Dear All,

Regarding all enquiries.

Karen and Sharon have decided to go their separate ways and set up their own individual practices.

Therefore in terms of therapy and which practitioner you choose will be entirely up to you.

Our advice is to contact both of us to ascertain which therapist would be more suitable to your individual needs.

To contact Karen:

Telephone: 07812 067192 Landline: 01884 259904

Email: karen.buckingham@virgin.net

Skype: karen.buckingham2

To contact Sharon:

Telephone: 07729 848675 Landline: 01823 619374

Email: peaceofmindcounselling@hotmail.com

Skype: sharondaviestherapist

Here at the clinic, we are always overjoyed whenever a client is so happy with the results they achieve via our treatment program, that they take the time to write a few shorts words about their experience. We always add these to our Testimonies Page, as we believe it is important that potential clients reading the website can read first hand feedback from actual clients who have taken the course.

Occasionally we like to highlight here on our news pages, particularly passionate and heart-warming responses we have been sent, as a way to encourage all former and future clients of the clinic.

I got to the point where I just couldn’t take it any more, then my friend suggested we go to the OCD clinic, I was petrified of being away from my husband and I’m sure Karen and Sharon were getting fed up with how many emails and phone calls I gave them so that I could decide if they really understood what I was going through.

I had had enough!! I went for the 5 day intensive course and stayed at the Best Western Hotel along with 3 other people (who were to become my friends) there were 5 of us altogether.

I was so nervous when my husband left me, but I had a choice, did I want to get better? I DID!!

Karen and Sharon were so supportive and made me feel that I needed to do this, I have had years and years of treatment on the NHS and some private but I have never met 2 people who REALLY understood OCD, they have been through OCD and have recovered. They were both so inspirational, they explained OCD in a way that i had never heard before. It all made so much sense.

The week was FANTASTIC, I had to accept that I have OCD and needed to learn to accept the feelings and urges for what they really are.I realised that my thoughts and feelings are mixed up. I am not saying that it was easy, far from it. but it was an experience that I will never forget. It was a blessing to meet other people with OCD and by the end of the week we were all helping and supporting each other, we are all still in touch,

If you are considering attending the clinic, PLEASE do it!! I can not explain with words how wonderful it was.

Karen and sharon are amazing therapist and in the 30 odd years that i have had OCD they are the best I have ever and will ever meet. They are caring and soooo supportive, they really want you to get better!!

The week was also so funny we all had such a laugh, it was liberating, I met some wonderful people and I am at present continuing to challenge my thoughts and fears and everday set myself new challenges with the tools that I have learnt!

- Sharon

A wonderful former client of the clinic, Lore Gubb, will be attempting a sponsored Cycle Ride from West Buckland (Somerset) to Exeter Quay (Devon) in May 2012 in aid of registered charity OCD Action.

Lore Gubb

Lore says “I’m cycling for OCD Action because OCD is an extremely overlooked condition – The day of the cycle ride is yet to be confirmed, it will either be the first or second Saturday (5th or 12th) of May. I am just waiting to get sponsors up, then will confirm the date. I am wanting to raise as much money for the charity as possible.”

If you would like to get in touch with Lore, you can find her through the usual social networks:

OCD Cycle Ride on Facebook

OCD Cycle Ride on Twitter

Most important of all is the information about how you can sponsor Lore.

You can donate money through the Just Giving website. All money donated through the website is eligible for Gift Aid. Please make sure to claim this during your donation.

The route Lore will be cycling

OCD Action is the largest national charity focusing on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Formed by a group of volunteers and leading professionals in 1994, the charity is recognised as both a strong voice for people with OCD and a vital source of help.

The OCD Treatment Clinic will be holding a presentation about OCD.

To be held on:
Monday 20th February 2012 from 10:00am until 12:00pm

At:
The O’Bridge Public House
Massingham Park
Taunton
TA2 7RX
(Easily found from the A358 – Priorswood Road – next to the Roundabout)

For more information about OCD Week, please visit the OCD Action website.

Following our October 2011 OCD Intensive Treatment Programme, we received some wonderful feedback from our clients. We have added all of these to our TESTIMONIES page for you all to read. But we would like to highlight one of the responses from a client called Anne.

I have long-term contamination OCD based on a fear of sewage/human waste with fluctuating control. Uncontrolled OCD has taken up hours of my day, months of my year and years of my life…. Although I still do compulsions, many of these compulsions are in my head and, at times, this results in hours of rumination with accompanying fear and doubt. This means that I often cannot concentrate on the book I am writing. And I find this extremely distressing and frustrating.

