Our OCD Treatment Philosophy

The most effective treatments for OCD and related disorders are a specific type of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and psychotropic medication. When practiced appropriately, ERP can be effective in more than 70% of pediatric and adolescent cases of OCD and related disorders. This specific modality of therapy has the strongest evidence supporting its use in the treatment of OCD, as do a specific class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. When combined, these therapies can have significant and synergistic treatment efficacy.

Our psychotherapists are well-trained in the treatment of OCD and related disorders, and utilize Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to do so. They work with you and your child to help better understand the science behind how and why ERP works and customize your specific exposure-based treatment plan. Our therapists measure the efficacy of the customized treatment plan by engaging in regular follow-up assessments. A client’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS ) score or Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CYBOCS) score (for clients under 18) is monitored closely and regularly to determine the efficacy of treatment, dosage, type of medication, and appropriate level of care.

Treatment That Extends To The Home

Perhaps the most important component of Thrive’s unique and evidence-based approach to the treatment of OCD and related disorders is our family-intensive approach. For individuals pursuing treatment at the PHP and IOP levels of care, family is included in the assessment, weekly psychotherapy sessions, medication management sessions, and weekly communication with care coordinators. We emphasize the inclusion of family for three main reasons:

Within the treatment of OCD, the cessation of “family accommodation” is perhaps one of the most critical components. Family Accommodation is the willingness of parents, caregivers, and significant others to allow, facilitate, or participate in a client’s rituals, compulsions, and/or avoidance as it relates to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and related disorders. The degree to which families can stop accommodating a client’s OCD and anxiety-based behaviors at home is directly correlated with the degree to which a client can achieve recovery. Family Accommodation can involve the following: offering reassurance when a client engages in “checking behaviors”, modifying the family’s routine, avoiding situations that may trigger the client’s anxiety/obsessional fears, and waiting for a client to complete compulsions.
OCD can severely impact the level of insight a client has into their own level of functioning, as well as their level of suffering. It can also impact their ability to understand whether a behavior falls into the category of “compulsion” vs “normal behavior.” Involving a parent or loved one in the assessment and ongoing treatment process can provide critical insight into the treatment planning process, and provide ongoing information about the efficacy of treatment.
Finally, ERP is highly dose-dependent and relies heavily on a client’s ability and willingness to participate in frequent, home-based exposure work that is effectively tracked and communicated back to the clinician. Parents, caregivers, and loved ones are the key to successfully engaging child and adolescent clients in in-home exposure trials. Parents must be present to effectively introduce the feared stimulus and help their child block any compulsions that may arise. Ultimately, training parents in ERP allows a client to receive a higher and ultimately more effective dose of treatment.