Unfortunately, there are still not as many therapists who specifically treat OCD as there ought to be. However, if you are unable to find a cognitive behavioral therapist, there are still some things you can try. You could see a “regular” psychologist who is willing to study up on CBT techniques. Particularly if you plan to try medication in addition to your therapy, this can be a good choice.

Some therapists specialize in anxiety, but not specifically OCD. An anxiety therapist may be a good starting point and will have many useful skills for addressing your OCD.

There are a number of good self-help programs available if you can't find a provider who practices CBT. (A few of these are listed in Appendix A.) However, you might want to undertake such programs with the cooperation of a psychologist because ERP programs can be hard to follow on your own, just as any skill is usually easier to learn in a class than by yourself.

You might even want to consider telephone sessions with a cognitive behavioral therapist, especially if you can find one who practices just outside of the distance you are willing or able to travel. This way, you might be able to meet in person, say, once a month, and work by phone once a week, besides. Good long-distance phone plans are easier to come by these days than low-cost gasoline!

You might also want to consider an intensive in-patient program. Although such a program might not be available in your immediate area, a one-time trip may make more sense for you, from a geographic standpoint, than a long-term arrangement. If you have vacation time coming to you from work or school, or some time between jobs, this might be a good way to use it. The other advantage, of course, is that intensive treatments can work much more quickly than traditional ones.