Educational Guides
Using research-based best practices in OCD treatment and recovery, The OCD Academy’s in-depth Educational Guides provide detailed information and guidance on a range of important OCD-related topics.
In curating and creating the resource materials for The OCD Academy, we began by reflecting on our years of clinical experience working with people. OCD touches many people's lives, from the people who live with it, their family members who support them, and also health professionals. We wanted to create a set of resources that could be of benefit and help to a broad audience.
Our collection of Educational Guides has been tailored to provide information on a range of specifically chosen topics relating to OCD, including recovery, support, and treatment. Rather than limit the focus of the information to just outlining various aspects of OCD, we felt it was important to create a comprehensive set of educational content that would be of significant value for people struggling with OCD or working towards recovery, for individuals looking for guidance on supporting a loved one with OCD, and for healthcare providers looking to learn more about OCD and its treatments.
The content is structured into five sections, with each individual Educational Guide being dedicated to its own discrete topic. The Educational Guides cover a variety of topic areas, including, exposure therapy, supporting a loved one with OCD, reframing, and other treatment approaches. Recognizing people have different needs, we have structured the Educational Guides so people can use them in one of two ways: approach one is for the Educational Guides to be used individually, as needed – this approach is catered towards people who are looking for information on specific topics; and approach two is for the Educational Guides to be read as a complete set – this approach is catered towards people seeking a whole-picture view.
The Educational Guides are educational in nature and have been developed to be used as a means to increase one’s awareness and knowledge regarding OCD and the OCD recovery process. The Educational Guides are not a form of therapy.
Our complete collection of Educational Guides can be found in the five sections below.
Exposures
The Gold Standard OCD Treatment
Exposure therapy, is also referred to as exposure and response prevention, exposure and ritual prevention, or ERP. It is the gold-standard OCD treatment approach that helps people learn how to make values-based choices instead of being controlled by the rules and restrictions of the OCD.
Frequency and Consistency
How Often "Should" I Do Exposures?
This Educational Guide provides guidelines regarding the length of exposures and how regularly exposure practice is recommended. Information regarding intentional exposures versus spontaneous exposures, and the value of both forms of practice, is provided. Specific barriers to completing exposures are discussed, along with methods to increase the likelihood of successful follow through of exposure practice. Ways that exposure practice can unintentionally present as compulsions, and what to do when this happens, is also covered.
Exposure Pitfalls
How Should Exposures Be Done?
In this Educational Guide, we provide information on six traps that people frequently, unintentionally, do during their exposure practice that decrease the effectiveness of the exposures. Doing exposures is hard work – we want to make sure that when practicing exposures, we are actually doing exposures and not accidentally engaging in a behavior that is counter-therapeutic. Increasing awareness and understanding regarding the common Exposure Pitfalls decreases the likelihood of falling into one of the traps, and increase one’s ability to respond effectively if accidentally finding oneself in a trap.
Types of Exposures
Understanding Different Exposures
While there are countless examples of OCD exposures, there are four main categories that exposures fall into. This Educational Guide provides education regarding the four types of exposures, and information regarding how they are different from, and how they complement, one another. In addition, specific exposure examples are provided across each of the four categories. Examples of ways to increase or decrease the intensity of exposures are also discussed.
The Exposure Mindset
What Is the Exposure Mindset, and Why Is It Important?
The exposure mindset is a powerful and important part of the exposure process, and can unintentionally be overlooked when doing exposure therapy. This Educational Guide explains why the exposure mindset is a critical component of the exposure process. It also provides different scenarios of OCD obsessions, along with exposure examples with a specific exposure mindset for each obsession. In addition, as there are times when going into the exposure mindset is too challenging for an individual, we explore alternative mindsets to embrace if delving into the exposure mindset feels too difficult.
Self-Compassion vs Reassurance for OCD
What Is Self-Compassion and Why Is It Important?
This Educational Guide provides information regarding the three core components of self-compassion. It also explores how self-criticism and shame feed the OCD cycle. In addition, the content goes into detail regarding the differences between self-compassion (helpful) and reassurance (unhelpful), as it is common for people to believe they are practicing self-compassion when they are unintentionally giving themselves reassurance. Specific examples of reassurance statements versus self-compassion statements are provided, and tips to not accidentally fall into the reassurance trap are included.
