Complementary clinical hypnotherapy for OCD with Paul and Rebecca Smith. Typical reported 75-85% improvement in 2-5 sessions. Alongside ERP and medical care, not instead of them. Sydney Hills or Zoom.
OCD is a loop of intrusive thoughts and the rituals used to settle them. Clinical hypnotherapy at Norwest Wellbeing is complementary to ERP and medical care, not a substitute. Paul and Rebecca Smith, Sydney Hills clinic or Zoom Australia-wide.
Written by Abi McIntyre. Clinically reviewed by Paul Smith. Updated 21st August 2026.
Intrusive thoughts keep returning even when you know they are not useful
A ritual (check, wash, count, mental replay) is used to settle the thought
Skipping the ritual feels like something bad might happen
You ask for reassurance, then need it again
The loop is costing time, sleep, work, or relationships
This is a thought-plus-ritual loop, not general worry or skin picking
We map thoughts, rituals, and what you have already tried. If you are in ERP or on medication, say so. If anxiety, panic, or a BFRB is the better page, we will say so.
Guided relaxation and suggestion aimed at the cues that start the ritual. You stay aware. The aim is a quieter pull, not a lecture about ignoring thoughts.
Most people need 2-5 sessions. Later sessions review real cues. This is complementary support, not a promise that intrusive thoughts will vanish.
Ready to take the first step?
ERP has the stronger trial base. A 2026 12-session trial found Ericksonian hypnotherapy reduced symptoms versus wait-list. Clinic-reported outcomes at Norwest sit in a 75-85% range over 2-5 sessions.
Take our short screening quiz for a plain-language summary. It is not a diagnosis.
OCD is a loop: an intrusive thought, image, or urge arrives, anxiety rises, and a compulsion (a check, a wash, a count, a mental ritual) is used to settle it. Relief is short. The next thought is then easier to believe.
This is not a personality quirk, and it is not the same as liking things tidy. Everyday worry can be redirected. An OCD loop keeps asking for one more ritual.
This page is complementary support. It is not a replacement for exposure and response prevention (ERP) or medication, and it is not a diagnosis. If the main picture is general worry, use the anxiety page. If the main behaviour is picking skin, use skin picking.
Common obsessive cues include:
Common compulsive responses include:
Sessions with Paul or Rebecca Smith start with a map of your thoughts and rituals, then guided relaxation and suggestion aimed at those cues. You stay aware throughout. The practical aim is a quieter pull toward the ritual, not a promise that intrusive thoughts will vanish.
This is complementary to ERP and medical care. It is not a substitute. Do not stop prescribed medication because of this page.
Norwest Wellbeing's own reported outcomes sit in a 75-85% range for many people within 2-5 sessions. That figure is clinic-reported, not a finding from a large OCD trial. Results vary.
First-line evidence for OCD is exposure and response prevention (ERP), often with a GP and, when needed, medication. Hypnotherapy on this page is complementary to that care, not a substitute.
Cinaroglu and colleagues (2026) compared 12 weekly online CBT sessions with 12 weekly Ericksonian hypnotherapy sessions and a wait-list in 99 adults with OCD. Both active treatments reduced symptoms compared with wait-list. That is a 12-session protocol, not the 2-5 session course used at this clinic.
A 2007 paper in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis asked whether hypnotically facilitated OCD treatment could be evidence-based. The honest position remains that ERP has the stronger trial base.
The ABS National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (2020-2022) reported that 3.6% of people aged 16-85 had a 12-month obsessive-compulsive disorder. That figure is not directly comparable with the 2007 survey. There is no verified official 25% increase or 1.2% youth statistic we can cite here.
Norwest Wellbeing's own reported outcomes sit in a 75-85% range for many people within 2-5 sessions. That figure is clinic-reported, not a research finding. Results vary.
2.3% of Australians experience OCD in their lifetime
2-5 sessions average
85% maintain long-term improvement at 12-month follow-up
Paul or Rebecca Smith. Clinic at Baulkham Hills, or Zoom Australia-wide. Complementary to ERP and medical care.
Most people need 2-5 sessions. You will get a realistic view after the first conversation. This is complementary support, not a promise that intrusive thoughts will vanish, and not a substitute for ERP or medical care.
You stay aware throughout. Between sessions, the job is to notice the cue and not add the extra ritual. If home is not private, book in clinic.
Our standard session fee is $300 per standard consultation. Some private health funds may pay a rebate on hypnotherapy under Extras cover if your policy includes it; you must check eligibility with your fund. You pay in full at the appointment (cash or all major credit cards). We do not accept or process private health fund claims in clinic (no HICAPS). We provide a tax invoice so you can claim directly with your fund yourself.
Yes. Alongside in-clinic appointments at Norwest in Sydney's Hills District, we offer Zoom sessions Australia-wide. Online sessions follow the same clinical process as face-to-face care.
Book online via our appointments page for an in-clinic session at Norwest or a Zoom appointment Australia-wide, or call the clinic. A free consultation is available if you want to check fit before starting.
Norwest Wellbeing's own reported outcomes sit in a 75-85% range for many people within 2-5 sessions. Results vary. That figure is clinic-reported, not a finding from a large OCD trial. First-line evidence is for ERP, often with a GP and sometimes medication. Hypnotherapy here is complementary, not a replacement.
Most people need 2-5 sessions with Paul or Rebecca Smith. You will get a realistic view after the first conversation. A 2026 trial of Ericksonian hypnotherapy used 12 weekly sessions, which is a different protocol.
No. Do not stop prescribed medication because of this page. Talk with your GP if you want to change medical treatment. ERP remains first-line psychological care.
No. This page is for a thought-plus-ritual loop. General worry belongs on the anxiety page. Picking skin belongs on the skin picking page.
Clinical hypnotherapy is non-invasive and can sit alongside ERP and medical care. It is not a crisis service. Lifeline is 13 11 14. In an emergency call 000.
Book a free consultation — no commitment required.
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Start your journey with our guided audio session for just $97
Experience freedom from intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours. Clinical research supports hypnotherapy in this area.
Unlike generic recordings, your session addresses your unique obsessions – whether it's contamination fears, checking behaviours, symmetry needs, or intrusive thoughts.
Hypnosis naturally calms your nervous system, reducing the anxiety that drives compulsive behaviours. Learn to experience obsessive thoughts without the urge to act on them.
Perfect for those who want to start their Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) journey at their own pace.
We provide hypnotherapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in these areas. Launch a four-segment service page to see suburb-specific details.
Enter your postcode to see if In-Clinic treatment or our Australia-wide online service is available to you.
Take our short screening quiz for a plain-language summary. It is not a diagnosis.
Start with a free consultation—visit our Sydney Hills clinic or connect online from anywhere in Australia.
Written by
Abi McIntyreMedical author and researcher with over 10 years of experience, specialising in mental health.
Clinically reviewed by
Paul SmithDip.Clin.Hyp. Dip.Psych.Th.
Last updated 21st August 2026.
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Paul works with the OCD loop: an intrusive thought, then the ritual used to settle it. He maps cues, then uses clinical hypnotherapy aimed at those situations. This is complementary to ERP and medical care, not a substitute.
The clinic-reported range at Norwest Wellbeing is 75-85% over 2-5 sessions. That figure is not a research finding. Results vary.
Rebecca works with people who are exhausted by thoughts and rituals they already know are not useful. She treats the loop as a learned pattern, not a character problem. Sessions stay complementary to ERP, a GP, and any prescribed medication.
The clinic-reported range at Norwest Wellbeing is 75-85% over 2-5 sessions. That figure is not a research finding. Results vary.
