At the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley, we offer cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for Sexually Intrusive Thoughts OCD. Our approach is practical, goal-oriented, compassionate, and scientifically-based while focusing on your individual needs.
What is Sexually Intrusive Thoughts OCD?
Sexually Intrusive Thoughts OCD involves unwanted sexual thoughts, often involving children, family members, inappropriate persons, animals, or violence. These sexual obsessions may involve sexual activities that are counter to your sexual orientation or preferences which can cause distress and confusion. They are different from fantasies, which are experienced as enjoyable. Sexual obsessions are not pleasant and provoke guilt and shame.
Symptoms of Sexually Intrusive Thoughts OCD
- Fears of being a pedophile or becoming a pedophile
- Fear of being sexually attracted to animals
- Fear of being sexually attracted to siblings, parents, or other relatives
- Fear of becoming aggressive or violent during sex
- Fear of losing control and acting out sexually
- Mental rituals aimed at forcing unwanted sexual thoughts away such over-analysis of sexual thoughts, trying to force acceptable sexual thoughts into consciousness or mentally reviewing past sexual encounters
Cognitive Behavioral Model of Sexually Intrusive Thoughts OCD
According to the CBT model, it is normal to experience intrusive sexual thoughts from time to time. In fact, studies suggest that 90% of individuals experience sexually intrusive thoughts throughout their lifetimes. If you have Sexually Intrusive Thoughts OCD, however, you might view these experiences as threatening and assign a great deal to importance to these thoughts. For example, you may have the thought your mother is wearing an attractive outfit and interpret that to mean that you are sexually attracted to her. This causes you significant distress or anxiety. You may then attempt to soothe yourself with a ritual or compulsion that temporarily reduces your anxiety such as silently repeating to yourself that you are not attracted to your mother. Because anxiety is relieved in the short-term, the anxiety cycle continues with the next intrusive thought.
Cognitive Behavior Treatment of Sexually Intrusive Thoughts OCD
The goal of CBT for OCD is to teach you that you can manage the anxiety associated with intrusive sexual thoughts without performing compulsions or rituals. You will learn a type of CBT called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Treatment will include education about Sexually Intrusive Thoughts OCD and how it is maintained, cognitive strategies that will help you respond differently to anxiety and intrusive sexual thoughts, and behavioral strategies to help you delay and/or eliminate compulsive behaviors. ERP/CBT will help you face your fears about acting out sexually, in session and in the real world, and practice new ways of responding to anxiety. With practice and experience in facing your fears, you will find yourself to be less disturbed by sexually intrusive thoughts and more able to cope with anxiety and uncertainty.
How to Get Help for Sexually Intrusive Thoughts OCD
The Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley is located at 16579 Los Gatos Almaden Road on the border of San Jose and Saratoga. With our convenient location between highways 85 and 17, we serve the Silicon Valley communities of San Jose, Saratoga, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Los Gatos, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Cupertino and Campbell, CA. Contact us for more information on how we can help you manage your Sexually Intrusive Thoughts OCD.
Serving the Silicon Valley communities of San Jose, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Cupertino, Campbell, Mountain View, Los Altos, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto and Santa Clara, CA
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