Any others thought about going into the the field of physcology ( social worker, therapist, counselor) for OCD specialist?

Yup! Me for sure! Im starting to go back to college this year! Actually in the process as I write this lol. Its a lil nerve wrecking because I feel old at 33 and how long of a road it is to finish but I know we need more of us in the field with “real lived life experiences”. When I was in my early 20’s attending college and experiencing obsessive thoughts and panic attacks...it brought fear in me and i quit school...my life turned into a direction of becoming a welder and i ran a support group on the side out of fear that working in the mental health field will make it worse for myself but its about reward over risk.

Also Ive come to learn that there are so many therapists that graduated college and became therapists who have OCD. So from hearing their stories then now i know its possible. We need more of us in the field in order to change the game. An example would be if you want to become a good baseball player then you would train with a person who plays baseball. Some to teach you the proper techniques.

Yes I agree! As far as age you are never to old. I'm 35 and really considering it myself. I agree that there need to be more OCD therapist that have actually lived it. I think it is awesome you are going back to school (in general) but especially for OCD in general.

Thank you! Yes so many options.... And just knowing your helping someone where we all felt so alone and like there was no hope but having your therapist right in front of you saying I have been there, you can and will get through this has its own gratification I would think. Yes the encouragement is always helpful! Good luck to you and lets keep in touch on this subject. I think it would be a very satisfying career choice. Seeing others get better, doing research, spreading the word about OCD. I feel it would be very rewarding!!

Yes! Its in Austin this year and I'm getting to attend! So super excited!! That is where my therapist is from as well. I hope you can attend soon, hopefully this year.

omg meee ?

Ambert, I truly hope you do if you feel its best for you. Thanks for the encouragement! There are quite a few different routes to go down...working in a hospital, one on one therapy, and even getting a job doing the research to better the lives of people with OCD. I hope you do and I pass along my encouragement as well to you ?

Yes definitely! I will try to bring it up again in the group chats here since there isn’t a way for people to communicate other than that lol. Ive also been thinking one day i want to go to the ocd conference that gets held once a year here in the states. They hold it in a diff state every year. Great way to meet others including people with ocd and professionals.

Wow! Very very cool! Please fill us all in on how your experience was when you get done. Ive heard a lot of great things about it.