While medication is the most common treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, counseling and behavioral therapies are not far behind. A combination of counseling and medication can often be the best and most effective treatment for people who have the disorder, otherwise known as OCD. These therapies can be practiced both in the doctor’s office and at home for maximum impact and the best treatment results.

The Different Therapies

There are a couple of different types of therapies doctors may recommend for their patients. Behavioral therapy is one type that is popular. This type of therapy does include the exposure and response prevention therapy that is recommended in the home treatment section. This type of therapy can be very effective in treating people with OCD as it encourages them to overcome their sense of dread and fear of the unknown. The therapy involves the patient exposing himself to something that invokes fear, such as a dirty sink for someone who is afraid of germs. The person must then deny himself the ritual of hand-washing in order to successfully complete the therapy. Instead of performing the ritual, the person must do something else or may choose to contact a family member or loved one. Breaking the habit of performing a ritual each time the patient is exposed to something fear-provoking helps to eventually ease the symptoms of the disorder.

Cognitive therapy is also valuable in helping patients overcome their fears. This type of therapy, practiced with a professional, can help patients overcome their irrational sense of dread or fear of contamination, germs, or other concerns. Overcoming these fears is the first step to overcoming repeatedly performing certain rituals like washing or checking.

Family therapy may also be an option, as friends and family who do not understand the disorder may potentially become frustrated or fed up. This type of therapy involves the patient and his family, in order to make the patient’s family more aware of what the disease involves. This includes the fact that OCD is an actual disorder with real problems, not just something the patient is making up.

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