It is OCD Awareness week - a worldwide event that aims to dispel myths and break the stigma around OCD.
We are proud to provide a high level of training, experience, and commitment to your mental wellness. The goal is to make you feel better as quickly as possible and help you regain your quality of life while providing you with tools and understanding.
Both anxiety and OCD can be overwhelming and significantly interfere with your quality of life, such as going to school/work, getting along with family and friends, and participating in everyday activities. OCD and anxiety disorders require specialized treatment services. The good news is that with these services, both OCD and anxiety disorders are very treatable and you can learn to regain control of your life.
OCD and Anxiety Psychological Services Inc. was created to help people suffering from OCD and Anxiety Disorders. Dr. Felicity Sapp is the founder and clinical director of OAPS that has been operating in Calgary since 2009. At OAPS, we treat clients of all ages using treatment that is backed by science and shown to be effective - Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, including Exposure Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy. At OAPS, our psychologists are MA or Ph.D., level and Alberta Registered. In addition, Dr Sapp is a Canadian accredited Cognitive Behaviour Therapist with expertise in the treatment of Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Related Disorders.
As a group, we have been providing mental health care for more than 20 years. At OAPS, we stay up to date by attending local, national, and international conferences on a regular basis to provide clients with the most current and supported treatment methods. We provide OCD and anxiety-related workshops and presentations across the USA and Canada.
We treat children, adolescents and adults who are experiencing OCD, anxiety, stress or worry. We start with a comprehensive assessment of the issues involved in order to make sure that treatment is individualized to you. We have extensive experience treating individuals with OCD, anxiety and other mental health issues. We offer evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Related Disorders specializing in
In a warm and compassionate atmosphere, we will provide you with a solid background and understanding of the process of Exposure (and ERP) therapy. We will make sure that your individual and unique needs are considered, and together you and we will take the time to develop the most effective treatment plan for your situation. By using a flexible approach that respects you and how you are feeling and what you are going through, we will ease you into learning to face your fears in a supportive and gradual way. With encouragement and in collaboration with you, we will work at your pace so that you do not become overwhelmed as you learn to slowly face your fears and experience the satisfaction and relief that accompanies this treatment.
When treating children and adolescents, we will take on the role of “coach” and work together with children and parents. We know the impact that anxiety and OCD can have on families and so we provide a safe, supportive and caring environment that involves parents while taking into account the age of the child. We enjoy working with children/teens and tend to relate well to children by using a playful atmosphere with a cognitive behavioural approach. With teens, we are respectful of their needs, opinions and privacy and tailor our treatment approach accordingly. The goal of treatment is to help children, teens and their parents learn the necessary tools to manage their worries, stress and fear.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is used to treat problems related to anxiety and depression. There is much evidence documenting the effectiveness of CBT to treat anxiety and depression. With CBT, treatment focuses on changing behaviours by understanding how thoughts, behaviours and feelings are interconnected and influence each other. Clients are taught how to identify troublesome thoughts and unhelpful behaviours that may be contributing to the feelings of anxiety and depression and other negative emotions. CBT focuses on teaching clients new adaptive behaviours and thought patterns to help change their way of thinking about and acting in a given situation. CBT is collaborative and requires the participation of both the client and therapist.
In treating certain Anxiety Disorders and OCD, Exposure therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) treatment are added to CBT. There is strong research that supports the effectiveness of ERP in treating and overcoming one’s fears. With Exposure therapy and ERP, clients are slowly and gradually brought in contact with their fears, while learning to manage the uncomfortable feelings and thoughts associated with anxiety. Using this treatment, clients repeatedly face their fears while using effective ways to manage the uncomfortable feelings of anxiety, and they learn that the feelings of anxiety will go away. Over time clients get used to (or they habituate to) these previously feared situations such that these situations no longer produce anxiety or fear.
Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy is a treatment protocol that is scientifically proven to produce changes in the neurochemistry of the brain. These changes can be observed through Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans whereby differences are demonstrated from the beginning of treatment (pre-exposure) when compared to the completion of treatment (post-exposure).
