The Benefits of Virtual Therapy for OCD
Since the pandemic, it has become pretty normal to have meetings over Zoom or another video conferencing platform. It is also becoming more normal, however, for people to avoid any and all virtual meetings if possible. We’re so excited to have human contact in person! Everyone is different when it comes to something like therapy. Many people love the in person interaction as it helps them be more present and engaged with their therapists. Others love being in the comfort of their own home while processing through things. For individuals with OCD, the “gold standard” of treatment is called Exposure and Response Prevention, or ERP. It is a form of exposure treatment. You would think that this should be done in person, right? There are actually several benefits of doing exposure therapy online. Here are the top three.
Photo by Corinne Kutz on Unsplash downloaded 1/22/24
You can do more “real life” exposures by not being stuck in a therapy office:
Many obsessive thoughts are focused on things that cannot be replicated in the therapy room. For instance, this could be harm-based thoughts in crowds, intrusive thoughts related to a bridge, or concern with leaving a burner on in your kitchen. There are a few ways we can do our best to replicate these in session or use imaginal exposures, but using the real thing is always the best. When you participate in ERP virtually, your therapist can go where you go on your phone. You can do the exposure in your “real life,” with your therapist there, which is the best approach we can take for ERP.
It is easier to blend in when doing exposures in public with your therapist on your phone
Since many of these exposures that need to be done outside of a therapy office do require us to be in public, it can feel much easier to blend in if your therapist can be on the phone, even in your pocket, while you complete the exposure. Exposures are already hard enough on their own. When we add in the element of having someone standing next to you while you do things in public, this can feel like it is drawing extra attention to yourself and adding more stress to the exposure. It’s a way to have support without it being very noticeable!
Allowing your therapist a glimpse into your home environment can give us a lot more information about what your OCD looks like in your daily life:
It is not uncommon for some symptoms of OCD to also present themselves in a client’s home life even if it seems “normal” or not problematic to the client. This could be how something is organized, a preferred place to sit, or how they set up a system to immediately put their clothes in the laundry as soon as they get home. On their own, these behaviors do not directly indicate that someone has OCD. When there are other elements of OCD, however, these behaviors are likely contributing to the OCD symptoms. Give OCD an inch, it will take you a mile. ERP is most effective when we can fully eradicate all compulsions and OCD-like behaviors from your life. Allowing your therapist to see your home through a virtual visit could be very helpful in achieving this.
We have multiple clinicians trained in ERP that offer virtual or in person options. We are happy to talk through your options based on your location and preferences! OCD can be a nasty disorder if we let it run wild. Let one of our clinicians guide you in your path of recovery today!
ERP Therapy in Missouri
Our clinicians at Aspire Counseling know how difficult it can be to live with OCD. That’s why we have several clinicians trained in ERP, which is often used to help treat OCD, and our clinicians can offer ERP services to anyone in the state of Missouri, at either our Columbia Missouri office, or Lee’s Summit Missouri office, or virtually.
Our therapists also work with those experiencing, trauma, depression, grief, disordered eating, anxiety, and LGBTQ+ affirming counseling. We have therapists trained in several evidence based treatments, including EMDR, CPT, TF-CBT, ACT, DBT, and more. Along with working with adults of all ages, we also work with children, teens, college students, and retirement aged adults. Reach out today to begin your therapy journey with Aspire Counseling by filling out our contact form, or calling us at 573-328-2288 ext. 1.
About the Author
Mikayla Wichern, LCSW, and virtual counselor at Aspire Counseling. Mikayla is trained in multiple evidenced based practices such as ERP for OCD.
Mikayla Wichern is an LCSW virtual therapist at Aspire Counseling. Mikayla truly believes in the power of evidence-based practice in care, like ERP for OCD, and she believes in the power of virtual counseling. With online counseling, Mikayla is able to work with anyone located in the state of Missouri experiencing OCD, trauma, depression, grief, anxiety and more. When Mikayla isn’t working at Aspire Counseling, she enjoys getting coffee, and hanging out with her dog!
