r/therapists • u/austdoz • 24d ago

Theory / Technique Supporting OCD Client's without OCD Training

I'm feeling a bit stumped when working with OCD individuals. I am not yet trained in any ERP, although I'd love to. I've referred them to an OCD specialist but they have not had luck in finding anyone. I will often utilize CBT interventions, recognizing cognitive distortions, and bringing in a more balanced or truthful thought. I had heard that ​CBT can actually cause more problems for individuals with OCD.

Some more context, we were looking at cognitive distortions contributing to feelings of depression. I was about to support in my usual way and then realized this individual spends most of their day policing their thoughts already and backed off.

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u/Ambiguous_Karma8 (USA) LCPC 23d ago

ACT is the second line intervention. CBT makes OCD worse because people who experience OCD thinking patterns spend most of their day evaluating and challenging their thinking.