Hey just seeking some advice about therapy and diagnosis. As a child I had intense obsessional fears about themes like alien invasions, nuclear threat, getting sick etc. It would last between one and six months and then move to another theme. I had no visible compulsions but I used to seek reassurance a lot, ruminate a lot, and imagine worst case scenarios. Now those fears are gone but I've been dealing with obsessions about my sexual orientation and my relationships for eight years. I check a lot of things mentally, still ruminate a lot and constantly try to figure things out. I'm starting to get tired of it. The thing is that I have little hope of being diagnosed and treated. In my country (France), there are still a lot of psychoanalysts (they don't offer CBT, among other issues), and it seems to me that resources about OCD are restrained to more "standard" forms (for instance, mental compulsions and themes like HOCD wouldn't be taken seriously, I think). I believe I'd like to get a diagnosis because it would make me feel less confused (and I don't like the idea of self-diagnosing), and it could allow me to set real and concrete goals to get better. Does anyone have suggestions regarding alternative ways for me to seek concrete help? People/therapists I could talk you, even at a distance? Or is there any French person here with a similar experience or some advice to give?

Thank you, yeah I'd feel comfortable doing therapy in English, I already speak English on a regular basis with my boyfriend and some friends that I met abroad. However I've heard that therapists in the US weren't allowed to treat patients that live in another country because of license reasons. So, for instance, I can't get help from therapists on this app. I've thought about Talkspace but it's not clear whether similar restrictions apply, and if this is a truly good option for someone who still hasn't been diagnosed.

Some offer ERP and CBT, the system is not totally f*cked up haha. I guess I'm afraid because of bad experiences I already had with some therapists, and the lack of information in French resources about OCD. Also, I'm feeling like I need therapy more urgently right now, because I'm having a bad day and I'm isolated in another country (it was my choice, though). I've tried to find information about teletherapy in France but all I end up with is Talkspace, which is an American app. I'm gonna search further.

@cbnont I would expect that there are EU-based resources you can access, perhaps over Skype, licensure is a bit more relaxed than for the US. Good to take the plunge and just email people who are in the EU to ask if they can do it or refer you to someone who can. Personally I kept my UK-based therapist while I lived in Sweden and there was no legal or licensing issue.

@Louw Wow thanks for the info! Sounds like a good idea, and nice you could keep your therapist while abroad. I'll see what EU-based resources I can find.