Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat They AreBenefitsWhat to Look ForOptionsFAQs
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What They Are
Benefits
What to Look For
Options
FAQs
OCD is typically treated with psychotherapy (talk therapy), such ascognitive behavioral therapy(CBT), and/or medication. Some people with OCD find value in joining asupport groupin addition to treatment.
This article discusses how to find a support group to help with OCD.
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What Are OCD Support Groups?
Support groups offer a space for people with similar experiences (such as the same health diagnosis) to come together and share support, resources, and information.
Support groups can be:
Support groups typically involve regular meetings that take place in person or online.
Benefits of Group Therapy
Group therapyis a way for mental health professionals to offer an effective, affordable alternative to individual psychotherapy.
Group therapy can also:
Group therapy is proven to be effective at treating many mental health disorders, including OCD.
Therapy in a group setting also allows the therapist to observe how participants interact with each other and look for relational patterns.
Benefits of Support Groups
Support groups can help members:
How Do Support Groups and Group Therapy Differ?
Anyone can start a support group, and not all of them are of high quality. Some indications a group is worth looking into or continuing include:
Red Flags to Avoid
Some signs a group may not be worth your time—or worse, be harmful—include:
If you attend a support group meeting and feel that the group isn’t a good fit for you, you are not obligated to continue attending meetings.
Questions to Ask Before Joining a Support GroupBefore joining a support group, it may be helpful to ask the facilitator questions about:Accepting new members and requirements to joinGroup details (where and when do they meet, length of meetings, etc.)Size of the group and number of members who typically attend each meetingAffiliations with any organizations, programs, or religionsHow confidentiality is handledStructure of meetings and topics discussedWho runs the group and their qualifications
Questions to Ask Before Joining a Support Group
Before joining a support group, it may be helpful to ask the facilitator questions about:Accepting new members and requirements to joinGroup details (where and when do they meet, length of meetings, etc.)Size of the group and number of members who typically attend each meetingAffiliations with any organizations, programs, or religionsHow confidentiality is handledStructure of meetings and topics discussedWho runs the group and their qualifications
Before joining a support group, it may be helpful to ask the facilitator questions about:
Support Group Options
Types of support groups include:
Each type comes with benefits and limitations. It may take a bit of time and exploration to find the group that is the right fit for you.
Online Support Groups
You can search for online and phone-based support groups for OCD through the:
Examples of online groups include:
In-Person Support Groups
To find an in-person group in your area, speak with your mental health professional, or try searching:
How OCD Is Treated
Summary
People with OCD may also find connecting with others in a support group to be helpful. Support groups are not therapy and should not be used in place of therapy, but they can be a valuable addition to treatment. Support groups can help people with OCD share valuable resources, make social connections, and give and receive support.
Frequently Asked QuestionsCBT (the first-line treatment for OCD) has been shown to be effective at treating OCD in a group setting.Medication can be used to treat OCD, but often psychotherapy is used as a treatment without medication.CBT, particularlyexposure and response prevention (ERP), is considered the most effect psychotherapy treatment for OCD.
Frequently Asked Questions
CBT (the first-line treatment for OCD) has been shown to be effective at treating OCD in a group setting.
Medication can be used to treat OCD, but often psychotherapy is used as a treatment without medication.
CBT, particularlyexposure and response prevention (ERP), is considered the most effect psychotherapy treatment for OCD.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Understanding group therapy and support groups.American Psychological Association.Power in numbers.Whitfield G.Group cognitive–behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression.Adv Psychiatr Treat. 2010;16(3):219-227. doi:10.1192/apt.bp.108.005744Beyond OCD.Join a support group.International OCD Foundation.Guide to starting a support group.International OCD Foundation.A guide to running a mental health support group.Hirschtritt ME, Bloch MH, Mathews CA.Obsessive-compulsive disorder: advances in diagnosis and treatment.JAMA. 2017;317(13):1358-1367. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.2200National Institute of Mental Health.Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Understanding group therapy and support groups.American Psychological Association.Power in numbers.Whitfield G.Group cognitive–behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression.Adv Psychiatr Treat. 2010;16(3):219-227. doi:10.1192/apt.bp.108.005744Beyond OCD.Join a support group.International OCD Foundation.Guide to starting a support group.International OCD Foundation.A guide to running a mental health support group.Hirschtritt ME, Bloch MH, Mathews CA.Obsessive-compulsive disorder: advances in diagnosis and treatment.JAMA. 2017;317(13):1358-1367. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.2200National Institute of Mental Health.Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychiatric Association.What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Understanding group therapy and support groups.American Psychological Association.Power in numbers.Whitfield G.Group cognitive–behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression.Adv Psychiatr Treat. 2010;16(3):219-227. doi:10.1192/apt.bp.108.005744Beyond OCD.Join a support group.International OCD Foundation.Guide to starting a support group.International OCD Foundation.A guide to running a mental health support group.Hirschtritt ME, Bloch MH, Mathews CA.Obsessive-compulsive disorder: advances in diagnosis and treatment.JAMA. 2017;317(13):1358-1367. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.2200National Institute of Mental Health.Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
American Psychiatric Association.What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Understanding group therapy and support groups.
American Psychological Association.Power in numbers.
Whitfield G.Group cognitive–behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression.Adv Psychiatr Treat. 2010;16(3):219-227. doi:10.1192/apt.bp.108.005744
Beyond OCD.Join a support group.
International OCD Foundation.Guide to starting a support group.
International OCD Foundation.A guide to running a mental health support group.
Hirschtritt ME, Bloch MH, Mathews CA.Obsessive-compulsive disorder: advances in diagnosis and treatment.JAMA. 2017;317(13):1358-1367. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.2200
National Institute of Mental Health.Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
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