Advanced Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for OCD: 3-Video Series
Presented by
8 hr 31 min
8.25 CE Credits
Reid Wilson’s groundbreaking work in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder is by traditional CBT standards, unconventional, even provocative; especially for clinicians who have neither been trained in exposure therapy or have been resistant to using the approach. However, by watching him work with these three clients, along with Wilson’s running voiceover commentaries, and pre- and post-session analyses with Psychotherapy.net’s founder Dr. Victor Yalom, you will quickly understand the nature of the disorder, and how to harness his powerful methods for helping OCD clients develop new and healthy ways of living with uncertainty and more fully engaging with their recovery.
Engaging the Ambivalent OCD Client
3 hr 3 min
Working with therapeutic resistance is often discussed in psychotherapy training, but the ambivalent OCD client poses a unique challenge for clinicians. Here, renowned anxiety and OCD expert Reid Wilson demonstrates a counterintuitive cognitive-behavioral approach to confronting safety-seeking behaviors so that these clients can maintain their commitment to recovery. Kathleen struggles with anxiety about two main issues: accidentally setting her house on fire, and getting vulnerable relatives sick from her germs. Compelled by pervasive self-doubt, she repeatedly checks to make sure her stove is turned off and washes her hands up to 30 times a day to ward off contamination. This need for absolute certainty also extends to checking her door locks and kitchen faucets, which robs her of valuable time. Yet her belief in the persuasive content of her fears requires Wilson to skillfully manage her ambivalence.
In these two live sessions with Kathleen, Wilson shows us how a pragmatic assessment, clear protocols for exposure experiments, and a thorough briefing about the insidious nature of OCD can alleviate, rather than validate, the need for reassurance that drives anxiety. With humor and clarity, he passionately encourages Kathleen to rise above the content of her obsessive thoughts and practice moving towards that which she fears, supporting her in learning to tolerate uncertainty.
Treating the Severe OCD Client
2 hr 45 min
Severe OCD can seem hopelessly intractable, especially when a client has invested significant time in past therapy. Watch Reid Wilson work with Bob, a young, fit personal trainer who comes to Wilson claiming that now is his worst time with OCD, which he’s suffered since age 10. Trying to avoid anything that triggers his fear of getting stuck in escalating anxiety, Bob is losing sleep, showing up late to the work he loves, and lacking the mental space he needs to build a successful life. What’s more, months of previous exposure-based therapy has barely helped him, leaving Bob without the tools to manage his daily life.
In two sessions with Bob, Wilson demonstrates the core concepts underlying his distinctive approach to treating anxiety disorders. With compassion, clarity, and aggressive analogies that leverage Bob’s courageous temperament, he passionately encourages him to rise above the content of his obsessive thoughts and practice moving towards that which he fears, supporting him in learning to tolerate uncertainty. Calling on Bob’s innate fighting spirit, he helps him “bring it on”—and dramatically alter his relationship to anxiety.
Cognitive Therapy for Obsessions
2 hr 44 min
Rita, a middle-aged mother, is plagued with anxiety about her health. Obsessed with what might be wrong with her, she spends much of her time seeking reassurance that she’s okay, from repeated internet searches to excessive doctors’ visits. Trying to avoid anything that triggers her fear of having a heart attack, Rita is missing out on living the active lifestyle she longs to live and barely enjoys time with her family and friends.
While falling under the umbrella of the anxiety disorders, Reid treats those with health anxiety with the same methods as he uses with OCD. With humor, compassion and impressive persistence, he masterfully helps Rita do a 180° turn when it comes to how she’s approaching her worries. Challenging conventional wisdom about how to get better, Wilson’s paradoxical approach to change is reminiscent of Buddhist teachings that talk about suffering coming from resistance. Urging her to want her symptoms when they are present, as opposed to trying to get rid of them, he turns everything upside down, making for a fascinating and refreshing approach to anxiety disorders in particular and life in general.
While kind and patient, in these two sessions with Rita, Wilson is at times somewhat pushy and aggressive. On this aspect of his approach he says: “This method can be challenging to therapists who work in a less directive, more client-centered way. But these clients are really stuck in a faulty belief system. If we aren’t aggressive in our tactics, then we are going to be at the work for a long time.”
So, if you’re looking for a fresh understanding of OCD and effective ways to treat its self-reinforcing and destructive, all-consuming grip on clients, you’ll find that and more in these riveting demonstrations of Wilson’s engaging, lively, and highly effective approach.
What You Get in This Course
- Over 8 hours of videos featuring OCD expert Reid Wilson conducting clinical sessions
- Behind-the-scenes commentary to clearly explain the hows and whys of these cognitive-behavioral interventions
- Supplemental skill-building activities to practice the core features demonstrated in the videos
- Written transcripts of all videos
- Lifetime access to all course materials
- Earn up to 8.25 CE Credits, included in the course
What the Experts Are Saying…
