Three Types of OCD Cases *
* Published December 2022 Three Types of OCD Cases: Integrating Malan’s Model of OCD with the Core Fear Model As discussed here, an individual’s OCD symptoms are aimed at avoiding a specific form of emotional distress, or Core Fear. And as discussed here, OCD symptoms are aimed at preventing a loss of attachment. So is […]
Malan’s Model of OCD *
* Published December 2022 In his book Individual Psychotherapy and the Science of Psychodynamics, Dr. David Malan offered a simple model for conceptualizing the emotional and relational dynamics underlying OCD. This article presents my simplified version of Malan’s model, largely loyal to the original but filled in and slightly adjusted. I have found this model […]
The Core Fear
Understanding the Core Fear is foundational to effective treatment of OCD, and can unlock even the most baffling cases. Dr. Elna Yadin introduced the idea that each person with OCD has a ‘Core Fear,’ and that their avoidance and compulsions are aimed at preventing it. This idea is very powerful, because OCD symptoms can seem […]
A Simple Explanation of OCD
Many people think that OCD symptoms are random. They are not. The goal of this article is to provide a simple framework for beginning to see the coherency in these symptoms. The framework begins with the idea that everyone has a worst fear. While most people would describe their worst fear in terms of a […]