The idea behind counselling has been around since people first started to use language. It is sharing problems in order to find solutions and receive some support. Many people get this sort of support from family and friends, but sometimes it is helpful to talk things out with someone who is not involved in a personal way. In keeping with the progress of technology and the ubiquity of the World Wide Web, these days there is no need to leave the comfort of your own home in order to reap these therapeutic advantages via e-therapy or online counseling.

E-therapy or online therapy is an electronic way of getting supportive online counselling either through email or online chat. Your online therapy experience will be all about your needs and what you need to talk about. Perhaps you are having relationship difficulties; maybe you are dealing with a loss or struggling through a life transition. Perhaps you need more support than you are getting from you face to face therapist or you might simply have some questions and you need a few brief consultations. You might also want someone to come alongside you and help you explore your life and challenge your growth existentially or spiritually over a longer period.

My areas of special interest include:

• Anxiety and Panic Attacks
• Co-dependency
• Depression
• Couples and Familial Relationships
• Chronic Illness and Associated Lifestyle Changes
• Emotional Crisis and Crises
• Energy Psychology - Applied Kinesiology and Emotional Freedom Technique
• Family and Systemic Constellations - Individual and Groups
• Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy
• Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Obsessions and Compulsions
• Personal growth
• Rediscovering Relationships after ending a long term relationship
• Relationship Recovery
• Transpersonal Psychology and Spirituality

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder manifest in obsession or compulsions. OCD has become one of the words bandied around when people are perfectionists. It is not the same thing: OCD is specifically an anxiety disorder where people have unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations (obsessions), or behaviours that make them feel driven to do something (compulsions). Obsessions or compulsions that are not due to medical illness or drug use and can cause major distress or interfere with everyday life.

There are many types of obsessions and compulsions. One example is an excessive fear of germs and the compulsion to repeatedly wash the hands to ward off infection. Some people don’t like to touch handles or the buttons on lifts. Compulsions can also be manifest in repeatedly checking that all the doors are locked or that the stove is off. The person usually recognizes that the behaviour is excessive or unreasonable, but this does not mean that they have control over it.

There are several medications that can help OCD specifically SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) like Citalopram (Celexa), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Fluvoxamine (Luvox), Paroxetine (Paxil) and Sertraline (Zoloft).

Talk therapy is also helpful, specifically Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), which has been shown to be the most effective type of psychotherapy for this disorder. The patient is exposed many times to a situation that triggers the obsessive thoughts, and learns gradually to tolerate the anxiety and resist the urge to perform the compulsion.

Psychotherapy can also be used to provide effective ways of reducing stress, reduce anxiety and resolve inner conflicts

A new type or therapy called Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy(MBCT) has shown tremendous results as an effective treatment for OCD. The goal is to reduce anxiety by learning formal meditative practices, which calm anxiety and then apply these lessons to everyday situations. For more information on mindfulness see the website for the Institute for Mindfulness (IMISA) www.mindfulness.org.za

OCD is a long-term (chronic) illness with periods of severe symptoms followed by times of improvement. However, a completely symptom-free period is unusual. Most people improve with treatment.