How to Navigate and Recover from Contamination OCD

Do you or someone you love struggle with contamination OCD?

If you don’t know me, hi there! I’m Kristy Leone, LCPC, LCPAT, ATR-BC (she/they), and I am a licensed mental health counselor, art therapist, and artist. I am someone that has lived with OCD and received OCD treatment in the past. I am here to help overthinkers with OCD of all ages feel better and live more authentic lives. Read more about my background and training here!

If you’re here, chances are someone you care about is struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder, specifically contamination OCD. Maybe they’re washing their hands until they’re raw, avoiding certain places or people, or seem trapped in rituals that don’t make sense from the outside. And maybe you’ve found yourself asking, “Why can’t they just stop?” or “What can I actually do to help?”.

Contamination OCD is one of the subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and in my opinion, it’s often one of the most misunderstood subtypes. Contamination OCD is the sense that you are preoccupied with the sense of contamination. There may be a fear of physical, emotional, moral, or spiritual contact with substances that feel dangerous, infections, gross, or disgusting.

In this blog post, I’ll explore contamination OCD and how I help individuals of all ages recovery from contamination OCD using ACT, ERP, and art therapy at Labyrinth Art and Wellness.

The Neuroscience Behind Contamination OCD

There are two key brain regions often involved in contamination OCD: the amygdala and the insula. The amygdala is known for processing fear, particularly fear of danger or harm. When someone with OCD fears a specific consequence (like getting food poisoning or making someone else sick) the amygdala activates, triggering intense anxiety. This fear can drive compulsive behaviors like excessive washing or avoidance, as a way to reduce that anxiety and regain a sense of safety.

The insula, on the other hand, is involved in processing disgust (a different emotional system altogether). Disgust isn’t necessarily about danger; it’s more about a deep, visceral reaction to something that feels unclean, impure, or wrong on an emotional or sensory level. This reaction is part of the brain’s way of protecting us from harmful substances, like spoiled food or bodily waste. In OCD, the insula can become hypersensitive, storing and reinforcing disgust reactions in a way that makes them especially persistent and resistant to logic or reassurance.

Why I Blend Treatment Approaches of ERP, ACT, Mastery, and Art Therapy

ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is often the go-to treatment for OCD, and for good reason: it has a strong evidence base. But ERP is not a one size fits all, and it doesn’t work for everyone. For many people, especially those who are neurodivergent (autistic, ADHD, or those with sensory processing differences), ERP alone can feel invalidating, overwhelming, or even traumatizing if it’s applied rigidly.

That’s where blending ERP with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can be truly transformative. ERP helps people face the situations they fear or feel disgust toward, but ACT adds an important emotional flexibility piece. Instead of just trying to eliminate the discomfort, ACT teaches clients how to make room for uncomfortable thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It also shifts the focus from trying to get rid of the feeling to moving toward what matters—which is often a huge relief for individuals who feel trapped in compulsions because they value safety, cleanliness, or moral responsibility so deeply.

If you’ve attended a session with me, you’ve probably heard me say, "I hear the problem, and we’ve identified the feeling—now, how can we choose a choice that helps us live through your values?" This is what ACT invites us to explore: making decisions that align with our deepest values, even in the presence of discomfort. This approach empowers you to live a life that feels meaningful, regardless of the intrusive thoughts or compulsions.

Using Art Therapy to Escape the Traps of OCD

Art therapy can be an incredibly valuable tool in treating OCD, particularly because it allows individuals to express and process emotions that may be difficult to articulate. For those with contamination OCD, the process of creating art can provide a safe, nonverbal outlet for exploring intense feelings of fear, disgust, and shame. It encourages mindfulness, grounding clients in the present moment, while offering a sense of accomplishment and self-compassion. Art therapy also helps individuals confront their inner experiences in a creative, non-judgmental way, which can complement traditional therapies like ERP and ACT, offering a more holistic approach to healing.

Treatment Works Best When You’re Ready

I believe that small, manageable steps are essential when working with OCD, especially contamination OCD. My approach to therapy here at Labyrinth Art and Wellness is to provide neuroaffirming care, which means I prioritize creating a space where clients feel comfortable as they move toward their goals. I never want a client to feel pushed to try something new before they're ready.

Rather than rushing anyone into readiness, I focus on collaborating at a pace that aligns with each individual’s processing of symptoms and behavior shifts. Readiness isn’t about forcing progress; it’s about supporting clients at a speed that feels right for them so they can make meaningful progress without feeling overwhelmed.

Rich Gallagher, LMFT, is an expert in the treatment of OCD. Drawing from his own lived experience, he provides approachable treatment modalities, including Mastery Practice. This approach combines ERP, ACT, and a focus on helping clients take gradual steps toward their treatment goals in a way that feels right for them. Thank you Rich for all your contributions to the OCD field!

Traditional ERP teaches us to face the fear of OCD and act in spite of it, but ACT goes a step further by teaching us to engage in behaviors we truly value, even in the presence of distress. With Rich's Mastery Practice, we learn that the next step is to practice doing things we feel ready for on our own terms, at our own pace.

By embracing readiness, focusing on value-driven actions, and practicing small, manageable steps, you can start building the life you want, even in the presence of OCD.

Remember, you don’t have to go through this process alone.

Whether you’re just starting or are looking for new tools to add to your toolbox, I’m here to help guide you every step of the way. If you're ready to take the next step in your recovery for OCD, reach out today, and together we can create a plan that honors your pace and supports your journey to a life of greater peace and freedom!

Want more resources?

Check out more blog posts here or head on over to my free resources page! I love sharing free resources that I find and creating my own worksheets for clients and supervision students to use in their journey of wellness!

If you’re ready to embark on this transformative journey toward inner healing, I invite you to take the next step and reach out through my website here.

Let’s walk this path together toward a more vibrant and fulfilling life—for you, for your child, and for your inner child!

Ready to get started?

Kristy Leone, LCPC, LCPAT, ATR-BC is a licensed art therapist and mental health counselor that specializes in therapy for children and therapy for inner child healing in Baltimore County, Maryland at Labyrinth Art and Wellness. Kristy recognizes that this blog post is meant to spark ideas and creativity, and is not a substitute for therapy itself. If you have questions, comments, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach on out.