OCD Assessment & Diagnosis

People often start looking into OCD because their thoughts or routines are taking up more space than they used to.

You might be checking things over and over, needing certain things to feel “just right”, avoiding situations that trigger unwanted thoughts, or finding yourself stuck in loops of doubt that are hard to switch off. Sometimes the thoughts themselves can feel upsetting or completely out of character, which can make it even harder to talk about them.

An OCD assessment gives you the chance to look at those experiences properly with a registered psychologist.

The aim is to understand what is happening, how much it is affecting your life, and whether Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is the best explanation for what you’re experiencing.

Book your OCD Assessment

What an OCD Assessment Involves

  • Confidential Video Consultation

    Your first appointment is a private 50-minute video session with a registered psychologist.

    You can talk through what has been happening in your own words. That may include intrusive thoughts, repeated checking, cleaning or counting, needing reassurance, avoiding particular situations, or feeling like you have to do something a certain way to settle the anxiety.

    You don’t need to know whether what you’re experiencing “counts” as OCD before you book.

    That is part of what the assessment is there to help work out.

  • Discussion of your experiences

    OCD can show up in ways that are not always obvious from the outside.

    For some people, there are visible routines such as checking locks, washing repeatedly or arranging things in a particular way.

    For others, most of it happens internally.

    You might replay conversations, silently repeat phrases, seek reassurance, mentally review whether you have done something wrong, or become stuck on thoughts that feel disturbing or difficult to dismiss.

    A big part of the assessment is understanding what happens when those thoughts appear and what you feel you need to do in response.

    We also look at how much time these patterns take up and whether they are affecting work, relationships, sleep or everyday life.

  • Use of validated assessment tool/s

    Your psychologist may use questionnaires or other recognised assessment tools during the process.

    These can help explore the type and severity of symptoms you are experiencing, but they do not make the decision on their own.

    What matters just as much is the context around the thoughts and behaviours, how long they have been happening, and how much control you feel you have over them.

    The assessment may also look at whether anxiety, trauma, depression, perfectionism or another condition could be contributing to what is going on.

  • Feedback and recommendations

    Once there is enough information, your psychologist will talk you through the findings.

    If your experiences appear consistent with OCD, they will explain why. If something else seems more likely, or if there is more than one issue involved, that will be part of the conversation too.

    From there, you can discuss what may help.

    That might include psychological therapy, practical strategies, further assessment, or support from another health professional.

    The aim is to leave with a better understanding of what is driving the thoughts or behaviours, rather than simply being told you scored highly on a questionnaire.

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 FAQs about OCD assessments

  • It may be worth looking into if unwanted thoughts, repeated behaviours or mental routines are starting to interfere with your day.

    You might spend a lot of time checking, cleaning, reviewing, seeking reassurance or trying to make things feel certain.

    For some people, the bigger issue is not the behaviour itself but the amount of anxiety that appears when they try not to do it.

    If you are finding it difficult to move on from certain thoughts or feel trapped in routines you know are excessive but still struggle to stop, an assessment can help clarify what may be happening.

  • No.

    Online quizzes can sometimes help you recognise symptoms, but OCD can be more complicated than a score suggests.

    Intrusive thoughts are common, for example. What matters is how you respond to them, how much distress they cause, and whether they lead to compulsions or avoidance.

    We may use questionnaires during your assessment, but they are only part of the process.

    The assessment happens online. It is not an online self-test.

  • Video appointments allow you to speak with a psychologist from home and can make the process easier to fit around work, family or other commitments.

    For some people with OCD, being at home can also mean they are able to talk about routines or triggers in the environment where they actually happen.

    You are still speaking directly with a registered psychologist throughout the assessment.

  • Your psychologist will explain what came up during the assessment and what they think may be going on.

    If OCD appears to fit, you can talk about treatment options and what kind of support would be useful.

    If the symptoms seem to be better explained by something else, that will be discussed instead.

    The next step might involve therapy, further assessment, or speaking with another health professional depending on your circumstances.

  • For many people, OCD can be assessed effectively through video consultation.

    What matters is whether your psychologist can gather enough information about your symptoms, routines, history and the effect they are having on your life.

    If something comes up that would be better assessed in another way, your psychologist will talk that through with you.

  • Most OCD assessments take place across two or three appointments of around 50 minutes each.

    Some people need a little more time, especially where the symptoms overlap with anxiety, trauma, perfectionism or another mental health concern.

    If that happens, your psychologist will explain what else needs to be explored.

  • A formal diagnosis may be provided where it is clinically appropriate and supported by the assessment.

    If you need a written report, we can also talk with you about what is required and whether there is an additional fee.

    Some people want formal documentation. Others mainly want to understand whether OCD is behind what they have been experiencing and what kind of support could help.

  • Your OCD assessment will be conducted by a registered psychologist.

    They will guide you through the process, ask questions about the thoughts and behaviours you have been experiencing, and help you understand how the different pieces fit together.

    If another health professional needs to become involved, they will explain why.

  • Choose an available appointment through the online booking system, via the button below.

    You will receive an intake form before your first session so we have some background information before we meet.

    You do not need to arrive knowing whether OCD is the answer. That is part of what the assessment is designed to help work out.

BOOK YOUR OCD ASSESSMENT