The Coach's Toolkit

Essential cheat sheets, scripts, and guides for navigating challenges.

Communication Tips for OCD Support

How to respond to rituals and reassurance-seeking without making OCD stronger.

The Golden Rule

Do Not Provide Reassurance. It Feeds the OCD.

OCD demands certainty. Every time you provide reassurance, you strengthen the cycle. Your job is to validate the distress while refusing to feed the compulsion.

Don't Say

"I'm sure it's fine."
"You definitely locked the door."
"That would never happen."
"Just stop thinking about it."
"Let me check for you."

Do Say

"I know OCD is telling you something scary. I'm not going to answer OCD."
"I can see this is really hard. What does your therapist say to do here?"
"I love you, and I'm not going to do the ritual with you."
"You're stronger than OCD thinks you are."
"I'm here. We can sit with the discomfort together."

The "Label, Limit, Love" Framework

LABEL

Name it as OCD, not as a real threat.

"That sounds like OCD talking, not reality."

LIMIT

Refuse to participate in the compulsion.

"I'm not going to check the stove for you. I know that's hard."

LOVE

Validate the person, not the OCD.

"I love you. I hate that OCD makes you suffer. I'm here."