How to Find an OCD Therapist

If you are living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or think you might be, the right therapist can make a real difference. OCD responds well to a specific kind of therapy, and knowing what to look for can save you time and frustration.

We put this guide together to explain how to find an OCD therapist, what sets OCD-trained therapists apart, and how to tell whether someone is a good fit for you.

What Does an OCD Therapist Do?

An OCD therapist is a licensed mental health professional with specific training and experience working with OCD. OCD can center on many themes, from contamination fears to unwanted thoughts about harm, and a therapist who specializes in it has likely heard the full range.

What usually sets these therapists apart is their skill in exposure and response prevention (ERP), a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) built for OCD. In ERP, you work with a therapist to face situations, thoughts, or images that trigger obsessive fears while learning to resist compulsions, including mental rituals and reassurance-seeking. ERP has been shown to reduce compulsive behaviors, even for people who did not respond well to medication.

When ERP is done well, the results can be meaningful. About 50% to 60% of people who complete ERP show clinically significant improvement in their OCD symptoms.

Because the approach is so specific, the training behind it matters a great deal.

Why Does Specialized Training Matter for OCD?

OCD requires specialized treatment because some approaches used in general talk therapy may not effectively address obsessions and compulsions. Historically, people with OCD didn’t respond well to traditional approaches such as psychodynamic therapy, which is part of why ERP became the standard starting point.

Well-meaning therapists without OCD training can also make things harder by accident. For example, offering repeated reassurance can feed the cycle, and silent mental compulsions such as repeating a phrase can be easy to miss. A therapist trained in ERP knows to watch for these patterns.

Once you know what to look for, the next step is knowing where to look.

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Where Can You Find an OCD Therapist?

Several good starting points exist, and using more than one often works best.

• Your primary care provider. A doctor can check for other causes of your symptoms and refer you to a mental health professional who has experience with OCD.
• Your insurance plan. Your insurer can share a list of in-network therapists, and it helps to ask specifically about providers who offer ERP.
• OCD-focused directories. Nonprofit organizations dedicated to OCD, such as the International OCD Foundation, keep directories of clinicians who report using ERP.
• Specialty clinics. Some hospitals and academic medical centers run OCD or anxiety programs, including more intensive options for severe symptoms.

We created Mental Health Match to make this part easier, and it’s free to use. You can share that you are looking for help with OCD, and we introduce you to therapists who fit your needs, with detailed profiles that describe their training and approach.

What Questions Should You Ask an OCD Therapist?

A short consultation call lets you get a feel for a therapist before you commit. Therapists who are open and specific in their answers are a good sign, and questions such as these can help.

• “How do you treat OCD?” Look for a therapist who specifically mentions exposure and response prevention (ERP), a type of CBT designed to treat OCD. General CBT experience alone doesn’t necessarily mean someone has specialized OCD training. 
• “What training do you have in ERP?” Many OCD specialists have completed workshops or courses beyond graduate school.
• “How much of your caseload involves OCD?” Regular experience with OCD tends to sharpen a therapist’s skills.
• “Would we ever do exposures outside the office?” Effective ERP sometimes takes place where your triggers actually show up.
• “How do you feel about medication?” An OCD-informed therapist is generally open to medication as one option.
• “Do you involve family members?” Loved ones sometimes get pulled into rituals or reassurance, and including them can help.

Pay attention to how you feel during the call, too. If a therapist seems guarded or dismissive of your questions, it is okay to keep looking.

What If You Can’t Find an OCD Specialist Nearby?

OCD specialists can be hard to find in some areas, and community clinicians may not have received OCD training. If your local options are limited, a few alternatives can help.

• Teletherapy. Many therapists offer ERP by video, which can widen your options beyond your immediate area.
• Supervised trainees. Some clinics offer ERP through pre-licensed therapists who work under the supervision of an OCD specialist.
• Intensive programs. For more severe symptoms, some programs offer frequent ERP sessions over a shorter period.
• Consultation. A therapist without OCD experience may be able to consult with a specialist or refer you to one.

When Is It Time to Look for an OCD Therapist?

• Everyone double-checks the stove now and then. OCD is different because of how much time and distress it takes up. OCD involves unwanted thoughts, compulsive behaviors, or mental rituals that cause significant distress or interfere with daily life. While symptoms may take up more than an hour each day, this isn’t required for someone to experience OCD. Consider seeking support if any of the following sound familiar. You feel unable to stop certain thoughts or rituals, even when they seem excessive to you.
• You avoid people, places, or activities so the obsessions don’t start.
• Your routines bring brief relief but no real enjoyment.
• Work, school, or relationships are starting to suffer.

You don’t need a formal diagnosis to start. An OCD-trained therapist can help you sort out what is going on during your first few sessions.