OCD specialist?

[Natureloverpeace]

Most therapists don’t have the education and training to effectively treat OCD because it usually isn’t offered in graduate school. There is education and training available for it but the therapist will have to seek it out. There are also different skill levels amongst qualified OCD specialists depending on their level of education and training they have undertaken as there are beginning and advanced opportunities. BUYER BEWARE- There are many therapists who claim they know how to treat OCD, and even some who claim to be OCD specialists, but aren’t qualified to treat it. Here is a link from the IOCDF to an article about what to look for in a potential OCD specialist for yourself or a loved one. iocdf.org/ocd-finding-help/...

[Sallyskins]

It's only recently that OCD has become properly recognized and effectively treated. I think that graduate schools are only just catching up!

There are, I'm sorry to say, some charlatans out there who promise miracle cures and don't deliver.

So - if they demand money up front before they explain what techniques they plan to use, or claim that they can 'cure' OCD, don't touch them with so much as a bargepole!

[MidnightBriarRose]

You are absolutely right about what you said. I have been wanting to find an OCD Specialist for myself, for a very long time. But as you said, they are very hard to find, as most do not have the skill set to effectively treat it. Even so, I have decided that I am going to continue my search to find the right OCD Specialist for myself. Thanks for your post.

[Natureloverpeace in reply to MidnightBriarRose]

You’re welcome. There are some really good ones out there. There is a provider directory under the Find Help tab at iocdf.org but you will still need to ask a potential provider in that directory the questions that are provided in the article in the above link. The IOCDF checks to make sure the individual is licensed but they don’t individually vet each provider who submits their info to the directory. There are way more providers listed there than the number of actual OCD Specialists, specifically ones with appropriate training to treat OCD. I wish there was a minimum standard that a provider had to meet in order to call themselves an OCD Specialist like there is for a specialized provider in medicine to call themselves a specialist. A primary care doctor can’t call themselves a cardiologist because they don’t have the specific extra training for that.

While you are in the process of finding one, you can learn a lot from the OCD Specialists on the Ask the Experts livestream which takes place most Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on different platforms such as YouTube or Facebook. These are recorded. The IOCDF also has a list of books that they recommend. There are a lot of books on OCD but I suggest using ones from the recommended list. Attending the conferences , either in-person or virtually, can be a huge help. There is information about those on the IOCDF website.

[MidnightBriarRose]

Have you been able to find an OCD Specialist for yourself?

[Natureloverpeace in reply to MidnightBriarRose]

I didn’t when I needed one. I was originally referred to a psychologist who supposedly knew how to treat OCD but he didn’t. Years later it was an insurance issue as I’ve been on Medicare for a while now. My OCD was at the extreme end of the scale as it had the opportunity to grow for 40 years before being kicked out of the driver’s seat. I am very grateful to have freedom from OCD instead of just functioning well with it. I don’t take that for granted though so I live an ERP lifestyle and have a bring it on OCD attitude. I’ve learned to be cognitively flexible and to tolerate uncertainty and distress. I’ve learned the difference between my voice and the voice of OCD. I’ve learned OCD’s game plan and can spot if it’s trying to sneak back in and I’m proactive about it. I’ve learned that I can deal with what life throws at me and that I don’t have to do it alone. I’m not scared of OCD anymore. Beating OCD is empowering and it helps one to build resilience. I use to believe that OCD would always be in charge and that my OCD was too extreme for me to get better but I was wrong. I know other people whose OCD was also at the extreme end of the scale but have freedom from OCD now.

I’m heavily involved in the OCD community so I know of a lot of the OCD specialists, experts and researchers and I interact with some of them.