More to Know about OCD Treatment: The Aspire Counseling Approach
If you are struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), you are not alone. OCD is a very common mental health condition that can impact every area of your life. In fact, it's estimated that between 2-3 million people in the United States have OCD right now.
However, there is good news-OCD can be treated successfully! Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the absolute best evidence-based treatment for OCD. It's backed by research and (most importantly) we've seen it change the lives of clients we live with. At Aspire Counseling, we specialize in treating anxiety disorders like OCD. In fact, more and more of our therapists are getting trained specifically in treating OCD using ERP. Our approach to OCD treatment is based on the latest research and has helped many people achieve freedom from their OCD symptoms.
Evidence Based OCD Treatment Using ERP
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the most effective treatment for OCD that is backed by research. ERP therapy involves gradually exposing yourself to the things you're afraid of and learning to resist the urge to perform compulsions. It might sound a bit counter-intuitive at first, but it really does work!
There are very specific steps to go through with ERP that our clinicians follow.
But....Our Counselors Don't Just Treat You Like a Diagnosis
The fear that people often have when we talk about evidence-based psychotherapy services like ERP people worry that they'll just be treated like any other person who has OCD. That's not the case at all with our approach! We believe that every person is unique and deserves individualized care.
That means we take into account your specific symptoms, strengths, weaknesses, values, and goals when developing your treatment plan. No two people are alike-so why should their OCD treatment be?
Exposures
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All of the exposures we do are completely individualized to YOU. Before starting, your therapist will help you develop a list of the triggers that lead to your anxious thoughts or compulsions. Then, they'll use those to inform the exposure activities you do as part of your OCD Treatment.
In-Vivo Exposure
In-vivo exposure is when you face your fears in real life. This might mean (for example) touching things you normally avoid, or going places you normally wouldn't go. The goal is to help you get used to the anxiety-provoking situations and learn that you can handle them without performing compulsions.
Imaginal Exposure
This is when you imagine the anxiety-provoking situations in your mind. It might sound strange, but it can actually be very effective! Imaginal exposure allows you to work through your fears in a safe and controlled environment.
For example, if you are afraid you'll shoplift at the grocery store you might write out an account of yourself shoplifting, getting caught and being arrested. Then you might read that aloud to your therapist (or on your own as homework) and talk about that experience. The first time, it will feel really overwhelming. But as you do it over and over again it will become much easier....boring even.
Response Prevention
Response prevention is when you learn to resist performing compulsions. This might mean (for example) not washing your hands after exposure activities, or not checking the locks on your door multiple times.
It's important to remember that compulsions provide temporary relief from anxiety, but they actually make the OCD worse in the long run. So learning to resist them is a critical part of treatment.
EMDR for OCD
EMDR on it's own isn't an evidence based treatment for OCD. However, several of our anxiety therapists are trained in EMDR. Therefore, there may be times when one of our therapist uses EMDR techniques in conjunction with ERP or other exposure based interventions to help our clients process and manage their anxiety and OCD.
Online OCD Treatment in Missouri
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For years, Aspire Counseling primarily saw clients who live in the Mid-Missouri area...although we did have clients drive as far as three hours each way for treatment at times! Luckily, in the last few years, we've become experts at online counseling. And we've learned that online anxiety treatment in particular can be really, really effective.
By offering online anxiety & OCD treatment, we've been able to treat clients from all over the state of Missouri. So, while we only have therapists who live in a few parts of the state (namely Columbia, Blue Springs & the Franklin County area), we have been able to treat OCD no matter where people live in the state. We've had clients with OCD in various parts of the Kansas City area, in Southern Missouri or even the Kirksville area.
Online OCD Treatment vs. In Person OCD Treatment: They're Pretty Similar
We offer the same type of treatment if you're attending counseling sessions online....the therapist is just there with you virtually. In fact, sometimes our exposures can be even more effective online, because you're able to carry your computer/tablet/phone with you to the very place you experience the anxiety.
For example, if one of your obsessions is a fear that someone will break into your house there are distinct benefits to having your therapy session while sitting in your house. Or, if you are afraid you'll set your house on fire by forgetting to turn off the stove a great exposure activity can be turning the stove on and walking into the other room while on a call with your therapist. That way, your therapist can provide you support in the moment as your anxiety spikes.
Comprehensive OCD Treatment Services in Missouri
At Aspire Counseling, our therapists understand anxiety, and we have several who really understand OCD specifically and have training in Exposure & Response Prevention, the most effective OCD treatment intervention available.
Through online counseling services, we can work with residents anywhere in the state of Missouri, which means we can provide OCD treatment no matter where you live.
If you or someone you know is struggling with OCD, please reach out to us. We would be more than happy to help!
About the Author
Jessica Tappana is the founder and director of Aspire Counseling. She's a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and after both professional and personal experience with OCD, she has become really passionate about offering effective, personalized care for people with this illness. In addition to her work at Aspire, Jessica also provides clinical supervision for our counseling intern and provides support to all of the therapists at Aspire Counseling. She lives in Columbia, MO with her husband and two young children.