EVIDENCE-BASED WRITING

Practical articles on anxiety, OCD and CBT

Everything I write here is grounded in the same evidence-based approach I use with clients, no wellness fluff, no vague reassurance. Just clear, honest information that might actually help.

✓ BABCP Accredited (#1034065)

✓ PGDip — King's College London

✓ 100% online — no commute

✓ Free 15-min consultation

Health Anxiety Symptoms: Why the Worry Never Stops

By Evelynne R. Scott-McFarlane | Jun 10, 2026

Health Anxiety Health Anxiety Symptoms: Why the Worry Never Stops Published: June 2026 QUICK ANSWER Health anxiety is a recognised clinical condition in which persistent, distressing worry about having or developing a serious illness significantly disrupts daily life, even when medical tests come back clear. It affects an estimated 1 to 5 percent of adults […]
Finding A CBT Therapist: 5 Things To Look For

By Evelynne R. Scott-McFarlane | May 28, 2026

CBT Finding A CBT Therapist: 5 Things To Look For Published: May 2026 QUICK ANSWER When choosing a CBT therapist in the UK, look for: BABCP accreditation (not just membership) Protocol-specific specialisation that matches your difficulty, in line with NICE guidelines Ongoing clinical supervision; A practical check of their credentials and approach before you book; […]
Does Online CBT Work for Anxiety Disorders? The Research Says Yes

By Evelynne R. Scott-McFarlane | May 8, 2026

CBT Does Online CBT Work for Anxiety Disorders? The Research Says Yes Published: May 2026 QUICK ANSWER Online CBT for anxiety disorders is effective and NICE-recommended. Multiple NICE guidelines, including CG31 for OCD and CG113 for panic disorder, recommend CBT as first-line psychological treatment, with evidence supporting online delivery across conditions. A major 2018 meta-analysis […]
The OCD Nobody Can See: What Is Pure O?

By Evelynne R. Scott-McFarlane | May 3, 2026

The OCD Nobody Can See: What Is Pure O? QUICK ANSWER Pure O (Pure Obsessional OCD) is a form of OCD characterised by intrusive thoughts and mental compulsions rather than visible physical rituals. Common mental compulsions include rumination, thought suppression, mental review, and seeking internal reassurance. NICE clinical guideline CG31 recommends Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) […]
Panic Attacks vs Panic Disorder: Key Differences Explained

By Evelynne R. Scott-McFarlane | Apr 21, 2026

Panic Attacks vs Panic Disorder: What Is the Difference and When Is CBT Right for You? QUICK ANSWER A panic attack is a single, time-limited episode of intense fear with physical symptoms including racing heart, breathlessness, chest tightness, and dizziness, typically peaking within ten minutes. Panic disorder is a diagnosable condition defined by recurrent, unexpected […]
CBT and ERP for OCD: What Treatment Actually Involves

By Evelynne R. Scott-McFarlane | Apr 16, 2026

CBT and ERP for OCD: What Treatment Actually Involves QUICK ANSWER CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) for OCD is a structured, evidence-based psychological treatment that targets the thoughts, behaviours, and emotional responses that maintain OCD. Its core technique is ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), in which clients gradually face feared situations while choosing not to carry […]
Do I Have Health Anxiety or OCD? A Therapist Explains

By Evelynne R. Scott-McFarlane | Apr 12, 2026

Do You Have Health Anxiety or OCD? A Therapist Explains QUICK ANSWER Health anxiety is a persistent, excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness, which continues despite medical reassurance. OCD is a condition involving unwanted, distressing intrusive thoughts and compulsive rituals performed to neutralise them. When OCD’s intrusive thoughts centre on illness or […]
What Is Contamination OCD? Symptoms, Triggers and How CBT Helps

By Evelynne R. Scott-McFarlane | Apr 6, 2026

What is Contamination OCD? Symptoms, Triggers, and How CBT Helps QUICK ANSWER Contamination OCD is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder in which a person experiences persistent, unwanted thoughts about contamination, from germs, illness, dirt, or chemicals, and responds with compulsive behaviours designed to neutralise that fear. These behaviours provide only brief relief, and over time […]
Do I have OCD or Anxiety? Key Differences Explained

By Evelynne R. Scott-McFarlane | Apr 2, 2026

Do I Have OCD or Anxiety? Key Differences Explained QUICK ANSWER OCD and anxiety share a lot of surface features, but they work through different mechanisms and respond to different treatments. Anxiety tends to involve persistent worry about real-world situations. OCD centres on unwanted intrusive thoughts followed by compulsions, and it’s the compulsion-relief cycle, not […]
Types of OCD: The 7 Most Common Forms Explained

By Evelynne R. Scott-McFarlane | Mar 30, 2026

Types of OCD: The 7 Most Common Forms Explained QUICK ANSWER OCD takes many different forms. The type of intrusive thought at the centre varies between people, but the cycle is always the same: an unwanted thought triggers anxiety, a compulsion temporarily relieves it, and the doubt comes back stronger than before. Recognising the specific […]

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OCD

A woman sits pensively, embodying themes of isolation and introspection.

OCD

Are Intrusive Thoughts Normal? What the Research Shows

March, 2026

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Close-up of a hand on a door lock, representing the repetitive checking cycle in OCD

OCD

Checking OCD: Why You Can’t Stop and What Helps

March, 2026

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Red typewriter typing the word STOP, symbolising the urge to suppress intrusive thoughts — a pattern that backfires in OCD and anxiety

OCD

How to Stop Intrusive Thoughts, Without Fighting Them

March, 2026

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Worried woman holding her head indoors, expressing stress linked to OCD checking behaviours

OCD

Intrusive Thoughts Explained by a CBT Therapist

March, 2026

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Who writes this?

Evelynne R. Scott-McFarlane

BABCP ACCREDITED CBT THERAPIST

I'm a BABCP accredited CBT therapist specialising in anxiety - OCD, health anxiety, and panic disorder. I trained at King's College London and work online with clients across London and the UK.

I write these articles because good information is hard to find. Most mental health content online is either too vague to be useful or too clinical to be readable. I'm trying to do something different