The Decision to Try Therapy
Before you do anything else, make sure you are clear about what you hope to gain from therapy. If you want help for family problems, for instance, you'll probably want to look for a therapist who deals with those kinds of issues. If your primary goal is to get help for your OCD, you will likely want to look for a therapist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy for OCD or anxiety disorders. Some therapists look at both the OCD and the patient's day-to-day life and challenges. You might want a therapist who works on both the OCD and the other things that are going on in your life, as personal events and situations can affect OCD (as well as other conditions).
The majority of people who have OCD suffer from depression as well. Another common problem is the strain OC behavior can put on close relationships. Spouses, children, friends, and parents of people who have OCD often have a very hard time with it, as its symptoms can cause disruption in their lives and therefore create considerable stress. If you are also experiencing depression or family problems, discuss these with your therapist, or would-be therapist, as well. You should be able to get help for all three problems.
As discussed in Chapter 4, there are several types of therapy available to treat OCD. Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is most often recommended, you may decide, for any number of reasons, that you would prefer to give neurofeedback, or hypnotherapy, or another option, a try instead. (Remember, you can always try something else if you don't get what you need the first time.)
Alert
Don't let a therapist or counselor tell you that your OCD was caused by parental mistakes, abuse, and so on. That old-fashioned idea is no longer credible in educated circles. Look for a cognitive behavioral therapist instead. You'll almost certainly enjoy more success against your OCD.
If you decide on a “talk” therapy, you will probably want to narrow your choice down further into type. For instance, some therapists do CBT. Others psychoanalyze. Still others practice what they call “interpersonal therapy” and work primarily on the patient's relationships. Other therapists will describe themselves according to different disciplines. We recommend a cognitive behavioral therapist — ideally, one who has had lots of experience (and success) in treating patients who have OCD.
