Counseling for OCPD in Rockville Centre

If you hold yourself to impossible standards, obsess over doing things “the right way,” and find it difficult to relax, delegate, or stop working, you might be dealing with OCPD. Outwardly, things may look “together,” but internally, it can feel rigid, exhausting, and like you’re never good enough.

What is OCPD?

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is not the same as OCD. Instead of intrusive thoughts and compulsions, OCPD involves a deeply ingrained pattern of perfectionism, control, and orderliness that can impact your relationships, career, and overall well-being. People with OCPD often struggle with flexibility, feel uncomfortable when things aren’t done to their standards, and may value productivity above connection.

This isn’t about being “type A” or just detail-oriented. It’s a pattern that can create real distress for you and those around you.

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Causes and Triggers

OCPD tends to develop over time and is often rooted in early environments where approval was earned through performance or “doing things right.” There may be a family history of rigid thinking or high expectations which might’ve been modeled as love or protection in childhood. And sometimes it’s linked to chronic anxiety masked as perfectionism.

Triggers include situations where you feel out of control, where mistakes are visible or possible, or when others don’t meet your standards. Even small disruptions to routines can feel overwhelmingly uncomfortable, leading to frustration, overcompensation or emotional shutdown.

How Therapy Can Help

Woman at peace reading a book; OCDP Therapy in Rockville Centre

Therapy helps by softening the inner critic and building flexibility. You’ll learn to recognize the beliefs driving your perfectionism, loosen rigid rules, and reconnect with what actually matters to you, not just what feels “correct.” You’ll begin to accept that your worth isn’t tied to your productivity and that imperfection doesn’t equal failure.

Over time, therapy can help you:

Let go of all-or-nothing thinking
Reduce the anxiety behind your standards
Build more fulfilling relationships
Reclaim your time, energy, and sense of peace

At Counseling with Compassion we’ll use a combination of CBT and mindfulness based therapy to help you challenge rigid thinking patterns and learn to tolerate uncertainty and imperfection.