From experiencing treatment ourselves to treating OCD for decades, we identified two major issues with the current system. First, it was extremely difficult to access a licensed therapist who specializes in OCD, given the lack of providers historically. Second, once you were lucky enough to find a provider, you were still attempting to manage your OCD symptoms alone 99% of the time.
We set out to solve both issues. As a result, we’ve created a solution that goes above and beyond the standard, in-person Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy for OCD – by providing ERP therapy through live, face-to-face video therapy with a licensed therapist specialized in OCD and between-session support.
Here are the six ways NOCD Therapy is different:
#1: Every therapist in our network is both trained and actively mentored by our clinical leadership team, made up of experts and researchers who each have 20+ years of experience serving the OCD community.
Effective OCD treatment can be complex, so specialized training matters. Our therapists work side-by-side with world-renowned OCD leaders who have designed some of the world’s top OCD treatment programs. These leaders build our protocols at NOCD and actively manage them today, and they conduct rigorous training in OCD and ERP – evidence-based therapy that’s been proven to be the most effective treatment for OCD. All of this ensures that our members get the best care.
Additionally, each NOCD therapist receives ongoing clinical mentorship and professional development from our clinical leadership team, which includes weekly sessions and peer collaboration with our network of OCD specialists, one-on-one case consultations, assessments of ERP treatment plans to guarantee efficacy, and more. Learn more about how NOCD drives clinical excellence through training and mentorship.
#2: Anyone in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Ontario can access a qualified licensed therapist who specializes in OCD and ERP – no matter where they live, and within days on average instead of months.
In the past, finding a therapist specialized in OCD has been notoriously difficult – if not almost impossible in some regions, especially in rural areas – given the state-by-state mental health licensing laws and scarcity of ERP-trained providers. Now, gone are the days where people with OCD can’t access ERP therapy because they live in a region where there aren’t enough licensed therapists that specialize in ERP, or where the specialists don’t have availability for months. As a telehealth service and digital behavioral health platform, NOCD can provide live face-to-face ERP Therapy and always-on support for people with OCD regardless of where they are.
When you sign up for NOCD Therapy, our goal is to get you connected with a therapist as soon as possible after signing up. You can guarantee that your licensed therapist is trained in OCD and ERP by our clinical leadership team and is a licensed mental health therapist in your area. We’re even working on further expanding across the globe to help more people.
#3: Our therapy is 100% online, through face-to-face video sessions. In many cases, online therapy for OCD is more effective than in-person therapy. That’s because your therapist can do exposure exercises with you in the places that trigger your symptoms, so you can confront your fears in the appropriate environment.
The greatest difference between ERP therapy in person versus online is the setting in which the treatment is taking place. In person, ERP might occur in a therapist’s office with the clinician in the same room. Online ERP sessions, however, most frequently occur in the member’s home or location of choice.
The former may seem like the best option, as having the therapist with you in a controlled environment can feel safer. But the goal of ERP is to confront the fears and anxieties in your daily life, not in the controlled setting of an office. Online ERP therapy also allows the therapist to work with you in settings and situations where your triggers are most likely present — and where obsessions or compulsions are most likely to occur.
#4: Even when you’re not in a session with your therapist, you’ll always have support from NOCD. You have unlimited access to peer communities and can use self-help tools to practice your exposure exercises more easily, to help you get better. You’ll also be connected with a Personal Peer Advisor – a member of our team who has experienced OCD and completed ERP treatment at NOCD Therapy – and can participate in virtual support groups with other members of the NOCD community.
Between sessions is often when people with OCD need help the most, since those are times you’re not working with your therapist and because OCD is chronic. That’s why additional support is available in the NOCD platform through self-help tools, to help with ERP therapy exercises and homework. There are even specific tools for unexpected episodes that you can use any time OCD suddenly strikes.
Further, it’s important to feel connected and understood when you have OCD, and to know that you’re not alone. If you need someone to talk to who truly gets you, or if you’re experiencing OCD thoughts that are making you feel isolated, guilty, or ashamed, you can get peer support from members of the NOCD community, virtual support groups, and your personal Peer Advisor.
#5: Messaging is a key component of the NOCD Therapy experience. If things get tough between sessions, you can message your therapist inside the NOCD platform.
We want to be sure that we are available to assist you throughout the therapeutic experience, even when you’re not in a session with your therapist. As you’re on your treatment journey, you can always message your therapist with questions, concerns, or anything you might need. All messaging is done conveniently and confidentially via the NOCD platform.
#6: Our goal is to make effective treatment as affordable as possible. NOCD Therapy is covered by many of our members’ insurance plans, and we work with members paying out-of-pocket to manage costs in a way that meets their needs.
In the past, ERP therapy has not only been difficult to access because of a shortage of providers who specialize in treating OCD worldwide, but even more so due to the substantial costs of treatment. Working with an ERP-trained therapist could cost $250-350 (or more) per session, and most often, these costs were paid out-of-pocket as ERP has not typically been covered by insurance.
NOCD set out to change things and became committed to helping more people start effective treatment without the cost being a barrier. Our members find that their out-of-pocket costs are significantly less than what specialists charge in their area.
Additionally, we’ve partnered with many insurance providers – including UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Humana, many Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, and more – so members can receive OCD treatment through their behavioral health plan benefits. It’s one of the first times that ERP therapy has ever been insurance-backed.
If you are experiencing OCD and are seeking help, we’re here for you. You can book a free 15-minute phone call with our team, or check out our directory of therapists.
Please know, if you start treatment at NOCD Therapy and it isn’t right for you, we can connect you to another provider.
