If obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours are significantly affecting your daily life, and standard therapy has not provided enough relief, a specialist OCD clinic may be the right next step. At Nundah Private Hospital, we provide evidence-based OCD treatment in Brisbane within a dedicated private mental health hospital. Our experienced psychiatrist-led multidisciplinary team delivers comprehensive assessment and personalised treatment using the most effective approaches for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for OCD.
In short: OCD treatment at Nundah Private Hospital is guided by a consultant psychiatrist and delivered by clinicians with expertise in treating OCD. Our program is centred on ERP - the gold-standard psychological treatment for OCD - supported by CBT tailored specifically for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Treatment is available to adults following a comprehensive psychiatric assessment and referral from a GP, psychiatrist, or other treating medical practitioner. Our goal is to help patients reduce the impact of OCD symptoms, regain independence, and achieve lasting improvements in daily functioning and quality of life.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterised by two key features:
Common OCD symptoms include:
The OCD Program at Nundah Private Hospital is primarily for adults experiencing moderate to severe OCD, including those whose symptoms have not responded sufficiently to standard outpatient therapy or general CBT. Whether the program is right for you is determined following a comprehensive psychiatric assessment.
The OCD program at Nundah Private may be worth discussing if you:
OCD varies widely in how it presents and how severe it becomes. Your treating psychiatrist will assess your individual circumstances and recommend the most appropriate combination of care, which may involve a structured program, inpatient admission, outpatient OCD therapy, or a combination across the continuum of services.
Clinical research consistently recommends Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) as the gold standard psychological treatment for OCD.
ERP is usually delivered alongside Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) that has been specifically adapted for OCD.
Unlike general counselling, ERP directly targets the obsessive-compulsive cycle that keeps OCD going.
ERP is widely recognised as the gold standard psychological treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). ERP works by gradually exposing a person to the thoughts, situations, or objects that trigger obsessive fears while helping them resist the urge to perform compulsive behaviours. As treatment progresses, anxiety naturally decreases, obsessive fears become less distressing, and the cycle of OCD is weakened.
Rather than avoiding anxiety or trying to eliminate intrusive thoughts, ERP teaches the brain that anxiety naturally decreases without rituals or reassurance.
Over time, this process helps:
ERP is carefully planned and tailored to each individual. Treatment progresses gradually, ensuring clients develop confidence at a pace that feels achievable.
While ERP is the behavioural component of treatment, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and challenge the unhelpful beliefs and thinking patterns that maintain obsessive-compulsive symptoms, including overestimating danger, inflated responsibility, perfectionism, and believing that having an intrusive thought is the same as acting on it. By developing healthier ways of responding to intrusive thoughts, CBT reduces anxiety and helps break the cycle of obsessions and compulsions.
CBT for OCD focuses on:
Together, CBT and ERP provide the most effective psychological treatment available for OCD.
| Treatment Approach | How It Works | Treatment Setting | Often Considered When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) | Gradually exposes people to OCD triggers while helping them resist compulsive behaviours, reducing anxiety and breaking the OCD cycle over time. | Outpatient clinic, day program, or inpatient service. | First-line treatment for OCD and highly effective for most people with mild, moderate, or severe symptoms. |
| Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for OCD | Identifies and challenges the unhelpful thoughts and beliefs that maintain obsessions and compulsions, helping people respond differently to intrusive thoughts. | Outpatient clinic, day program, or inpatient service. | Used alongside ERP and recommended across all levels of OCD severity. |
| Intensive OCD Day Program | Provides structured ERP and CBT through individual and group therapy in a specialist clinical setting with regular professional support. | Hospital or specialist day program. | Moderate to severe OCD requiring more intensive support than weekly outpatient treatment. |
| Inpatient OCD Treatment | Delivers 24-hour multidisciplinary care, including specialist OCD assessment, ERP, CBT, medication management, and nursing support. | Specialist psychiatric hospital. | Severe or treatment-resistant OCD, significant functional impairment, high levels of distress, or when outpatient treatment has not been effective. |
| Medication (SSRIs) | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) reduce OCD symptom severity and can improve a person's ability to engage in psychological treatment. | Prescribed and monitored by a GP or psychiatrist. | Often recommended alongside ERP and CBT, particularly for moderate to severe OCD or when symptoms significantly impact daily functioning. |
Nundah Private Hospital is a dedicated 58-bed private mental health hospital located in Brisbane's inner north, just 15 minutes from the CBD. The hospital is easily accessible via the Gateway Arterial Road and the Clem Jones Tunnel, and is a short walk from train and bus connections, making it a practical choice for patients across SouthEast Queensland.
Our OCD specialist team includes experienced psychiatrists, psychologists trained in ERP and CBT for OCD, occupational therapists, social workers, and mental health nurses. Together, we provide evidence-based, compassionate mental health support for OCD within a purpose-built therapeutic environment. Our allied health team is also available for private referrals through our Connected Care Clinic.
The key difference at MH Nundah Private is integration. OCD treatment is available across a full continuum of services, including inpatient admission, day intensives, structured day therapy programs, an on-site outpatient clinic, and a Hospital in the Home (HITH) program.
Care is guided by a consistent psychiatrist-led treatment plan, with the flexibility to step support up or down as your ne.eds change, ensuring continuity rather than fragmented, episodic care.
Access to the OCD clinic at Nundah Private begins with a referral to a psychiatrist. Our admissions and assessment team will then contact you to discuss your options, confirm your funding (private health insurance, DVA, WorkCover or self-funding) and outline any out-of-pocket costs before treatment begins. The simplest way to get started is to contact our team
The information explains that ERP is designed to be challenging, especially at the beginning. During exposures, you may experience temporary increases in anxiety because the therapy involves facing feared thoughts or situations without performing compulsions. These exercises are:
For GPs and specialists: referrals can be sent directly to our admissions team. See our referral process page for full details.
If you or someone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, or call 000 in an emergency.
OCD can be an exhausting and isolating condition, particularly when previous attempts at treatment have not brought the relief you were hoping for. But not having responded to general therapy does not mean that effective treatment is out of reach; it may simply mean that structured ERP therapy within a specialist OCD clinic setting is what has been missing.
At Nundah Private Hospital, OCD treatment in Brisbane is delivered within a private mental health hospital, guided by experienced psychiatrists and a specialist multidisciplinary team, using the most evidence-based approaches available. Whether you are seeking assessment for the first time or looking for a more intensive level of support, we are here to help.
To find out whether the OCD program at Nundah Private is night for you or someone you care about, contact our team to discuss an assessment or referral. You can also explore our care pathways and treatment options to learn more about the full range of services available.
