where more appropriate.

The assessment process is designed to ensure that any recommended treatment is in your best interests and aligned with your needs, rather than to offer all formats to all clients.

One-to-one intensive treatment is delivered over four consecutive days and provides a total of 16 hours of direct therapeutic contact. The programme is structured to allow focused, consecutive work while also building in time for reflection and consolidation across the week.

Time is allocated to formulation, therapeutic tasks, and review, with the aim of supporting sustained and meaningful engagement rather than continuous therapy throughout the day.

The exact structure is discussed in advance and may vary slightly depending on clinical needs and the clinician delivering the programme.

One-to-one intensive treatment is delivered during the day and runs over four consecutive days.
Standard one-to-one intensives delivered by specialist therapists typically run from 09:30 to 14:30, with appropriate breaks built in.
One-to-one intensives delivered by Sharon Davies, Clinical Director, are structured to run from 09:30 to 13:30.

Specific timings are confirmed in advance as part of the booking process, and full details are shared clearly before the intensive begins.

One-to-one intensives at The OCD Treatment Centre are typically delivered online. This format allows the work to be structured, contained, and consistent, while maintaining clinical oversight and continuity throughout the intensive.

In some cases, one-to-one intensives may be delivered in person where this is clinically indicated and agreed as part of the assessment process. This applies only to specific clinicians and is not available as a standard option.

Whether an intensive is delivered online or in person is always determined through assessment and clinical judgement, taking into account individual needs, circumstances, and what is likely to be most helpful and appropriate.

Where possible, we aim to match clients with a therapist whose experience and clinical background are appropriate to their needs. Therapist availability, clinical suitability, and service capacity are all considered as part of this process.

In many cases, the therapist who completes the assessment will also deliver the one-to-one intensive. Where this is not possible, care is taken to ensure continuity of understanding and a clear handover before treatment begins.

One-to-one intensive treatment is primarily delivered on an individual basis. In some cases, and where it is considered therapeutically beneficial, a family member or support person may be involved for a limited period of time. Any such involvement is discussed and agreed in advance, with clear boundaries around its purpose and scope.

Family involvement within an intensive is used selectively and carefully, and is not intended to detract from the focus or structure of the programme. Decisions about whether, how, and when a support person is involved are guided by clinical judgement and individual circumstances.

Where carers or family members would benefit from more dedicated support or guidance, we also offer separate carer sessions outside of the intensive programme. This allows carers to receive appropriate input without impacting the delivery of the intensive treatment itself.

A one-to-one intensive is a collaborative and individualised form of psychological treatment. The structure of the week and the amount of work involved are guided by your formulation, your needs, and your capacity at the time, rather than a fixed or one-size-fits-all approach.

During sessions, you will be invited to engage actively in the therapeutic process. This may involve discussing challenging material, practising therapeutic strategies, and reflecting on your experiences with the support of your therapist. Between sessions, there may also be opportunities for agreed tasks or reflections that support the work and help consolidate learning, without placing pressure on performance.

Rest and recovery are an important part of intensive work and are built into the process. Your therapist will provide structure, guidance, and support across the week, with the aim of working at a pace that feels clinically appropriate and sustainable. Progress is most likely when the intensive is approached as a shared process, with both therapist and client contributing in a manageable and meaningful way.

It is not unusual for intensive therapeutic work to feel emotionally challenging at times, particularly when working directly with OCD or related difficulties. Feeling overwhelmed at certain points does not mean the intensive is failing or that you are doing something wrong.

Your therapist will work with you to monitor how the work is affecting you and to adjust the pace or focus of sessions where clinically appropriate. This may involve slowing down particular elements of the work, shifting emphasis, or allowing space for reflection and consolidation within sessions.

The aim of a one-to-one intensive is not to push you beyond your limits, but to provide structured and contained support at a pace that is clinically appropriate. Any concerns about feeling overwhelmed are discussed collaboratively as part of the therapeutic process.

Yes, one-to-one intensives usually involve some additional reading and between-session tasks to support the therapeutic work and help you get the most out of the week.

These tasks are linked directly to the focus of the sessions and are discussed and agreed collaboratively with your therapist. They are tailored to your individual formulation and capacity, and are intended to deepen understanding, support practice, and consolidate learning between sessions.

The type and amount of between-session work can vary across the week and may change in response to how the therapy is progressing, with the aim of keeping the work clinically appropriate and manageable.

A one-to-one intensive is not a direct replacement for weekly therapy, and it is not suitable for everyone. It is one possible treatment format that may be recommended following assessment where intensive work is clinically appropriate.

For some people, an intensive can support focused work over a shorter period of time. For others, weekly therapy may be more appropriate either before, after, or instead of an intensive. In many cases, intensives form part of a broader treatment plan rather than a standalone intervention.

The most suitable approach is always decided through assessment and clinical discussion, taking into account individual needs, previous treatment history, and what is likely to be most helpful and sustainable over time.

One-to-one intensive treatment is planned and delivered as a time-limited, consecutive programme. The intensive format is designed to be completed as scheduled, and pausing or breaking the programme part-way through is not typically supported.

This structure helps maintain continuity, focus, and therapeutic momentum across the intensive. For this reason, the programme is not generally delivered in a fragmented or stop–start way.

In exceptional circumstances, decisions about how to proceed are considered on a case-by-case basis and guided by clinical judgement.

Following a one-to-one intensive, some clients choose to continue with ongoing therapy, while others focus on consolidating the work independently. Any follow-on therapy is discussed individually and is not automatic.

At the end of the intensive, time is spent reviewing the work completed and reflecting on progress made during the programme. This includes a discussion of possible next steps, based on clinical judgement and individual needs.

Where appropriate, options for follow-up support may be discussed, such as ongoing therapy or other structured forms of support designed to help consolidate the work completed during the intensive. Any follow-up support is optional, arranged separately, and discussed clearly in advance.