Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex mental health condition that can have a devastating impact. The disorder’s core symptoms—unwanted thoughts or urges (a.k.a. obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts, done in an attempt to find relief (compulsions) are time-consuming, distressing, and seriously interfere with a person’s life. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked OCD in the top ten of the most disabling illnesses of any kind.
The promising news is that OCD is highly treatable; it’s just that people often struggle to access high-quality care. That’s why NOCD exists: to deliver world-class OCD therapy, closing the treatment gap and ensuring that the OCD community has effective, convenient, and affordable care.
Considering NOCD Therapy, or thinking about recommending it to a loved one? Read on to learn the essential facts you need to know.
1. NOCD provides (actually) specialized therapy for OCD.
There are many “one-stop-shop” therapy options for mental health, but they fall short for treating complex mental health conditions like OCD. The simple reason for this is that general talk therapy—which is the type of therapy offered by most virtual providers—is often harmful for people with OCD.
That’s why NOCD is focused on specifically treating OCD, using a specialized treatment known as exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy. You never have to worry about whether your therapist really “gets” your condition or has the precise training to be able to help you.
ERP teaches people how to respond to their obsessive thoughts without resorting to compulsions—a powerful approach that helps break the OCD cycle. The best part is that ERP has decades of clinical research proving its effectiveness. In fact, research reveals that 80% of people with OCD who do this treatment see a significant reduction in their symptoms.
2. NOCD makes OCD therapy accessible, no matter where you live.
In the past, finding a therapist specialized in OCD and ERP was notoriously difficult—and sometimes impossible in certain regions, especially rural areas. Regional mental health licensing laws and scarcity of ERP-trained providers contributed to the geographic access problem. But NOCD therapy is 100% virtual, making specialized ERP therapy available to people in all 50 states in the U.S. and even outside the U.S.
Online therapy bridges the access gap to ERP treatment by removing the location barrier. “People in rural areas can now access treatment because you just need a Wi-Fi connection versus needing to drive to a major city,” says Patrick McGrath, PhD, NOCD’s Chief Clinical Officer.
3. NOCD’s virtual therapy has many benefits over in-person therapy.
While in-person ERP can be helpful, it can also often be time-consuming and inconvenient. Besides the commute, there may be a need to take off from work or other responsibilities, or endure the time spent in a provider’s waiting room. NOCD’s virtual therapy eliminates these extra hurdles, while not compromising on the quality of care.
What’s more, the benefits of virtual ERP therapy have been well-studied, with research showing it can be just as effective, or even more so, than in-person therapy. Many people see an improvement in their symptoms within just 11 hours of virtual ERP therapy.
The other important advantage of virtual ERP therapy is that therapists can do exposure exercises with people in the exact places that trigger their symptoms, so they can confront their fears in the appropriate environment and begin to overcome them. Say, for instance, that someone with hoarding OCD has an obsession with buying items in multiples of six—otherwise, their OCD tells them that something bad will happen. A virtual ERP therapist can be “present” (via the NOCD member’s phone), supporting them as they buy one apple instead of six at the grocery store.
4. NOCD makes ERP therapy affordable.
The shortage of highly trained OCD therapists isn’t the only factor that has historically made ERP difficult to access for many people—high costs have been another barrier, with rates as high as $500 per session in some areas. And just five years ago, it was virtually impossible to find specialized care for OCD that was covered by insurance. Now, over 2 out of 3 Americans with commercial insurance can use their benefits to receive evidence-based, specialized OCD treatment with NOCD Therapy.
NOCD provides affordable options for OCD treatment and accepts many major insurance plans, including United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, many Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, and more.
By partnering with major insurance providers, we’re able to reach more people who need help. “ERP therapists tend to be extremely expensive if you’re not using insurance, so the fact that we continue to accept more and more insurance plans opens the door for millions of people to get the treatment they need,” Dr. McGrath explains.
5. NOCD treats all types of OCD—even lesser-known OCD themes.
NOCD therapy is a service for all OCD themes. That’s important, because while OCD is often thought of as a disorder focused on cleanliness or organization, OCD actually encompasses a wide variety of themes—sometimes ones that aren’t talked about enough or can feel taboo to discuss.
There isn’t a single OCD subtype that NOCD therapists haven’t treated before. Whether it’s harm OCD, pedophilia OCD, relationship OCD, sexual OCD, or something else, NOCD Members receive the compassion and understanding that their disorder deserves.
Most importantly, NOCD Members can trust that their therapist has gained real expertise in their specific subtype. “The OCD community is extremely diverse, and we make sure our therapists can tailor treatment to the unique needs of all their Members,” notes McGrath. As part of NOCD’s four-month intensive training program, every NOCD therapist becomes equipped to work with Members who experience any and all OCD subtypes. They’re also trained to treat OCD across all ages—even as young as age 5.
6. NOCD provides powerful support in between therapy sessions.
Managing a chronic mental health condition like OCD can feel especially daunting in between therapy sessions. Outside of therapy is when people often need the most support, because OCD episodes can be triggered at any time. NOCD solves for this by filling in the gap that traditionally existed between sessions.
Through the NOCD app, NOCD Therapy Members can message their therapist directly—and get a response within 24 hours. Extra support is available from Member Advocates, peers who deeply understand OCD and are trained to support NOCD Therapy Members as they navigate their treatment journey.
Additionally, dozens of live support groups are available every day of the week. Focused on topics ranging from relationship OCD to relapse prevention, these groups provide a safe space for people in the OCD community (and their loved ones) to receive guidance and support from others who truly understand what they’re going through.
Find the right OCD therapist for you
All our therapists are licensed and trained in exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the gold standard treatment for OCD.
How to get OCD treatment
As mentioned, through NOCD, anyone can access convenient, effective, and affordable treatment for OCD virtually, both inside and outside the U.S. Therapy is 100% online, and all NOCD therapists are licensed and specialty-trained to treat OCD using ERP therapy through live face-to-face video sessions. To get started, you have the option to browse the NOCD therapist directory and choose your own provider, or be matched to a therapist during an initial (free) 15-minute call.
If you’re looking for other resources, the IOCDF has a directory of OCD therapists, as does Psychology Today. Just be aware that many licensed therapists claim false expertise in OCD—so do your research by asking these five questions before moving forward with any therapist. The extra steps you take to make sure you’re in the right therapy hands can go a long way to ensuring your treatment journey is successful.
Key takeaways:
- NOCD Therapy accepts insurance, making exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy accessible to over 2 in 3 Americans with commercial insurance plans.
- Powerful sources of support between sessions are accessible to every NOCD Therapy Member. These include direct messaging with therapists and Member Advocates, live support groups, and direct messaging with a therapist via the app—all at no extra cost.
- Every NOCD Therapist receives in-depth training in treating OCD with ERP therapy. They’re specialists in treating people of all ages and OCD subtypes.