Finding an OCD therapist can be challenging. Many people seeking help for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are unsure how to determine whether a therapist has the specialized training needed to effectively treat OCD.
It is easy to assume that any mental health professional will be able to treat OCD. While therapists are often highly skilled and well-intentioned, OCD is a complex condition that frequently requires specialized knowledge, training, and experience.
In my own work treating OCD, I have often met clients who spent months or even years in therapy before realizing that the approaches being used were not helping their OCD symptoms. In some cases, treatment may have unintentionally reinforced the disorder.
OCD Is More Complex Than Many People Realize
When I presented on OCD at the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) Conference in 2025, one of the most common comments I heard from therapists afterward was:
“I didn’t realize that approach wasn’t helpful for OCD.”
These conversations highlighted an important reality: OCD is often misunderstood, even by experienced mental health professionals.
This is not because therapists lack skill or compassion. Rather, OCD can be surprisingly nuanced and difficult to recognize. Many therapists receive limited formal training in OCD treatment during graduate school and may encounter relatively few OCD clients throughout their careers.
As a result, it can be easy to underestimate the complexity of the disorder.
OCD Comes in Many Different Forms
Many people associate OCD with excessive handwashing or checking behaviours. While those presentations certainly exist, OCD can take many different forms.
Some common OCD subtypes include:
- Contamination OCD
- Harm OCD
- Relationship OCD (ROCD)
- Scrupulosity (religious or moral OCD)
- False Memory OCD
- Sexual Orientation OCD
- Health Anxiety and Somatic OCD
- Existential OCD
Although these themes may look very different on the surface, the underlying OCD process is often remarkably similar.
This is one reason specialized OCD training is so important. A therapist who is unfamiliar with OCD may focus heavily on the content of the obsession rather than the process that is maintaining it.
A Common Pitfall: Chasing the Content
One of the most common mistakes in OCD treatment is becoming overly focused on whether the client’s feared outcome is true.
For example, a therapist may spend considerable time helping a client analyze intrusive thoughts, evaluate evidence, or determine whether a feared event is likely to occur.
While this approach may seem logical, it can unintentionally feed the OCD cycle.
OCD is often driven by an intolerance of uncertainty. The problem is usually not a lack of information. Rather, the individual struggles to tolerate not knowing with complete certainty.
When treatment becomes focused on answering OCD’s questions, the disorder often responds by generating new questions.
The result can be more rumination, more reassurance-seeking, and more distress.
Why Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Matters
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is widely considered the gold-standard psychological treatment for OCD.
ERP helps individuals gradually face situations, thoughts, feelings, and uncertainties that trigger their OCD while resisting the urge to perform compulsions, seek reassurance, or engage in mental rituals.
Over time, people learn that they can tolerate uncertainty and discomfort without responding to OCD’s demands. As they stop feeding the OCD cycle, symptoms often begin to decrease.
Because ERP differs significantly from traditional supportive counselling approaches, it is important to work with an OCD therapist who has specific training and experience in this method.
Questions to Ask a Potential OCD Therapist
If you are looking for an OCD therapist, consider asking:
- What formal training have you received in OCD treatment?
- Have you completed specialized ERP training?
- How many OCD clients do you currently treat?
- Is OCD one of your primary areas of practice?
- Are you familiar with different OCD subtypes?
- Are you a member of organizations focused on OCD treatment and education, such as the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)?
These questions can help you determine whether a therapist has developed genuine competency in OCD treatment.
Experience Matters
OCD treatment is a specialized area of practice. Reading about OCD and treating OCD are not the same thing.
When evaluating an OCD therapist, it can be helpful to ask how frequently they work with OCD. A clinician who treats one or two OCD clients per year may have a very different level of experience than someone who works with OCD on a regular basis.
As with any specialized area of healthcare, repetition, supervision, training, and experience all contribute to competence.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right OCD therapist can make a significant difference in your recovery journey.
While many therapists are compassionate and highly effective clinicians, OCD often requires specialized knowledge, training, and experience. Understanding the unique nature of OCD, recognizing its many subtypes, and using evidence-based approaches such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) are important components of effective treatment.
If you are seeking support for OCD, do not hesitate to ask potential therapists about their training, experience, and treatment approach. Finding someone with specialized expertise may help you make meaningful progress more quickly and avoid some of the common pitfalls that can unintentionally keep OCD stuck.
If you are looking for an OCD therapist in British Columbia, working with a clinician who specializes in OCD and ERP may help you build the skills needed to overcome OCD and reclaim your life.
About the Author
Brendon Boire, RCC, M.A. (Leadership), is the Founder and Clinical Director of New Heights OCD & Anxiety in North Vancouver, British Columbia. He specializes in the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders using evidence-based approaches, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
Prior to founding New Heights OCD & Anxiety, Brendon served as a Clinical Counsellor Practice Lead with Vancouver Coastal Health. He has presented on OCD treatment and clinical practice at professional conferences, including the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) Conference.
