FAQs for an OCD Therapist in Austin
I wrote a comprehensive blog about finding the right OCD therapist in Austin. This blog answers some common questions people have about OCD therapy in Austin.
Unlike "talk therapy," OCD treatment is often more structured and behavioral. As a matter of fact, talk therapy is at best ineffective and at worst harmful for OCD. I address this more in the question below.
Here are some frequently asked questions about OCD therapy in Austin:
What is the best treatment for OCD in Austin?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is considered the gold standard treatment for OCD. A gold standard means something is considered the best in its category and other things in the same category are measured against it. An OCD therapist in Austin offers ERP.
The most effective and scientifically backed treatment is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a specialized form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Exposure: Facing the thoughts, images, or situations that distress you
Response Prevention: Making a conscious choice not to perform a compulsion (ritual) after being exposed to a trigger
Essentially, you face the fear and don’t do the thing. Facing the fear eventually decreases the distress brought on by the thought, and not doing the thing makes it less likely you will feel distressed the next time the thought pops up.
In virtually every OCD case, ERP should be the first-line recommendation. For more detailed information about treatments for OCD, the International OCD Foundation has a fantastic resource breaking down treatment options for OCD.
How is ERP different from traditional "talk therapy"?
Traditional talk therapy often involves analyzing the deeper meaning of your thoughts. A talk therapist will often provide reassurance or soothing. For OCD, this can actually be counterproductive. An OCD sufferer’s worst fear is that their obsessions mean something significant about them. Reassurance feeds the OCD cycle.
Talk Therapy: Focuses on the meaning of thoughts and delves into the past for explanations
OCD Therapy: Focuses on what is maintaining the cycle of OCD. We don’t need to know what caused it to fix it. OCD therapy teaches you that thoughts don't have special meaning and that you can handle the uncertainty without rituals or reassurance.
As an OCD therapist in Austin, I will help you tackle your OCD gradually and systematically.
Will an OCD therapist ask me to do things I’m not ready for?
Yes and no. Therapy operates on informed consent, so every step of the way, the rationale will be explained, and you will always be able to say no to a request. That said, you will be asked to do things that make you very uncomfortable, and successful ERP = willingness to tolerate distress. Now, before you start visualizing the TV show Fear Factor, let me explain what this actually looks like.
You and I will create a hierarchy of triggers based on how distressing they are. We start with less distressing exposures and move up systematically. I will not ask you to do anything I wouldn’t be willing to do myself.
How long does OCD therapy in Austin take?
17-20 sessions is the typical length of treatment.
Can OCD be cured?
OCD can significantly remit for a long time. However, all humans have intrusive thoughts from time to time, and ERP won’t rid your brain of that ability.
OCD Therapy gives you a toolkit for the future. As mentioned above, you will still have intrusive thoughts from time to time, but you will be able to shrug them off and go about your day.
What should I ask an OCD therapist in Austin?
This blog offers suggested questions for an OCD therapist in Austin.
A therapist might claim to treat OCD but not have the proper training or knowledge. It’s helpful to ask:
"Do you use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)?" Be skeptical of anyone who isn’t clear on this. OCD has an established treatment.
"How do you handle 'mental rituals' or 'pure-o' symptoms?" If a therapist says, “OCD is just hand washing and lock checking,” they’re wrong.
"Do you assign homework between sessions?" Any CBT therapist will give you things to work on in between sessions. Engaging with the work outside of sessions is really how you see improvements!
I hope this gives you some clarity. Please reach out if you have additional questions or schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation with an OCD therapist in Austin.
Jessica Fink, LCSW-S is a psychotherapist based in Austin, Texas.
She helps anxious rule followers loosen the death grip they have on life. Her work is structured and data driven, with clear beginnings, middles, and ends, so clients know where they are going and how progress is measured.
Jessica specializes in OCD therapy, Radically Open DBT, and insomnia treatment. You can learn more about her approach on her About page.