3 Things to look for in OCD Treatment by Robyn Tamanaha, LMFT
Why go to therapy?
Managing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder on your own is difficult. You might be to the point where these compulsions have become too difficult to control and you feel ruled by OCD. You might think that you must do the compulsions because if you don't, something bad will happen. On top of that, others in your life might have noticed your struggle, or that you’re finding it difficult to have meaningful connections with others.
The good news is that you can refrain from engaging in your compulsions with the help of a therapist. This means that although you experience these thoughts, they don't have to control the actions that you take. Therapy will allow you to hop in the driver’s seat and learn effective ways to respond to your intrusive thoughts.
3 things to look for in OCD treatment
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is treatable with therapy; however, there are key things to look out for when seeking therapy for OCD.
1. Knowledge and skill: The therapist should be knowledgeable of the multiple subtypes of OCD. This means that if you contact the therapist and explain what your thoughts are focused on, the therapist should be able to identify the subtypes.
2. An effective treatment: Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) is the most effective treatment for OCD. Around 65%-80% of children and teens have been successfully treated with ERP; similar outcomes with adults.
3. Fearless and flexible: As a therapist who treats OCD, I dive into the exposures with my clients. This means that I am able to tackle many types of fears, and each new one that surfaces along the way. Whether it be in-person or via video, I do the exposures with my clients in our sessions.
You don’t have to do this alone. I specialize in treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and use Exposure & Response Prevention with my clients. If you are interested in receiving therapy with me, let’s schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.
I can provide in person and video therapy. My office is located in Irvine, which is near Newport Beach, Orange, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Tustin, Seal Beach, and beyond. I provide video therapy to individuals who live in California, including Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, at more. I work with OCD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and Asian American & Pacific Islanders.