Anonymous

Date posted: 27d

Ocd

Is it normal to think your therapist does not know how to treat ocd? What is a good therapist in ocd?

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 27d

OCD and Doubt Go Hand-in-Hand OCD is sometimes called the “doubting disorder” for a reason. It targets what matters most to you—your relationships, values, identity, and yes, even your therapy. So it's common for OCD to latch onto thoughts like: "What if my therapist doesn't know what they're doing?" "What if I'm wasting my time and money?" "What if this isn't the 'right' kind of therapy?" "What if they're missing something really important?" These thoughts can feel urgent and convincing—but they’re often just new disguises for the same OCD need for certainty. When This Becomes a Compulsion Sometimes, the doubting turns into a pattern: Googling therapists’ credentials over and over Comparing your therapist to others online Constantly asking for reassurance about the therapy Switching therapists frequently in search of the “perfect” one Mentally reviewing everything your therapist said to “check” if it was correct This is often called "Therapist Relationship OCD" or “meta OCD”—where OCD attaches itself to the process of therapy itself. What You Can Do Name it: “This might be OCD trying to get certainty again.” Resist reassurance-seeking (even from yourself). Lean in: Practice uncertainty on purpose. e.g., “Maybe my therapist isn’t perfect. I’m willing to keep showing up anyway.” If you truly suspect your therapist isn’t using effective treatment, ask directly and non-confrontationally. For example: "I’ve been learning about ERP as the gold-standard treatment for OCD. Is that something you use in your approach?" I hope that helps a little. As a therapist, I can say that many of those I work with have had this doubt at some point or another. Maybe I'm NOT a good therapist. I strive to be, but I guess there is no certainty....

Anonymous

Date posted: 27d

Thank you!

MZ100

Date posted: 27d

I’ve been starting to think this. I’m only 3 sessions in tho and we haven’t even started ERP. Why do you think your therapist doesn’t know how to treat OCD?

Anonymous

Date posted: 27d

She is not a specialist and she wants me to start writing my thoughts and my actions down so I point where it comes from but it makes my ocd worse and no tools to manage it, what have you done in those sessions?

MZ100

Date posted: 27d

@Anonymous My therapist has been teaching me about OCD. Then in my session tomorrow we’re gonna start ERP. In my past with other therapists, we’d just talk about my problems which was ineffective.

Anonymous

Date posted: 27d

@MZ100 Thank you, I will see if she does talk therapy without ocd tools, also good luck with the erp!

MZ100

Date posted: 27d

@Anonymous Thank you! If she doesn’t you should get a new therapist. I’m sure your therapist is nice, but you are paying her to help you. She needs to have the tools to help you.

izzyyyy24

Date posted: 27d

@MZ100 Hey! The first few sessions typically are a lot of talking about what your fears are what triggers you etc it’s normal to not have started erp yet!

OutstandingC...

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 27d

Is your therapist an ocd specialist? What are the reasons you doubt their ability?

Anonymous

Date posted: 27d

She is not a specialist that's my doubt, that not everyone knows how to treat it

MZ100

Date posted: 27d

@Anonymous I’d change therapists then. I had two different therapists at two different times that assured me they’ve had experience with OCD. They proceeded to give me talk therapy, which doesn’t effectively treat OCD. They were nice, but I paid them for being ineffective. Now I have a new one that specializes in OCD and has training from NOCD. You need to do what’s best for you.

Anonymous

Date posted: 27d

@MZ100 How did you find one? I have tried finding a specialist even online since i am in spain and can't find one

MZ100

Date posted: 27d

@Anonymous I went in Microsoft Copilot and searched best OCD therapists in my area. Stumbled across one, read her bio, then started therapy with her. Her bio related to what I was going thru.

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 27d

Many people with OCD wonder if their therapist truly understands how to help them. It's important to work with someone who has experience treating OCD, ideally with ERP. If you’re unsure about your current therapist’s experience, you might consider asking them about their approach to OCD or looking for a specialist. If you’re struggling and need more assistance, remember that help is available. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at NOCD to find out how we can support you. Also here are some helpful resources: https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/megan-ocandos-journey-to-becoming-an-ocd-expert/ https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/why-your-therapy-isnt-helping-your-ocd/ https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/for-years-no-one-listened-to-my-ocd-struggle-im-making-sure-no-one-feels-the-same-way/

Jazlyn Cayla

Date posted: 27d

I’m having the same issue I think and am wondering what to do next…it’s a bit annoying because I picked my therapist BECAUSE she had OCD listed as one of the things she helps with. But it doesn’t seem like she’s really helping me at all with it. :/

Anonymous

Date posted: 27d

Are you able to switch?

