Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects millions of people worldwide. But despite its prevalence, it’s still common for OCD to be misunderstood and misdiagnosed, leaving those suffering from the condition feeling frustrated, discouraged, and without the care they need.
To avoid this outcome, it’s crucial to find a therapist who specializes in OCD and understands its intricacies. Without this specialization, a therapist may inadvertently provide treatment that could reinforce OCD symptoms rather than help you learn to manage them. A therapist with expertise in OCD, on the other hand, will be able to accurately diagnose you, identify even the most subtle manifestations of OCD’s symptoms, and provide you with evidence-based treatment so you can start taking your life back.
If you are concerned that your current therapist may not understand OCD, there are several steps that you can take. And if you haven’t yet found an OCD treatment provider, these steps can be useful suggestions for where to start your search.
1. Share how you’re feeling
Talk with your provider about your concerns. Be open about your experiences with OCD, specify your symptoms, and share the impact they’ve had in your life. Explain to your therapist the importance of them understanding OCD-specific challenges and nuances, and how this can impact your treatment. Help them get familiar with your unique experience and your mental health journey thus far.
2. Ask for what you need
You’ll also want to let your therapist know what you’re looking for from treatment. What are your expectations for therapy? What forms of support do you like, or do you need? How do you prefer to communicate with a therapist? How do you want them to communicate with you? Now is not the time to be shy! Remember, you have a right to high-quality and effective care.
3. Make sure they have the right experience
You also have a right to ask about the types of treatment you will be provided. If you’re seeking care for OCD, your therapist should be trained in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, a specialized form of therapy that was designed specifically to treat OCD and is considered the gold-standard treatment. They may utilize other therapies in conjunction that are complementary to ERP, but they should have a solid knowledge of ERP. It’s also worth finding out if they have a history of treating others with OCD. If so, what is their success rate?
4. Explore other options
If it seems like your current therapist may not be an ideal match, it’s important to keep looking until you find the right fit: a therapist who not only has the necessary experience to effectively treat OCD, but who also makes you feel comfortable enough to discuss the symptoms you experience.
Being able to share your intrusive thoughts and compulsions with a therapist will have valuable implications for the course of your treatment, especially since it’s common for OCD to focus on taboo or disturbing topics. It’s important that you feel you can be 100% honest with this professional. They should deeply understand OCD so that they can provide a non-judgmental environment in your therapy sessions.
If you feel that your current therapist has helped you significantly manage other mental health issues or you’ve already established a solid relationship, you may want to continue seeing that therapist to work on non-OCD-related things while also seeing another therapist who specializes in OCD.
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5. Consider sharing information about OCD
If you like your current therapist but feel that they do not fully understand OCD, you may also want to suggest that they learn more about it. There are many valuable online resources, articles, blogs, and websites that can help therapists educate themselves on OCD, such as NOCD’s library of clinically reviewed articles or the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) website. NOCD also provides in-depth, specialized training in OCD and ERP therapy that your therapist could look into.
Taking in accurate information about OCD from reputable resources can help therapists develop a better understanding of OCD’s nuances and learn more effective ways of treating people. This may even make it easier for others with OCD to get the care they need.
If your therapist is not open to receiving resources or learning more about the impact OCD can have, this may give you an extra nudge to find a new provider who can better support you in learning to manage OCD.
6. Find support
People with OCD often struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness, so connecting with others who share similar experiences can have a positive impact on their treatment experience. The knowledge that someone else has endured and overcome the same suffering can provide much-needed hope.
And with social media and online forums, finding others in the OCD community is easier than ever before. There are now social media channels, influencers, and content creators dedicated to raising awareness of OCD. These accounts can provide so much information and inspiration to those still in the midst of their struggles with this disorder, as can the wealth of podcasts available about OCD.
However, the most important aspect of finding support remains working with the most effective treatment provider and at NOCD, we’re making evidence-based OCD treatment with highly trained specialists more accessible than ever before.
All of our therapists specialize in OCD and receive extensive training in ERP therapy from world-renowned OCD experts and researchers. They’ll use their expertise to design a treatment plan for the OCD themes you’re experiencing and provide non-judgmental support every step of the way. To prevent cost from being a barrier to accessing treatment, we offer affordable options and partner with many major insurance plans.
To learn more about how NOCD Therapy can help you start regaining your life from OCD, schedule a free 15-minute call with our team.