Intensive Treatment for OCD
Access to experts who specialize in the treatment of OCD and other anxiety disorders is very limited. You might have to travel a great distance to find quality psychological services for these problems. And, it might not be practical to drive such distances on a weekly basis (or more frequently) for therapy sessions. You might also have a particularly severe case of OCD that requires more than just weekly treatment sessions.
I offer an intensive outpatient treatment program for people with OCD who live out of town and are willing to travel to Chapel Hill, North Carolina for therapy, or who live locally and need to have treatment sessions on a frequent basis.
COVID-19 update - March 2021: During the COVID-19 pandemic I have been doing all intensive treatment remotely via Zoom. As of the spring of 2021, I am able to resume some in-person intensive treatment as needed. We can discuss this option during the initial consultation.
How does intensive treatment work?
1. An initial consultation (in person or by telephone) is required to make sure that the patient is a good match for the program. During the consultation Dr. Abramowitz will assess your symptoms and describe the treatment program in greater detail.
2. The treatment program itself is 3 weeks long and it involves individual outpatient therapy sessions (exposure and response prevention). All sessions are 60-90 minutes with me. Sessions are scheduled on Monday through Friday for the 3 weeks (no weekends). Patients are given practice assignments to work on between the daily sessions.
3. Patients are responsible for their own accommodations and for their own transportation to and from treatment sessions. A list of convenient places to stay can be found here.
4. Patients who wish to bring a significant other who can help with therapy are welcomed to do so. This person is welcome to attend some (or all) of the treatment sessions and will be taught how to help with treatment.
5. At the end of the program, I will work with you to find a professional closer to home who can help you maintain improvement. I will continue to be available by telephone (or follow-up visit if necessary) to help you stay well.
How do you know that this treatment is helpful?
Lots of research has been conducted to evaluate the effects of intensive exposure and response prevention for OCD. The studies show that this treatment is (a) associated with about 60% to 70% reduction in OCD symptoms (of course, this is the average-- individual differences might lead to more or less improvement), and (b) as effective (if not more so) than medications for OCD.
But don't take my word for it... read the studies for yourself:
Effectiveness of intensive outpatient treatment for OCD
Outpatient intensive treatment compared to medication for OCD
I offer an intensive outpatient treatment program for people with OCD who live out of town and are willing to travel to Chapel Hill, North Carolina for therapy, or who live locally and need to have treatment sessions on a frequent basis.
COVID-19 update - March 2021: During the COVID-19 pandemic I have been doing all intensive treatment remotely via Zoom. As of the spring of 2021, I am able to resume some in-person intensive treatment as needed. We can discuss this option during the initial consultation.
How does intensive treatment work?
1. An initial consultation (in person or by telephone) is required to make sure that the patient is a good match for the program. During the consultation Dr. Abramowitz will assess your symptoms and describe the treatment program in greater detail.
2. The treatment program itself is 3 weeks long and it involves individual outpatient therapy sessions (exposure and response prevention). All sessions are 60-90 minutes with me. Sessions are scheduled on Monday through Friday for the 3 weeks (no weekends). Patients are given practice assignments to work on between the daily sessions.
3. Patients are responsible for their own accommodations and for their own transportation to and from treatment sessions. A list of convenient places to stay can be found here.
4. Patients who wish to bring a significant other who can help with therapy are welcomed to do so. This person is welcome to attend some (or all) of the treatment sessions and will be taught how to help with treatment.
5. At the end of the program, I will work with you to find a professional closer to home who can help you maintain improvement. I will continue to be available by telephone (or follow-up visit if necessary) to help you stay well.
How do you know that this treatment is helpful?
Lots of research has been conducted to evaluate the effects of intensive exposure and response prevention for OCD. The studies show that this treatment is (a) associated with about 60% to 70% reduction in OCD symptoms (of course, this is the average-- individual differences might lead to more or less improvement), and (b) as effective (if not more so) than medications for OCD.
But don't take my word for it... read the studies for yourself:
Effectiveness of intensive outpatient treatment for OCD
Outpatient intensive treatment compared to medication for OCD