professional who can help

[Sushi-cat]

hi does anyone have recommendations of therapists that can help. I’ve unfortunately not had any that have experience with my type of OCD. I had compulsions when I was young but untreated. It is very much thoughts now in adulthood. I have a therapist but she is just general counselling service. Any help would be great thanks.

[Sallyskins]

It's best if you ask your GP for a referral to a CBT therapist with experience in treating OCD. I've had CBT on the NHS, including a four month stay at Springfield Hospital in Tooting, which takes patients from around the country. There's also the Oxford centre, headed by Professor Paul Salkovskis, an expert in the treatment of OCD.

It's important that any therapist that treats you uses CBT or cognitive behavioural therapy, to give it its long name - general talking therapy simply doesn't touch OCD.

It's also helpful to get a book or two. I recommend Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and The OCD Workbook. For thoughts OCD, perhaps read Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts by Sally M Winston and Martin N Self. Books have helped me greatly and they can get you started with CBT yourself.

If anyone claims they can 'cure' OCD - steer clear of them. If anyone promises an easy miracle cure but won't tell you how it works unless you pay them money up front, don't touch them with a bargepole. Reputable therapists are clear about their methods and don't demand you pay them before they tell you.

Here's a link to a booklet online that might be helpful:

documents.manchester.ac.uk/...

And here's a list of books that might help (I can say that Mind over Mood by Dennis Greenberger and Christine A Padesky has helped me):

ocduk.org/overcoming-ocd/se...

I hope this is helpful. Do let us know how you get on, or if you need more help.

[OCDgone]

balancepathway.com

[Lauragbr]

IOCDF.ORG