I need advice. Tomorrow I have my second therapy appointment. I don’t know how to introduce my OCD thoughts and compulsions to my therapist. I am afraid she will think i’m crazy or tell my parents.

I had the exact same experience when I first started seeing my psychologist. I didn’t tell her my first appointment but my second appointment I poured my heart out to her. I was the most relief I’ve ever felt in my life because I thought she’d think I’d lost my mine and call the police or something. Instead she explained to me I had OCD and that many people with OCD have similar, terrifying thoughts. I left that appointment with my head a little higher just knowing I wasn’t alone. Just tell your therapist what’s bothering you, if they’re the right therapist for you they will be understanding and help you conquer your OCD. d a i s y

I want to add, if your therapist DOES think you’re crazy, he/she is not the right therapist for you! I think many of us can relate to therapists who have been wrong for us - it took me a very long time to find someone who can help me. Just because they are a therapist or educated doesn’t mean they know everything. I had one therapist have me snap a rubber band on my wrist everytime I had an intrusive thought (my current therapist and I joke about this often lol); I had another therapist have me stand on pieces of paper with my family’s name on them to see which one I needed to repair my relationship with to be “cured”....!

Hi Hailey, depending on your age, there are laws that determine whether a therapist can ethically tell your parents anything. Be sure to ask your therapist what their privacy practices are and ask who has "privilege" to your information. I had a very bad experience with this same issue as a kid and now I'm training to be a therapist to hopefully make sure others don't have to go through what I did. You deserve to have power over your own information and life, so assert that you are aware of that! Your therapist definitely won't think you are crazy, but might make suggestions (medication, treatment, etc) that you don't like and it might make you feel like they think you're crazy. They're probably trying to help. You can decline any treatment. I hope this helps and good luck tomorrow!

You are very brave and strong to tell your therapist! I went to one therapist for 6 months and never told her that I have violent intrusive thoughts. I was constantly terrified that she would find out and would think I’m insane. Lately, I’ve been going to a new therapist and I told her about my thoughts last Thursday (which was also my 2nd appointment!) She was very kind and compassionate and she encouraged me and told me that she didn’t think I would act on them. I felt so free after I told her. If you’re therapist is good, she’ll be the same way. Wish you all the best, Elizabeth

thank you everyone. you have given me a lot of confidence. i’ll be letting my therapist know tomorrow and i’ll share how it goes !! :)

Good luck Haley!

If she is a therapist specialized in OCD, she will understand.

thank you so much daisy !!