First appointment

[Hels40]

Hello all 

I have just had my first appointment with a cbt therapist since self referring myself for Ocd and it didn't go too well. The therapist didn't seem to under Pure O at all, implied that maybe I needed to give my relationship 3 or 4 years as we had only been together a year after saying my obsessions were related to our relationship (regarding cheating fears and blowing up small flaws). He asked how our sexual relationship was and then when I tried to explain my sexuality ocd fears, he acted like he had never heard of that theme either. He also said that maybe I just have general anxiety rather than ocd and thrn asked if I had been abused in the past. I ended the call in tears and asked if I could be referred to someone more specialised in ocd. Has this ever happened to anyone before? I honestly felt like an alien and it has thrown up doubts I don't need. 

I has CBT 10 years ago and it was so beneficial. I won't let this destroy my day as I know I have ocd but it has made me quite wary of opening up now to someone else in case they don't understand me

Thanks for listening 

[Gemma@OCDUK]

Hi Hels,

I'm really sorry to hear about your first therapy session today. It sounds like the therapist didn't have a good understanding of OCD and was asking questions that were naturally going to fuel more doubts and cause you distress. It does happen unfortunately that not all therapists have as good an understanding of OCD as we would hope them to. But you did the right thing in advocating for yourself and asking for a different therapist who is more specialised in OCD. 

Hopefully you've taken some time and aren't feeling as upset as earlier. I know it's hard to open up to a therapist again, so perhaps begin by explaining what happened to your new therapist, so that they can help you feel more comfortable

Gemma 

[Hels40]

Thanks so much Gemma for replying. I have calmed down a bit now and am really trying not to 'obsess' about the conversation and just write it off. I do totally understand that the therapist didn't mean any harm. I am thankful that I know enough about ocd to be able to see this. I am now back on the list and will wait to hear. Have had a bad couple of days generally with my thoughts so this just topped me over a bit! 

Thanks again. 

[BelAnna]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience the other day. Well done for asking for a therapist with more knowledge of OCD!

I have had a similar experience with a CBT therapist suggesting that my OCD might be Generalised Anxiety Disorder; even though I have a standard case of OCD (including very obvious contamination compulsions alongside other obsessions) and even though I had by that point already had an inpatient admission to a specialist OCD unit but luckily like you I was able to just disregards the idea!

I hope your next therapist is much more helpful!   

 

 

[gingerbreadgirl]

This sounds very distressing - but for what it's worth I think the way you've dealt with it is fantastic. Asking for a specialist, allowing yourself to be upset for a while and then trying to move past it and not letting it ruin your day. I would be really proud of that if it was me! 

It's very disappointing that there are therapists who don't have proper knowledge of ocd and cause great distress with these types of questions. Hopefully your new therapist will be a lot more suitable and you can make progress with him/her and put this behind you. 

[Caramoole]

Hi Hels....Sorry you had a negative experience

You say you self-referred, was this to a private therapist or through an IAPT service  provider?

[Hels40]

Hi. Thanks Caramoole. This was a self referral through the NHS, I believe it was IAPT. I initially spoke to someone in January and explained how I had been feeling and then got my first appointment today with a cbt therapist. I didn't want to come on here with a negative experience but it was quite upsetting. I was just made to feel like no one ocd fears regarding relationships or sexuality. He said it is very uncommon! Which I know is not true. 

 

[Hels40]

41 minutes ago, gingerbreadgirl said:

This sounds very distressing - but for what it's worth I think the way you've dealt with it is fantastic. Asking for a specialist, allowing yourself to be upset for a while and then trying to move past it and not letting it ruin your day. I would be really proud of that if it was me! 

It's very disappointing that there are therapists who don't have proper knowledge of ocd and cause great distress with these types of questions. Hopefully your new therapist will be a lot more suitable and you can make progress with him/her and put this behind you. 

Thank you so much. My kids are on half term so I just couldn't be too upset! 

[Angst]

Hi Hels40

You handled it well.

Because you had prior experience and knew about what was troubling you and got back on the list for therapy. 

Caramoole asks a good question. How did you met this therapist? You say list so I assume IAPT?

[Hels40]

Thank you so much. Your comments have really helped. It was just self referral through NHS. I am not too sure of the process. I think it is Health in Mind who I spoke to. 

[Hels40]

I have just checked again and it was NHS service Therapy for You IAPT 

[Caramoole]

2 hours ago, Hels40 said:

Hi. Thanks Caramoole. This was a self referral through the NHS, I believe it was IAPT. I initially spoke to someone in January and explained how I had been feeling and then got my first appointment today with a cbt therapist. I didn't want to come on here with a negative experience but it was quite upsetting. I was just made to feel like no one ocd fears regarding relationships or sexuality. He said it is very uncommon! Which I know is not true. 

 

Firstly, don't worry about what he said, it simply shows that he has little or no real knowledge about OCD apart, possibly, from some of the more common themes.  I too hate to be negative but sadly this isn't unusual in my experience.

It is very wrong that when we self-refer for support we find that the inexperience of the "Welfare Practitioner" can make it such a dreadful experience and leave us feeling even more worried and stressed.  It's some time back but I tried the service twice and OCD-Wise it wasn't helpful and had I had less knowledge myself, harmful.

You have done the right thing by raising your concerns, it takes a lot of strength and courage to do that.  What was his response when you asked to be seen by someone more experienced?  These practitioners do all have a supervisor and I'm hoping he will have had to raise it with them.  Is he getting back to you?

[Hels40]

Thank you for your kind words. I received a call yesterday and have been offered an appointment next Thursday with a different therapist. Fingers crossed this goes a lot better! Will keep you posted. Thanks again x

[Caramoole]

Well Done, I'm pleased you've been offered a new appointment

[BelAnna]

16 hours ago, Hels40 said:

Thank you for your kind words. I received a call yesterday and have been offered an appointment next Thursday with a different therapist. Fingers crossed this goes a lot better! Will keep you posted. Thanks again x

Oh that's great! Good luck for your first appointment  .

[Hels40]

Just an update. I just had an appointment with a new therapist. She was a lot more understanding but also said this form of ocd is uncommon. I am wondering now if this is due to the therapists with this service maybe not being as trained in ocd? I am going to give a few sessions a try anyway. 

[BelAnna]

18 hours ago, Hels40 said:

Just an update. I just had an appointment with a new therapist. She was a lot more understanding but also said this form of ocd is uncommon. I am wondering now if this is due to the therapists with this service maybe not being as trained in ocd? I am going to give a few sessions a try anyway. 

That sounds like a good idea to see how things work out for a few sessions and then decide what to do.

At least you know that it's not an uncommon form of OCD. You could maybe gently say so but I guess if she is able to help you then it may not matter! 

[Caramoole]

21 hours ago, Hels40 said:

I am wondering now if this is due to the therapists with this service maybe not being as trained in ocd?

Almost certainly so.  I think it likely they've had virtually no (or almost no) specific training re OCD.  That said, if they are a good therapist and trained in CBT they should be able to help you.  Just watch out that they don't reassure you inadvertently and point it out if you think they are.

A for not having heard of the "type".....again this isn't unusual, there are many GP's who have limited knowledge of the types.  OCD can attach itself to any thought, so the different types are uncalculable, infinite.....however, the treatment is pretty much the same for all, so don't worry too much