Individual OCD Therapy sessions
Once clients complete their comprehensive assessments they are ready to begin their OCD recovery journey! Individual OCD therapy begins with two Introduction to OCD Therapy sessions. This involves the client and therapist evaluating previous therapy experiences that may have shaped a client’s perception of therapy. Introduction to OCD Therapy gives clients permission to adjust to the differences between traditional talk therapy and the ERP techniques that are most effective for OCD treatment. This time is used to reset what a client thinks therapy “should” be, prepares clients for the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, allows the client and therapist to develop a therapeutic rapport and provides space to discuss motivation and set goals for treatment. The client and therapist also use this time to discuss expectations and any barriers/successes the client has had in previous treatments programs.
The heart of OCD therapy then begins with a treatment planning session followed by psycho-educational sessions where clients learn more about OCD’s function and the connection between their specific obsessions and compulsions. With the support of the therapist, clients will also spend time learning to slowly approach their intrusive thoughts and how to eliminate compulsions. Treatment sessions are grounded in the evidence-based treatment protocol for OCD (ERP). Please note that depending on your level of severity, treatment length can vary. Towards the end of the client’s treatment program, there are also sessions devoted to relapse prevention.
Occasionally, it is necessary to include family members in a portion of a client’s individual sessions. Usually incorporating family members is helpful in providing information on how to best support a client while in treatment. One family session may be useful in the beginning of treatment planning, as well as one toward the end of treatment so that relatives are aware of how to support clients once treatment has ended. If clients are interested in a family member participating in more treatment sessions, this will be at the discretion of the therapist once it is discussed with the client.
Individual Family sessions
OCD Set Free family sessions can be incorporated into a client’s planned session or be a completely separate session. Family sessions usually reveal the healthy and unhealthy dynamics that occur between the client and their loved ones. These sessions serve two purposes: 1. To support family members in gaining a deeper understanding of OCD, how it has impacted the family structure, and how to resolve any conflict that has developed within the relationship as a result of OCD, 2. Family members learn ways that they have accommodated or enabled their loved one. During these sessions, families learn valuable skills that better support the progression of treatment, without doing rituals for their loved one, or supporting avoidance. Family members will have an opportunity to take a brief assessment, which identifies some of the OCD specific trouble spots within the family. Family sessions are available even if your loved one is not currently utilizing our services for OCD treatment.
Booster/Maintenance sessions
Relapse prevention is the number one goal of our maintenance sessions. Booster sessions reinforce the skills that you previously learned in ERP treatment and support clients in staying on track in order to maintain their treatment goals. Sometimes clients, out of habit, resume compulsions accidentally. Booster sessions are supportive sessions that discourage clients from feeling guilt from these actions. Instead, we work to reestablish the gains that clients previously had upon completion of ERP therapy.
These sessions are reserved strictly for individuals who have previously gone through ERP treatment with our clinic or previously gone through ERP treatment with another clinic. If you previously received treatment at another clinic and would like to participate in our booster sessions, please be aware that you will need to participate in our Introduction to Therapy sessions, participate in our diagnostic assessments and provide a record of your previous treatment before we can initiate our services.
**Please note that booster sessions are not appropriate for all individuals, and OCD Set Free reserves the right to deny requests for participation in these sessions and recommend a more appropriate treatment option within our program or another program.**
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