OCD Therapist – Choosing the Right OCD Therapist Made Easy

One
of the most disabling mental disorders, OCD affects a large population
worldwide. As per the data received from authentic sources, 2 to 3 percent of
the US population suffers from this disorder. Coping with OCD is an arduous
task for sufferers, their families and everyone around. Intrusive thoughts,
compulsion to do certain things and an urge to follow rituals take a toll on
your productive life. It is obvious they look for OCD therapy. The situation
demands expert OCD therapists. Here the demand is often more than the supply.
To simplify your search, we give practical tips on how to choose the right OCD
therapist.

Know
Their License

Your
OCD therapists should be licensed. Different states have different kinds of
licenses. Make sure they have a valid license. When you meet a psychotherapist,
you shouldn’t hesitate to ask some basic questions. You should ask whether they
have a valid license. Ask him to show his license. If he hesitates, consider
visiting a different OCD therapist.

Know
About Their Training

You
should ask them about their field of study and training, the institutions they
have attended, and if they have a valid license to practice it. Always give
preference to someone who has attended a reputed institution. There are
institutions that offer specialized training in the management of OCD. You
should prefer a therapist with a specialized course in OCD.

Kind
of Homework

Handling
OCD is difficult and sufferers must cooperate with a therapist. Most therapists
give homework between sessions to keep sufferers engaged and fight OCD on their
own. You should check with your therapist about the kind of lessons he gives.
Do they give imaginal tasks or real tasks? Ask your therapist if he gives
homework. If yes, then of what kind. These tasks play an important part in
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. If your therapist doesn’t have
these kinds of resources, then you should prefer looking for a different
therapist.

Don’t
hire him if his credentials are doubtful.

Ask
About Their Experience

Just
having a license is not enough. You should also have relevant experience. What
they say practice makes a man perfect still holds good here.  As a clinician practice, they come across
different kinds of cases that make them rich in experience. Also, try to know
if his experience is relevant to your requirements.

Ask
him how much experience they have in general. Also, ask him about his
experience in treating OCD. You should also ask him about the success stories
of their patients.

Know
their Method

While
hiring an OCD you should know how will he treat you. There is more than one
method to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some OCD therapists treat it
through medication, some through psychotherapy, or some through a combination
of both.

Apart
from that, there are other treatments like Deep brain Stimulation (DBS),
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and residential programs. Some people
also try Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is a part of Cognitive
Behavior Therapy (CBT).

It
is up to the OCD therapist to decide which program best suits you.

Also Read
 

10 Self-Help Books on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Does
He Practice ERP?

Cognitive
behavior therapy is one of the most successful treatment methods for OCD, with
ERP at its core. But not everyone can do ERP. 
If done wrong, ERP or Exposure and Response Prevention can backfire. So,
you have every right to know if your prospective OCD therapist has mastery over
ERP. If he doesn’t have enough experience in ERP then you should consider
looking for another therapist.

Also Read

Manage
OCD Yourself Through These Top Books on ERP for OCD

Policy
on Outgoing ERP

Exposure
and Response Prevention therapy is an elaborate form of treatment for OCD. You
may have to go outside, touch things, and resists the urge to follow rituals.
For this, your therapists should be outgoing in nature. If he has a problem
going outside, he won’t be do ERP better. It is time to look for another
therapist.

Opinion
About Medication

A
good psychotherapist should also be open to using medication in conjunction
with cognitive behavior therapy. Your OCD therapist shouldn’t be against it. If
he rejects any such idea, you should ask him to convince you about the same. If
he resists it, you should start looking for another OCD therapist.

Your
Rapport With Him 

OCD
therapy is a long process and you have to visit your therapist several times to
get good results. Here a good rapport with him is necessary. Ask him what would
be the mode of communication. Would he himself call you, or communicate through
employees or any other mode.

Seek
a Demo Session

Seeking
a demo session could be one of the best ways to hire an OCD therapist. By
taking a demo session you will be able to know their skills, see the benefit of
therapy and check your rapport with him. 
This practice will help you select the right therapist.

Also
Read


10 OCD Self Help Books That Help You Control OCD Like a Pro

Seek
References

While
looking for an OCD therapist, you should seek references. Has anyone from your
circle got treatment for OCD? If yes, he might have come across a slew of
therapists. He can give you the right kind of reference.

Another
way to get the right reference is to ask your family doctor and he might be
knowing someone who treats them well.

Consult
a Forum

There
are several forums on the internet where you can make the discussion about
local clinicians. Ask in the local forum about the OCD therapists and people
will answer it as per their experience. For example, you can post a question
like the best OCD therapists in New York.

Search
for Local Listings

Most
businesses list them in local listings and clinicians are not behind.  They also register themselves in the local
listing so that they can be easily found. You can search best OCD therapists
near me. Google, Yelp, and several listing services offer this service.

Read
Reviews

Patients
are very vocal these days, if they don’t like anything they do not hesitate to
voice their opinion. If you have a liking for a particular therapist read
reviews and client testimonials on review websites. By going through these
reviews, you will be better positioned to make a decision.

Also
Read

OCD
– Meaning, Causes, Symptoms, Types, Self- help, Treatment