The gold standard treatment in Louisville KY for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is called Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP). ERP is a form of behavioral therapy that gradually exposes an individual to thoughts, feelings, sensations, and situations related to their fears. The skills a person learns in the course of ERP helps them to resist urges to perform compulsive behaviors and rituals. Children, adolescents, and adults can expect a success rate of 65% to 80% when treated with ERP. Individuals being treated for OCD using ERP are taught how to confront their fears without engaging in compulsive behavior.

OCD Treatment in Louisville KY

Another approach that’s been shown to be effective in the treatment of OCD is Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT interventions are aimed at teaching people how to let go of their inner struggle with thoughts and emotions so that they can move forward in their lives by engaging actively in their personal values. When applied to OCD, this treatment approach is often referred to as “ACT-enhanced ERP.” Since obsessive thoughts and compulsive urges occur automatically or involuntarily, patients are taught to willingly accept their presence, resist engaging in compulsive behavior, and direct their decisions towards their commitment to their values.

Both ERP and ACT can be used successfully whether or not a patient is taking medication for their OCD. A class of antidepressant medication called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be prescribed for OCD.

If you are seeking treatment for OCD, then it is critical to choose a therapist with specialized training in ERP or ACT-enhanced ERP. Therapists using other approaches to treat OCD are likely to do more harm than good. The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) recommends asking a therapist the following questions while considering a new provider:

• “What techniques do you use to treat OCD?”
• “Do you use exposure with response prevention to treat OCD?”
• “What is your training and background in treating OCD?”

The licensed therapists at Reclaim Wellness Group are trained and experienced to treat OCD as specialists. They have dedicated their careers to taking part in and consuming OCD research, as well as training and consulting with other licensed clinicians in an effort to reach more individuals in desperate need of care. Our therapists attend annual conferences that are specific to OCD and anxiety disorders, such as the Annual OCD Conference held by IOCDF. They have established relationships with psychiatric providers in the region who are trained to prescribe medications with the best research support for treating OCD.

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Contact us today to learn more about in-person and virtual options for individual psychotherapy in Louisville, KY.