Meanwhile, Trauma, with its accompanying hypervigilance, elevated threat responses, and increased anxiety, can further exacerbate obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. Additionally, changes in cognitive processing, common in OCD and trauma, can manifest in neurodivergent presentations such as ADHD and ASC. Participants at this skills-based workshop will explore the intricate connections between OCD, Trauma, and PTSD, gaining insights into the overlapping features and distinct characteristics of each condition. Additionally, the course will delve into the impact of neurodivergent processing differences on symptom presentation and therapy response.

Exploring the Intersections: OCD, Trauma, and Neurodivergence

For psychotherapists and counsellors, addressing OCD becomes especially challenging in the presence of overlapping manifestations with trauma and neurodivergence. The challenges can intensify when clients exhibit covert manifestations such as Pure O or ROCD, where their intrusive thoughts might focus on themes of harm, relationships, sexuality and gender, religious or moral questions. These thoughts can feel like an attack on a client’s sense of self, and they are often accompanied by guilt and shame.

This webinar delves into the nature and function of OCD, emphasizing its central role in alleviating anxiety and fear. It scrutinizes the spectrum of obsessive and intrusive thoughts, as well as compulsive behaviours, as mechanisms for neutralizing or managing unbearable obsessive thoughts. It also illuminates the interconnectedness of OCD and PTSD, highlighting shared characteristics such as recurring, persistent, involuntary, and intrusive thoughts. Using case vignettes, we will explore how repetitive behaviours are enacted to neutralise these – such as avoidance, thought suppression or dissociation – aimed at alleviating stress and anxiety. Participants will further gain insight into the complex interplay between obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma, and neurodivergence, and how these factors influence therapeutic outcomes.

Enhancing Therapeutic Competence

It’s imperative for practitioners to distinguish between OCD, trauma, and neurodivergence, and how these interact or overlap so as to craft comprehensive case formulations tailored to individual client needs. By understanding these distinctions and overlaps, therapists can implement the most effective therapeutic approaches. This involves exploring various modalities, including Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (Tf-CBT), medication, and trauma-informed therapy. Emphasis will be placed on facilitating trauma processing and integrating principles of Trauma-Informed Practice and neurodiverse affirmative practices into therapeutic interventions.

Participants will learn practical skills for distinguishing between OCD, PTSD, and neurodivergent processing differences, enabling effective assessment and personalised therapeutic planning. Emphasis will be placed on recognising the holistic needs of clients, addressing both OCD symptoms and trauma-related symptoms to promote comprehensive healing. Through case studies and interactive discussions, participants will develop the expertise to deliver effective, client-centred care for individuals grappling with OCD, trauma, and neurodivergence.

At this webinar, we will focus on:

• Understanding the Intricacies of OCD, Trauma, and Neurodivergence: Gain insight into the complex interplay between obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma, and neurodivergence, and how these factors influence therapeutic outcomes.
• Distinguishing Between OCD, PTSD, and Neurodivergent Processing: Develop the ability to differentiate between obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and neurodivergent processing differences, enabling tailored treatment strategies for each condition.
• Recognizing the Holistic Needs of Clients: Recognize the importance of addressing both OCD symptoms and trauma-related symptoms to provide comprehensive care that promotes long-term well-being.
• Integrating Specialized Treatment Approaches: Learn to incorporate specialized treatment modalities such as Trauma-Focused CBT and Trauma-Informed Practice into therapeutic interventions, ensuring effective symptom management and resolution.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the complex interplay between obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma, and neurodivergence, and how these factors influence therapeutic outcomes.
• Explain how to differentiate between obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and neurodivergent processing differences, enabling tailored treatment strategies for each condition.
• Discuss the importance of addressing both OCD symptoms and trauma-related symptoms to provide comprehensive care that promotes long-term well-being.
• Apply specialized treatment modalities such as Trauma-Focused CBT and Trauma-Informed Practice into therapeutic interventions, ensuring effective symptom management and resolution.

© nscience 2024 / 2025