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Justin K. Hughes, Licensed Professional Counselor: Dallas CBT and Exposure Therapy for OCD, Anxiety, Addictions & More
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Justin's Blog

OCD Therapy Insider Tip: Cut out the Margin.

12/30/2020

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Photo by Jake Ingle on Unsplash
If you have experience with cancer treatment, you may already know what is meant when I say, “cut out the margin.”  Margin is the edge or border of tissue that is being removed through surgery.  Why can’t you just cut out the “bad” part?  Why must you go further?  Simply, it is only deemed clean when all cancer cells are removed; if you don’t remove the margin, you run the risk for recurrence.  Treatment for OCD is not so different.  To strengthen your outcomes and run a lower risk of relapse, you’ve ‘gotta catch ‘em all’ (compulsions).  Let’s take a look at a therapy insider tip that you might not have gotten elsewhere: cut out the margin.


Why Clients Come To Me

Clients come to me ready to get unstuck.  Ready to get their lives back.  Ready to leave their house without a ridiculous layer of requirements they must adhere to until their anxiety lets them off the hook.  To kiss their spouse without second thoughts of contamination or checking.  To wash hands like their peers.  To not be tormented by intrusive thoughts.  To be less anxious.  To be free.  And many, many more reasons.

Part of the education process in my delivery of CBT [link when you have an article] from Day One looks at how you can gain as much victory as possible over your OCD- and this naturally involves looking towards the end of treatment- today.  It’s important for you to know up front what you’re committing to.  Though a client is often ready to move forward with their lives as soon as they see “good enough” progress, don’t settle for that.  


Encouragement to Keep Going

It is important that we don’t just stop treatment once you get symptom relief.  In fact, it’s important to remember what brought you to therapy in the first place.  If you are treating a chronic and/or episodic condition like OCD, research is very clear on the need to take it to the endzone:

     “Leaving untreated areas in OCD is problematic because it makes relapse more likely” (Gillihan et al., 2012).

I promise- this is not the same as perfectionism.  I promise- this is not to hold you in therapy longer (I’ve got way too much important work to waste either your or my time).  I will always try to balance celebrating your wins and working with your real-world limitations (cost, time, motivation, etc.).  But I want to be very clear here: your long-term outcomes are directly connected to whether you get rid of all your compulsions or not (when possible).  If you leave behind some untreated area of OCD, you are leaving room for the “whack-a-mole” presentation of OCD to grow.  Fear always generalizes as it grows; unfortunately, you won’t be able over time to stick with one manifestation without it growing.  One door knob you avoid becomes two.  One social situation you avoid becomes more.  Obsessively mentally checking your moral intentions with one intrusive thought becomes one thousand.  


Cut out the margin.

Just as in cancer treatment, get the margin.  Go for it.  It may seem daunting and scary.  Especially if you’ve been trying on your own and/or if you haven’t gained a specialized lens for one of the most debilitating conditions on the face of the planet (medical and mental- a top 10 every year).  Your long-term well-being will be better for it.  

Get Unstuck

Looking to get unstuck?  Join my “OCD” list to get more tips, free guides, and updates on events.  Ready to get serious about treatment?  Make that appointment now.  ​​
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    All Content on this Site, justinkhughes.com, was created for informational purposes only. Content is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, treatment, or diagnosis.  Always seek the advice of your own personal health provider who is qualified to treat you, along with asking them any questions you may have regarding medical or other conditions. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have viewed on justinkhughes.com. Also, due to the sensitive nature of topics and material covered through this Site, which contains very descriptive and/or advanced content, you may not want to use justinkhughes.com. The Site and its Content are provided on an "as is" basis.  Some posts are written for specific populations (OCD, Christians, Professionals)- with the intent to remain respectful to all- some content may not fit or go counter to your beliefs, perspectives, and what is explored for you in a professional counseling session with Justin K. Hughes, MA, LPC.  The posts are intended solely for the population they are written to and can be designated by their titles and tags.
    Links to external educational content are taken at your own risk. Justin K. Hughes, MA, LPC is not responsible for external content.  

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    Justin K. Hughes, MA, LPC of Dallas Counseling, PLLC participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  This means that some links on this site will produce a small commission from Amazon.com and affiliated sites.  I NEVER link products I don't use or clinically find benefit in.  Many of them have been recommended for years inside and outside therapy sessions.  You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service recommended on this site.  However, they are provided on this site only educationally and are not meant to be interpreted as treatment or therapy in any way.  I am not responsible for the quality or experience of any items purchased through affiliate links, as they are entities completely separate of myself.  

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​Justin K. Hughes, MA, LPC
Owner, Dallas Counseling, PLLC 

justin@dallascounseling.com
P: 469-490-2002

17330 Preston Road, Suite 102D
Dallas, TX 75252
 
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