How to Find the Right Therapist for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment

How to Find the Right Therapist for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) causes people to focus on certain thoughts (obsessions) and do routines (compulsions) to relieve the distress that the obsessions cause. At its worst, OCD can drive people to spend hours each day practicing a complex mental dance that they are powerless to stop.

If you're ready to get help for your OCD, congratulations on taking the first step on this essential path! Finding a therapist will be your first step.

Things to Consider Before Choosing a Mental Health Practitioner

A therapist is a professional who works in the field of mental health and offers therapy as a treatment. Therapists may hold doctoral degrees (such as PhD, PsyD, or EdD) or master's degrees (such as MSW, MA, or MS) in fields such as psychology, social work, counselling, or marital and family therapy.

Although therapists have varying levels of education and expertise, there is no inherent advantage or disadvantage to seeing one sort of therapist over another. All types of therapists are trained to do this work and are qualified to assist you, whether they have a master’s or a doctorate degree.

While there are numerous therapists in the Netherlands to select from, many patients and families struggle to locate one that can diagnose and effectively treat OCD. According to some estimates, getting an adequate diagnosis and good treatment for OCD might take up anywhere from 14–17 years from the onset of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms.

The difficulty in locating a local therapist who can properly diagnose and treat OCD is a major explanation for the delay.

Tips for Finding the Right Therapist for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

When selecting a therapist, there are numerous aspects to consider.

·         You should also make sure that your new therapist is someone with whom you will feel comfortable working.

·         This includes things like whether they accept your insurance, whether their office location is convenient for you, and so on.

·         Also, keep in mind that some therapists are better than others at treating OCD.

·         Interviewing therapists to see if they know how to undertake Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy is crucial. You can have your initial consultation over the phone or in person.

·         Teletherapy is a practice in which mental health practitioners provide their services over the phone or by video conferencing (such as Zoom, Skype, etc.). Make sure your therapist can offer that.

The Right Treatment for OCD

As mentioned earlier, exposure and response prevention or ERP therapy is the gold-standard treatment for persons with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), along with medication.