OCD recovery does not respond to traditional Talking Therapies, this can actually reinforce and increase your symptoms. Therefore, when looking for a therapist it is incredibly important to find someone who is experienced and holds the relevant qualifications to treat OCD.

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What to look for in an OCD Therapist: Gold Standard Treatment (basically means this has the MOST evidence for treating symptoms) is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), as well as Cognitive Therapy through the process of updating beliefs and behavioural experiments. 

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Inference Based CBT (I-CBT) is also highly evidenced, and approaches OCD not through modules on inference based theory; particularly helpful if you have tried and didn't find ERP helpful. Acceptance and Commitment Therpay (ACT) and Compassionate Focused Therapy (CFT) are both excellent additions to ERP and some people find them helpful in isolation.

There is emerging research that shows evidence based Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is also helpful at treating trauma onset OCD, and/or to reduce the intensity of the urges within OCD. This is less commonly known, but you'll notice we have a handful of therapists that can offer EMDR here.

At OCFree we are passionate about making that as easy as possible for you, and so, we have brought together some of our trusted colleagues and made it accessible for you to source your therapist right here.   All of our therapists are associates, which means you will be contracted under their working policy, but we have vetted and work closely to ensure CPD and Supervision is maintained in an OCD Informed way.  All therapists on this page will offer OCD specialist support in different ways, so maybe notice whose vibe you are most drawn to when choosing your therapist. 

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You can choose to work with Charlotte or Jess, one of our affiliates, or state that you are open to working with anyone if you have specifics in regards to the time you may want sessions for example.  It's not guaranteed that any of the therapists listed will have availability straight away, but you can go on a waiting list if you choose to do so. You can also check out or group sessions which you may find has a shorter waiting time.