Choosing A Therapist
Your relationship with your therapist is extremely important. Finding a professional who is right for you is critical to your success in overcoming OCD. During therapy sessions, you’ll need to discuss your fears and behaviors with this person, which may be very uncomfortable. You must also be willing to do the ERP exercises he or she prescribes. Therefore, it’s extremely important to question a prospective therapist to decide if he or she knowledgeable about CBT and seems to be a good fit for you.
Here are some questions to ask before committing to treatment:
- Are you trained to use cognitive behavior therapy to treat OCD?
- Where did you obtain your training?
- Are you licensed to practice in this state?
- How many clients with OCD have you successfully treated?
- Are you ever willing to leave the office for treatment sessions?
- Will you conduct therapy sessions by telephone or online if necessary?
- What techniques do you use to treat this specific form of OCD? (You want them to mention CBT involving Exposure and Response Prevention, or ERP).
Avoid a treatment provider who:
- Believes that OCD is caused by childhood trauma, toilet training, self-esteem issues or family dynamics;
- Claims that the main technique for managing OCD is relaxation or talk therapy or play therapy for children;
- Blames parents or one’s upbringing for OCD;
- Seems guarded or angry at questions about treatment techniques; or
- Claims that medication alone is the most appropriate treatment for OCD
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