So some of you on here might be familiar with my struggles with my first therapist. I quit seeing her and started seeing a new therapist over an hour away from me and I am so happy I did! I was skeptical because the building is old and smelt like spaghetti and I actually had to walk down a hall with no lights (I almost turned around and left because I thought I was going to be trapped or something) But I gave it a chance because I need someone to understand me. Well, after one session only, I can say that I am so happy I went to her. It was as though she could almost read my mind. I’m so excited to begin getting good help with her!

I just hope it continues to go well!

Hmmmm. I don't want to worry you but my therapist says mine is pretty severe and a lot of links to trauma and she still expects us to be done within 6 months of weekly sessions. And I pretty much agree. I can get to a point where I know enough to be able to help myself with OCD and have reprocessed my trauma within around 6 months which is like 26 sessions. If you've been seeing the same therapist for years and don't feel you've made much improvement, I'd really have to recommend considering finding someone else. Every session should be challenging and chip away at the issue and be about finding methods for you to do in your daily life. You should make some genuine progress between every session which isn't just more rumination or attempts to answer your obsessions. I know it's a rough prospect to think of having to develop a relationship with someone new, but it's easy for a therapeutic relationship to become complacent or go around in circles if the practitioner doesn't know how to break that pattern and keep it challenging.

I don’t always think we see progress in ourselves. At least I know I don’t. But I’m sure you’re making progress. And years of therapy can just mean you’re going at your pace. Which is also very important

OCD may be life long but once you're solid on the methods which you need to use- ERP, refusing the engage with the thoughts, meditation etc, then I don't really understand what more of therapy would be for. To ruminate out loud or reassurance seek or something? ?

@Louw Some do need regular maintenance therapy and that’s the best way to “maintain” their OCD. In my experience, I will have times when new triggers/obsessions cause me to need additional support with methods that I’ve already been trained to use. I’m not regressing, I’m just receiving necessary support to confront new challenges. Further, even if I must repeat an exposure that I’ve already “mastered” in the past, that’s okay! There are SO many variables in life that impact OCD.

@OCD Overcomer Ah damn, that makes sense. I'm not going to be able to afford therapy for years though so I'll probably have to just try to take everything from the experience I can get and write down every method and really good bit of insight so I can use them in the future when things are rough.

@Louw That sounds awesome! Have you tried therapy through NOCD?

@OCD Overcomer A lot of my OCD is related to trauma so I really need specialist combined treatments in person and a fairly long term therapeutic relationship, so I don't think the online format would work very well for me. But I'm really glad it's here, maybe it can be an option for me when I do need top-up stuff!