Mental Health Professionals
Given the complexity of OCD, it’s important that treatment is delivered by a qualified mental health professional—someone with tertiary training in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions.
Finding the right practitioner can take time. You might begin by speaking with your GP or asking trusted people in your network. This page also includes links to reputable directories and databases to help you find professionals with experience in treating OCD.
What to look for in a Mental Health Professional?
When it comes to finding a mental health professional, find out about fees and waiting lists, but most importantly, you want to find out if they have experience in the area that you are after; Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
While therapists might use a variety of approaches, those who have experience with OCD will know that ERP is the gold standard treatment for OCD.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) does incorporate ERP - but a therapist who works with OCD understands that ERP is a core component of the work.
Australia
In Australia, treatment for OCD is typically provided by psychologists and psychiatrists. You can choose to see a practitioner privately; however, this can be costly without rebates.
A more affordable option is to speak with your GP about a Mental Health Care Plan (be sure to book a longer appointment). This plan can provide access to Medicare-subsidised sessions with a registered mental health professional.
OCD Bounce
Australian mental health professionals. Clinicians are added to the database if they are nominated by another practitioner as having experience with OCD (or self-nominate with proof).
The people on this list are likely to have good experience with OCD but the list is still short as the database is relatively new (don't panic if your practitioner isn't on here yet!)
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Australian & NZ psychiatrists that are members of the RANZP.
Unknown if the psychiatrists self-nominate or need to be nominated by another practitioner.
Australian Psychological Society
The Find A Psychologist search engine list Australian psychologists who are members of the APS.
This is a large data base of psychologist who have self-nominated their interest to work with OCD.
SO OCD
The SO OCD duo have done a great job in compiling a list of professionals who work with OCD in Australia.
Unknown how psychologists and psychiatrists are added to this list.
International
International OCD Foundation
A search engine for all types of mental health professionals.
Based in the US but includes clinicians from around the world. Clinicians self-nominate their interest in working with OCD
In the US, psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), and licensed professional counsellors (LPC) can treat OCD.
OCD UK
Rather than post the individual search engines (and try to explain a process that I am not familiar with!) I have linked to the OCD UK website.
OCD UK have done an excellent job of creating information pages that outline the different ways to access an appropriately trained therapist in the UK.
