What Is an OCD Specialist, and What Is Needed to Become One?🔠Spelling Out OCD🔍

My commitment is to "spell out OCD" - helping you simplify the complexities of OCD and empowering you to take action with confidence.

What is an OCD Specialist?
🔠Spelling Out OCD🔍

One of the questions I get asked the most is: What is an OCD specialist, and what is needed to become one? If this is something you’ve wondered about, keep reading—I hope you’ll find this helpful.

Is There a Certification for OCD Specialists?

Currently, there isn’t an official certification or regulatory body that designates someone as an “OCD specialist.” Some programs offer certificates in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP), which can be helpful for building foundational knowledge and demonstrating a commitment to training.

However, these certificates are not officially regulated or required to treat OCD. While they can serve as a useful starting point, developing expertise in treating OCD often involves ongoing education, consultation with experienced providers, and hands-on practice implementing evidence-based approaches like ERP. It also requires reflecting on your skills, seeking feedback through consultation, and determining when you feel confident in identifying yourself as an OCD specialist.

As mental health professionals, we are all capable of treating OCD—it just requires specialized training and practice. With the right tools, support, and dedication, therapists can develop the skills needed to effectively help clients manage their symptoms and lead more fulfilling lives.

How Do You Become an OCD Specialist?

Treating OCD effectively requires:

Training: Attend workshops or courses focused on OCD and ERP, as well as other evidence-based approaches. It’s also important to learn how to recognize different subtypes of OCD (e.g., contamination, harm, scrupulosity) and differentiate them from one another. OCD can be "sneaky," often presenting in ways that are not immediately obvious. However, once you start recognizing its patterns, it becomes easier to identify over time.
Consultation: Work with experienced OCD specialists through individual or group consultations to refine your skills.
Courage and Practice: ERP asks clients to confront their fears rather than avoid them, which can feel counterintuitive. As therapists, it takes courage to guide clients through this process while sitting with their discomfort (and sometimes your own).

Facing fears takes time, trial and error, and practice—for both therapist and client. Each session is an opportunity to learn and grow as you refine your ability to deliver effective treatment with compassion and care.

Additionally, it’s also helpful to have some understanding of related areas like trauma, neurodiversity (e.g., Autism, ADHD), eating disorders, body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) like skin picking (excoriation) and hair-pulling (trichotillomania), relationships, and attachment. OCD often co-occurs with other conditions, so having a broader perspective can make you a more effective provider.

Why Evidence-Based Treatments Matter

The most effective treatments for OCD include:

Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT)
Medication Management

Traditional CBT and talk therapy isn’t effective for OCD and can sometimes make symptoms worse. Using non-evidence-based approaches can also raise ethical concerns—something none of us want as professionals. We worked our butts off to be here, and we're not trying to risk that. Treating OCD ethically means knowing your levels of competence and seeking proper training before diving in.

Final Thoughts

Treating OCD takes time, dedication, courage, and a willingness to face fears alongside your clients. It’s not always easy—but it’s incredibly rewarding. If you’re interested in learning more about this area of practice or taking steps toward becoming an OCD specialist, I encourage you to explore additional trainings or consultation opportunities.

If you’d like resources or guidance on where to start, feel free to reach out—I’d love to help point you in the right direction!

Read my latest blog post about this topic here:

How to Find the Right OCD Therapist (Blog Post)

Hope you have a great weekend.

With kind regards,