IMPORTANT TO READ

Im wanting to set up an appt with a therapist but I am on the borderline. I’ve seen some bad Google reviews of people saying the therapists are required to do “small talk” but don’t get into the route of the issue right away. Is this normal? I just want help with my Pure OCD as soon as possible without wasting too much time on unnecessary things and get myself to feeling better.

I've been in and out of talk therapy for OCD-related issues for years, but it hasn't been effective long-term. I am struggling with body image / eating disorder adjacent obsessions and I am really hopeful that ERP might actually give me some relief. I had my first session with my NOCD therapist a few weeks ago. It felt like a good match and I was ready to unpack my obsessions and compulsions to try ERP for the first time. The day of my second session she canceled due to personal illness. Then this happened a second time. Yesterday all of my future booked sessions were canceled without explanation. I went to schedule with a new therapist and the ones that seemed could be a good fit are filled up until at least early April. I booked a slot and sent the therapist a message letting her know I would be interested in starting sooner if a slot opened up. I am just disappointed. I could just meet with another therapist who has earlier availability, but it's most important to me that the therapist be a good fit since I've been through therapy so many times. I feel like I'm in limbo until I have an ERP plan set up and I'm not sure how to move forward in the meantime. I'm planning try out a support group but I need a personalized exposure plan and I'm not sure if that's something I should just try to set up myself? Anyone have something similar happen to them? Any thoughts or advice would be helpful.

And no one at the company will call and tell me why or how this was appropriate, nor did they follow through and make sure I have follow up care. (I dont have follow up care. I’m too afraid to trust a therapist again. My chart also shows I am severely depressed and anxious.) Instead they falsely charted there was follow up and closure and I only found this out because I REACHED OUT and a random customer service member told me: “Hi Tessa, one of our Member Advocates spoke with you first on Saturday, 5/31 around 10am PDT. After that call, the Member Advocate requested that one of our Clinical Managers reach out to you, in which Arlene (the Clinical Manager) had spoken with you that same day between 10:40am PDT and 11:20am PDT. Arlene had discussed your concerns regarding the therapist directly with you during that time and provided you with resources in your area that could be a better fit for your needs. As mentioned, we have reached out to Arlene again today, who has stated she will give you another call to address any additional concerns you may have regarding this situation.” Once I showed screenshots showing there was no second call from NOCD, and demonstrated that Arlene, who I have NEVER spoken to in my life had lied and falsely charted a resolution only continued to lie more and attempt (and fail) to cover it up by claiming she called me on her “personal clinician phone.” “Hi Tessa, we have coordinated with Arlene to obtain more information in regards to what occurred here. She indicated she had called from her personal clinician phone, which would come through as a blocked number on your end. However, for the call today, she is able to give you a call at 2pm PT and call from the main NOCD phone line, so you can expect the call from our (312) phone number. Will a call at 2pm PT work for you today?” After all this … NOCD negligently failed to reach out to me for a second time this last weekend after telling me: “We would be glad to accommodate that for you, and will have another Clinical Manager reach out to you today. Once we have a confirmed time that person will call you, we will send you an update to make sure you are informed of that call time.” No one followed up with a time. No one called. I had to go back into this anxiety riddled place to beg for a call. Still waiting on the call. Be careful. Don’t expect anyone to help you if you experience an issue. They cover for themselves. Having a therapy company that I trusted to treat me and care for me (for a very hefty price) call my family disgusting and attempt to gaslight me by telling me a story about Arlene that wasn’t based in reality, I.e., “Arlene (the Clinical Manager) had spoken with you that same day between 10:40am PDT and 11:20am PDT. Arlene had discussed your concerns regarding the therapist directly with you during that time and provided you with resources in your area that could be a better fit for your needs,” when that never happened is not something clinicians should be doing to people with mental health issues.