Traveling for OCD Treatment
No OCD Treatment Near You? What is Next?
When looking for treatment for OCD, it is important to find someone who specializes in treating OCD. General therapists can be helpful, but OCD typically requires specialized care which can be hard to find. When there are no therapists who specialize in treating OCD in your area, it can be disheartening but traveling to receive specialized OCD treatment is extremely common. Many facilities are familiar with offering treatment to clients from outside of the state and outside of the country.
How do I Know if it is Time to Travel?
When looking for OCD Treatment, it is important to find a facility or clinician near you that specializes in treating OCD and that is trained to use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to treat OCD. If you are not finding therapists near you that specialize in treating OCD or are not trained in using ERP, it may be time to consider traveling to find a therapist or facility that does. Also, many therapists offer weekly treatment sessions that are usually around an hour long to treat OCD but for those with more severe symptoms of OCD, this may not be enough. If you are looking for a higher level of care such as an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), or residential treatment for OCD, and the programs that are in your area do not offer treatment specifically for OCD, it is likely time to consider traveling for OCD treatment.
What It Means: Outpatient Therapy, IOP, PHP, Residential, Inpatient
If a client is engaging in outpatient therapy, it means they spend most of their time away from the treatment facility. Traditional weekly meetings with a therapist is the lowest level of outpatient care we offer at our facility and is considered outpatient therapy. An Intensive Outpatient Program, or IOP, is a higher level of care than traditional outpatient therapy and the highest level of care we offer at our facility. IOPs vary in how they are offered depending on the facility and what they are treating but it usually involves several hours a week, usually multiple times a week meeting one-on-one with a therapist or with a group. The client spends most of their time away from the facility but still engages in multiple hours of therapy multiple days a week. A Partial Hospitalization Program, or PHP, offers a higher level of care than an IOP and usually involves the client attending the facility for a significant portion of the day and week while still living at home. It usually involves the client attending the therapy for 5-8 hours a day, around 4-5 days a week. Residential treatment involves the client staying overnight and living at the facility and involves being in a care facility for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This can last anywhere between a few weeks to several months depending on the program and the level of care the client needs. A residential program is an Inpatient program. Inpatient means that the client is staying overnight at the facility during the duration of their treatment.
How to Narrow your Search
When looking for treatment for OCD, it is important to decide what level of care you are looking for as explained in the section above. The more severe the symptoms you or your loved one is experiencing, the higher the recommended level of care. If you are not sure, many facilities do assessments where you can discuss what you are experiencing with a clinician and they can offer guidance based on their professional opinion. Also, if you or your loved one is currently receiving care from a licensed therapist or psychologist, they will oftentimes be able to provide guidance in regards to what level of care to look for. Once you have decided the level of care you are looking for, you can start looking for programs. Oftentimes programs have qualifying requirements that clients must fit in order to be considered for their program. For example, certain facilities only work with certain age ranges of clients such as only adolescents ages 13-17 or only clients ages 18+. It is important to find out these requirements and make sure you or your loved one is within these parameters when deciding what facility to attend. The International OCD Foundation website has a list of OCD specialists from across the US where you can narrow your search based on your specific parameters.
How do I Know Where to Go?
It is important to consider what you are looking for in regards to how treatment is done as treatment can involve group therapy, all one-on-one therapy, or a mix of both. Outside of group and individual therapy, some programs involve the client spending time alone in a room doing work provided to them by a clinician without a group or a therapist with them during a portion of their time at the facility while a clinician checks on them regularly. Residential treatment can sometimes include attending school sessions while at the facility if it is a child and adolescent facility along with dietitian recommendations, exercise, reading, music time, and other types of treatment. Also, some facilities have psychiatrists on staff to offer medication management while the clients are attending treatment. While programs can offer similar treatments, programs are rarely the same in what they offer and how they treat clients so one program may be a much better fit for a client than another program.
