This is my first time posting here, I hope this is okay. I just started therapy with a licensed professional counselor about 6 months ago. Over time, I opened up for the first time about obsessions and compulsive behaviors I’ve done since I was very young (I’m now 27). She shared some OCD resources and I felt heard for the first time in my life, and like I had finally found the words to describe my experiences. I haven’t started treatment yet, but I am really struggling today because my experience in therapy has brought up a lot of difficult emotions that have made my OCD spike. My boyfriend has noticed this spike and has been encouraging me to see what he calls “a real doctor”, since he doesn’t think a LPC is fit to diagnose me. It feels like he is discounting my experience because I haven’t been treated by a psychologist, and it’s making me feel invalidated. Has anyone else experienced this? Do you have to be formally diagnosed by a psychiatrist or psychologist to get the OCD seal of approval? Do you have any resources or advice for how to talk to or educate your partner about what you’re going through? Thanks in advance, just feeling lost and frustrated.

hey! so first off, many people with ocd self diagnose themselves at first because it's one of those illnesses that when "you know, you know" i saw that on an instagram ocd page lol. there's no shame in going to a psychiatrist or therapist that specializes in ocd to get a diagnosis because they may be able to help you even further then your counselor has. if you're really struggling right now then i'd suggest going to an ocd specialist because they will be able to help you (not saying that a counselor can't but ocd is a tricky illness as not many people are educated on it.) as for your boyfriend, i'd tell him that just because an ocd specialist hasn't diagnosed you, this doesn't mean that you don't have ocd. as for advice, i would tell your boyfriend that many people with ocd go through this (self diagnosing or not going to a ocd specialist). he shouldn't be invalidating you just because you haven't seen a specialist

If you’re going to seek help specifically for OCD (which CONGRATULATIONS) they will ask you al the questions during your first session to make sure they’re dealing with OCD. So you’re in good hands with their diagnosis :). I just finished my last session w my NOCD therapist a couple weeks ago and I’m a 25 woman (so we’re close in age!), if you need any help or support, have any questions, please let me know :)

*all