I have had many years of treatment both privately and on the NHS, but feel that private treatment is preferable because I can choose my own therapist and because I do not want to wait for therapy. When you have insufficient, little, or, no control over your OCD you simply do not want to wait months for therapy.

I just spent a week at the OCD Treatment Clinic and cannot tell you how helpful it has been for me. Being in a home setting, the clinic is warm and inviting. Doing therapy there is the closest thing to doing it at home. This makes it far easier to carry on your treatment on your own after treatment has ended.

Karen and Sharon are brilliant therapists. Because they have experienced and gained full control over their OCD I had complete trust in them. They do not ask a client to do therapy which they are not prepared to do themselves. I have done years of ERP and was facing my fears on a regular basis, but was still frightened of drains/toilets etc. So I clearly needed to be pushed even harder and to learn to sit out my fears without giving in to them.Some of the exposure tasks I carried out would frighten many who do not have OCD. Yet with Karen modeling for me they seemed much less frightening. Yes I did get anxious, but the anxiety subsided much faster than I had expected. The following day I wondered why I had been so terrified, as doing the tasks was much less frightening than the thought of doing them. Two days later I am still wearing my ‘contaminated’ clothes and feel totally okay about it.

Yet ERP is only a small part of this wonderful course. I have learned so much about the faulty beliefs which sustained my fears and the faulty techniques I was using to try to get rid of them. Changing my attitude and learning new helpful coping techniques will really help me to guard against a further relapse.

Doing this therapy alongside other sufferers was so valuable. We OCD’ers can feel so along and vulnerable at times. We can think that we are the only people in the world with these particular thoughts/fears. Sharing therapy made me feel needed, valued and supported. It was also a lot of fun at times. I have made some life long friends. Having an OCD buddy who I actually met will make keeping up my progress far easier. We can share our experiences and encourage each other to keep on facing our fears however hard things get.

The most valuable point is that doing a 25 hours intensive course gave me the kick start I so desperately needed. I did get tired; but it was so worth the effort I put into getting control. The progress I made in a week was truly outstanding.

Facing my fears has made me extremely proud of myself. It has also made me totally confident that I can continue progressing until I obtain the 99% control I so desire.

Karen and Sharon I cannot thanks you enough.

- Anne (October 2011)

We are always overjoyed to hear great feedback from all our clients, and we hope that by publishing them on the website they can inspire other sufferers to CONTACT US for help in taking back control of their own lives from this horrible anxiety disorder.

We are pleased to announce we will be running another Intensive OCD Treatment course in November. The dates are: Monday 21st November through until Friday 25th November.

As always, places on this unique programme are limited, so please book as soon as possible, using our secure CONTACT FORM.

We will be running our next 5 day intensive treatment programme, here at the clinic, from October 24th to 28th 2011.

As always, phone or use our contact form to book a place, and be quick as places are always limited.

We have had more wonderful feedback from one of our recent OCD Intensive Treatment sessions, here at the clinic, from not just clients suffering from OCD, but also carers who look after friends and relatives with OCD.

Clients

I came down here to the OCD Clinic because I had a ‘misfire’. I was very scared and worried about doing the course. Karen and Shaz soon began to make me think different and gave me the confidence I needed to get well. I found that I can do it and it’s easier than you think, once I got started. They have given me the tools to fix my misfire and get back on all cylinders. You, me and everyone can get well! Thank you
- Guy

I have enjoyed the week and learnt a lot in a friendly relaxed environment.
- Tom

Carers

Such an enlightening week on an incredibly difficult subject. Karen and Sharon have shown charming, caring and tough expertise. And my son Guy is now inspired to “get his life back.”
- David S

Enthusiasm, enlightenment, entertaining with strong beliefs backed up with a thorough understanding of OCD in a relaxed environment. Thank you very much and well done.
- Jane

We are happy to announce that the dates for our September Intensive are 26th to 30th September 2011.

Places are already filling up, so if you would like to reserve a place on the 5 day course, please get in touch as soon as possible either via our CONTACT FORM, or by phoning us on one of our numbers (seen in red at the top of the website).

Our 5 day Intensive Programme is a proven and effective treatment for OCD and other anxieties. You can break free from the chains of your illness. We give you the tools to retake control of your life. Change is possible.

Please note we have changed the dates for the next Intensive Programme. This course will now take place from Monday 29th August through to Friday 2nd September 2011.

As always, if you are interested in coming on the course, please get in touch with us through the CONTACT FORM.