People have mentioned it already but it's worth repeating: watch Ali Greymond videos on YouTube!

According to my personal experience, I don't find her trustworthy nor is she a lisenced OCD therapist. When I was in an incredibly vunreble stage of my OCD (close to the beginning), I paid two months of 'therapy' with her ($600US a month), I was not guided with the ERP therapy at all, it was just constant repititive statements from her, I realised when I started proper ERP therapy with a licensed OCD therapist, that I was doing it all wrong (don't need to go into details). I am not stating that her videos aren't beneficial, many of them are incredibly beneficial and I have benefited from her works however I wouldn't recommend the 'therapy program' with her, that's my personal opinion due to my experience with her and many others have said the same.

@01kitty10 I have gone through Brain Lock by Jeffrey Schwartz, which was incredibly beneficial, loved it, but the implementation is the difficult part, I try but it takes a lot of time. Also, You Are Not Your Brain by Jeffrey Schwartz. Right now, I'm going to start Getting over OCD by Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz, I heard it's excellent.

I absolutely love love OCD stories podcast by Stuart Ralph, absolutely brilliant, he brings on speakers from all walks of life and also actual OCD therapists who know the disorder upside down.

You're most welcome, I wish you all the best of luck, we are fighting the same battle, it's an intense struggle. ❤️??

Dr. Steven Phillipson.  He is an absolute expert and especially in the 'Pure O' capacity. He also has associates that work with him and he has trained, so there are several people in that clinic that could help. His website is www.ocdonline.com and he can be reached at ocdzone@aol.com

@AhmedH have you used any books (eg mindfulness workbook by Jon Hershfield)

OCD Center of Los Angeles: OCD LA is known worldwide for treating OCD as well as their amazing Inpatient treatment program. They have around a dozen therapists on staff and have a plethora of information on their website about OCD, their treatment strategies, and successes. Scheduling with them can be done through their website at www.ocdla.com

Basically I had no idea that ERP has to be guided therapy with a specialist, so I thought that ERP should be by exposing myself to anything even the things that bring about the most anxiety, I was watching extremely confronting videos (related to theme which is HOCD) day and night, I was always reacting with fear and the worst anxiety ever, I was in constant terror but I thought that's what I had to do, and I didn't realise this at all. Exposures, and in the end it didn't work out, in fact my situation became much worse because the whole time unknowingly I was reacting in the wrong manner which in the long run worsens the disorder, I wasn't told anything, I didn't know if I was doing anything in the right or wrong way and much more, it's a very long story. Until I started proper ERP therapy, which has to be step by step, small exposure to intermediate etc, very carefully and guarded therapy, most OCD specialists mention that if ERP is not guided correctly, it can be extremely destructive. Again, my personal story, I'm sure others have benefited, I do know some OCD online specialists that have warned against her approach and her methods which can be way too aggressive.

Yes, therapy has helped immensely, when I started proper ERP therapy around four months ago, at that time I would say, my obbessions where day and night, non-stop, I couldn't do anything at all (this went on for over one year), I was like a pumpkin in my room all day tortured by my thoughts and fear, since therapy, I slowly started doing normal activities again, sitting with family, enjoying a movie, enjoying general hobbies, and everyday exposures so, when the thoughts come, I try to sit with them without reacting to fear, sometimes I succeed sometimes I don't, that's absolutely normal, now I would say I have a couple of good days a week (still get the OCD but not as bad) whereas before it was every single day, so very slow improvements. I still suffer a lot, everyday is still a challenge, however I'm trying to atleast follow the majority of the therapy program, it will take a long time, it's exhausting but what other option do I have? I can't afford weekly therapy, it's very expensive here, so I see my therapist one very three weeks or so.

I still have many fears, they don't simply stop however I've noticed that the obbessions keep changing, I get over one obbession and another one starts and over and over, which is a good sign because that means the therapy is working. The worst feeling is not the thoughts, it's the strong impulses and urges to do an action, like confess or scream (that's for me) those are the most difficult.

@AhmedH thanks so much for sharing, and good luck with your recovery ♥️

So did you find that when you started therapy, your obsessions changed? Also do you mind me asking how old you are (just roughly like younger than 20 or older)? Sorry for all the Qs- and Thank you for answering them. If you feel uncomfortable answering any question, please feel free NOT to answer it!

No, it's okay, anytime, we are here to help one another ?. I am currently 26 years of age, university student, studying Education (should've finished by now but OCD has really kept me back), going to master in Psychology hopefully. Yes, when I started therapy my obbessions starting changing alot alot (mainly HOCD and Religious OCD), I overcame POCD almost completely but it wasn't really bad. So, now, instead of one obbession sticking, it keeps changing topics, it's still really difficult and feels like torture some days but hopefully it's a good sign, it's all HOCD but many different themes under that.

I love that she had also struggled with OCD. I love her videos.

Your Anxiety Toolkit podcast with Kimberly Quinlan is awesome.

@AhmedH could you please explain what you were doing all wrong without disclosing personal details? It might be insightful to others!

How are u doing Ahmed ie how are you finding therapy, how long have you been doing it etc? How did you overcome any fear you had about starting ERP? I want to start helping myself, but I am so scared.

How did you get past the fear of them saying it was denial? Or did they diagnose you with OCD straight away...?

Do you regard your therapist highly? And if so, do they do online therapy by any chance...?

It took me soooooo long to find an OCD therapist in my city, no she does not do online, but there are many online OCD therapists, I can send you some if you like?

Yeah that would probably be helpful if you put them on here, but only ones that are experienced in CBT/ERP and have experience with hocd if possible :)

Ah yes I’ve come across them online- just the thought of starting therapy scares me. I know I won’t get an answer (because it’s about accepting uncertainty) but that also scares me so much!

You have to start somewhere, I absolutely know what you mean, I honestly hate it. Can you find a therapist in your city?

No, I live in England and there is virtually no one here that does it...:(

Hmmm that's strange, I thought some of the best OCD therapists are in the UK.