Jazlyn Cayla

Date posted: 27d

@Anonymous I will if I don’t find her to be adequate enough after this next appointment I have with her this Thursday. I only just met her like 3 times I think. And the last time I had to do a whole safety plan, no time to talk about OCD.

Anonymous

Date posted: 27d

@Jazlyn Cayla I hope you find one that suits you, I am searching for specialized too

Jazlyn Cayla

Date posted: 27d

@Anonymous If push comes to shove, we can find a therapist on here if they take our insurance. I have Kaiser.

Anonymous

Date posted: 27d

@Jazlyn Cayla I live outside the US but if you have insurance that is a good choice, 200 per session without it haha

Jazlyn Cayla

Date posted: 27d

@Anonymous I wish I lived outside the US too smh. :/

Hereforthevibes

User type: Staff

Date posted: 27d

Is your therapist part of NOCD?

Anonymous

Date posted: 27d

No, ocd was 200 per session

Hereforthevibes

User type: Staff

Date posted: 27d

@Anonymous Have you heard about the new payment plan options? There’s one that is $50/week now that has been incredibly helpful. I remember when I was starting out on this journey I wondered why ERP therapy was more expensive than talk therapy so I went with non OCD specialty to save money and I set back years on my life. I didn’t realize that just investing in an OCD specialist would have saved me years and so much more money long term than wasting time with a non specialist going in what felt like circles. Anyways, NOCD’s payment plans have been so helpful.

Anonymous

Date posted: 27d

@Hereforthevibes Thank you, do you have a link to that?

Hereforthevibes

User type: Staff

Date posted: 27d

@Anonymous I had the Intake Team walk me through the payment plan options and booked a quick call here: https://www.treatmyocd.com/therapy_signup/v2?utm_source=google_ads&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=12663844044&utm_adgroup=123244610147&utm_term=nocd&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12663844044&gbraid=0AAAAADEWRhbouvECw_9qraFXAqRcp7uPg&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0_yo88ucjgMVMROtBh0SdQezEAAYAiAAEgKzefD_BwE

Anonymous

Date posted: 27d

@Hereforthevibes Is it 50 a week for one session ?

Hereforthevibes

User type: Staff

Date posted: 27d

I think that’s the price for as many sessions as you have that week. You pay off balance over time, but that’s how you can get the help you deserve soon

Andrea Wells

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 21w

Misdiagnosis & OCD

OCD is so much more than just being 'neat' or 'organized'—it’s relentless, exhausting, and often deeply misunderstood. The intrusive thoughts, the compulsions, the anxiety—it can feel like a never-ending cycle that others just don’t seem to get. Many of us have had experiences where even therapists didn’t fully grasp the depth of our struggles. I myself faced difficulty being misdiagnosed and my talk therapist not understanding the full extent of what I was going through until I found NOCD. So many prior therapists wrote off my symptoms as general anxiety, not realizing it was actually OCD all along. If you could sit down with a therapist who truly wanted to understand, what do you wish they knew about OCD?

RachelBet

Date posted: 17w

OCD therapist versus not?

Hello! What a journey this ocd thing is! After 17 years with one therapist, I knew I was no longer making progress, so I changed to a new therapist. After just 6 months with her, she suggested I might have ocd and to look into getting diagnosed. She was right and I was diagnosed with ocd last summer. Meds are making a big difference but I still have lots of unlearning and re-learning to do. I’ve been struggling with whether or not to switch to a therapist who specializes in ocd. I have no issues with my current therapist, but she doesn’t specialize in ocd and I sometimes think I need someone who does specialize in it. But of course, I have Pure O, so I can think myself in circles til the cows come home. Can anyone share experience about switching to a therapist who specializes in ocd?

tayanominous

Date posted: 16w

Can therapist make you feel worse?

So I’ve been going to an ocd therapist for abt 2-3 months now and she’s starting to make me feel very nervous and anxious I even started crying, she wanted me to do exposures that were to much for me and I got rlly upset and Burt out into tears and she just didn’t say anything and just sat there for a good 10 seconds doing nothing this is starting to repeat nearly every session and I’m very frustrated should I get a new therapist or do I just be nice and tough it out?

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