After searching for a private therapist and having a hard time finding one that specialises in ocd I think I've managed to find someone, she has experience working with ocd patients one with harm ocd trained in cbt but doesn't seem to know much about erp. Also she's more of an online therapist uses Skype I worry it won't be affective what do you guys think? Has anyone had any experience with online therapy? She does do face to face but she's quite far away and I'm not ready to travel on a bus yet

Do you want to get started with the first exposure in your journey to a better you? Get on that bus and go meet her face to face...a therapist is important but you pushing yourself a little more and making small steps is crucial for the success of the whole process....good luck

My only question is - if she doesn't do ERP, what does she do? Psychodynamic therapy, psychoanalysis and other forms of talk therapy don't help at all - they can actually be harmful. ERP is a form of CBT but talking back at the thoughts (cognitive restructuring) is a hopeless matter for someone with OCD.

Sorry hirerachy of Challenges I mean. Lol hirerachy of needs is something different ?

She's the best one i could find. And shes pretty cheap too, most of them charge too much ? she offers discounts to those out of work and would charge £15 a session which is great!

I think go for it Try it and see how it goes But don’t expect results straight away It can be just as effective online and in your own comfort space

It's really great that it's so affordable and I think it will still be effective. Well done taking that step :)

Yeah I think you're right hun ☺️ thanks for replying. I think I am gonna give it ago at least do a Couple of sessions to see if she's any good and when I feel able to travel I will

There’s nothing to lose Go for it

I'm gonna book a session for this week if she's available ☺️ she seems like a really nice women too

Best of luck, I need to find an online one soon. Gotta get a camera first lol

Hierarchy of challenges IS ERP - so you are fine. It's weird she doesn't know the term. May be she got a different type of training but it does sound like the same thing.

Talk therapy COULD be potentially harmful, like it was for me, if the therapist makes you ruminate more about your issues (The topic of your obsessions is not meant to be taken seriously) or if they start reassuring you a lot. When they just listen to you and do nothing, well that's just venting and may help relieve pressure.

That's a relief! I was really panicky, I'm wondering if erp is a term we don't really use in the UK? Just like the term harm ocd isn't very well known. I'm not sure. But hirerachy of needs does seem pretty much the same. She does have experience in ocd so hopefully she'll get the fact that she can't reassure me or talk about it so much it makes me start ruminating

Thanks Fernando appreciate you replying and letting me know these things!

Thank you for telling me how it is. I like honest people ☺️ and I know you are absolutely right in what you are saying.

You re welcome my friend!

Thank you ☺️ I've been trying to get help for ages but it's been so hard to find a good therapist within my budget. Still on a very long waiting list for the NHS and can't wait any longer ?

I never knew they could be harmful? Talking to a regular counsellor in my university actually helped me with my OCD issues! :)

Good point Fernando that's what I'm worried about. She's qualified and experienced in cbt. But obviously erp is the best way to treat it the most effective way. When I called it erp she wasn't really familiar with it she said she's familiar with something called hirerach of challenges which is similar. And she said she understands the concept of exposing people to their anxiety. But when she said she didn't know what erp was this worried me so much

I can see how and why and it might be dangerous especially with my theme of ocd (harm) I'm so scared now. I tried to do some exercises from jon hershfields book on harm ocd. Acceptance and motivation scripts and also flooding scripts but it was so overwhelming