It is important to note how the therapy is done as well. Some programs are able to be done through telehealth sessions, and some involve going off facility grounds to engage in other types of therapies such as visits to public places or visits to areas out in nature. Because of all the different ways therapy for OCD can be done and the ways it can vary between treatment programs and facilities, check with the facility you are looking into to find out how their therapy works and what a typical day or week of doing the program at their facility looks like so you can find what best fits you or your loved ones needs.
Finally, costs vary among programs as well and it is important to consider your needs financially as well as therapeutically. Some programs will take insurance while many are out of network for all insurance providers. When looking for programs, consider the financial commitment you are able to make as costs range greatly between programs and facilities.
Travel Guidance
Oftentimes, when you are traveling to attend a facility, they are able to offer guidance in regards to hotels in the area, local airports, and even things to do when not attending treatment. Our facility offers a physical travel guide as do some other facilities and usually if you call the facility, the person that answers the call is able to provide recommendations as well. When making the commitment to treatment, it may be helpful to ask the clinicians at the facility if they have recommendations as the recommendations can greatly reduce the stress associated with traveling and allow you or your loved one to focus solely on treatment.
Needing Advice or Support?
Traveling to receive OCD treatment can be an emotional process and it is hard to decide what to do and where to go but there are many people out there who have done it and are able to offer advice and encouragement. There are many chat forums where people can go for advice and assistance from people who have traveled for treatment themselves. Clients may feel alone but it is actually quite common to travel to seek a higher level of care in a different state or somewhere abroad and because of that, there are many people who have done it and want to help the process feel more comfortable for others who are looking to do so in the future. Looking for advice in places like Reddit, Quora, Skool, and other chat forums may be helpful as many people share personal and anecdotal tips and experiences but remember, chat forums are helpful for education and community but are not for personal medical advice and you should talk to a provider before making any medical or therapeutic decisions.
Help is Near
Traveling for OCD treatment can be stressful but also extremely rewarding when you or your loved one is able to finally receive the help that is needed. There are so many facilities that are able to offer specialized OCD treatment and it is important to find one that is the right fit even if it is not nearby.
Source
The International OCD Foundation. (2022). Retrieved 29 July 2024, from https://iocdf.org
Learn MoreHow to Find an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for OCD
What is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
An Intensive Outpatient Program is a structured treatment program that provides comprehensive mental health care on an outpatient basis. These programs are designed for individuals who need more support than traditional outpatient therapy but do not require the round-the-clock care of inpatient hospitalization.
What It Means: Outpatient Therapy, IOP, PHP, Residential, Inpatient
If a client is engaging in outpatient therapy, it means they spend most of their time away from the treatment facility. Traditional weekly meetings with a therapist is the lowest level of outpatient care we offer at our facility and is considered outpatient therapy. An Intensive Outpatient Program, or IOP, is a higher level of care than traditional outpatient therapy. IOPs vary in how they are offered depending on the facility and what they are treating but it usually involves several hours a week, usually multiple times a week meeting one-on-one with a therapist or with a group. The client spends most of their time away from the facility but still engages in multiple hours of therapy multiple days a week. A Partial Hospitalization Program, or PHP, offers a higher level of care than an IOP and usually involves the client attending the facility for a significant portion of the day and week while still living at home. It usually involves the client attending the therapy for 5-8 hours a day, around 4-5 days a week. Residential treatment involves the client staying overnight and living at the facility and involves being in a care facility for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This can last anywhere between a few weeks to several months depending on the program and the level of care the client needs. A residential program is an Inpatient program. Inpatient means that the client is staying overnight at the facility during the duration of their treatment.
Ways to Do Therapy in an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
It is important to consider what you are looking for in regards to how treatment is done as an IOP can involve group therapy, all one-on-one therapy, or a mix of both. While our intensive outpatient program does not involve any group therapy, some clients are looking for a group aspect in therapy and find that helpful so it is important to consider you or your loved ones wants and needs when looking into intensive outpatient programs. Outside of group and individual therapy, some programs involve the client spending time alone in a room doing work provided to them by a clinician without a group or a therapist with them during a portion of their time at the facility while a clinician checks on them regularly. Finally, homework is often times an important aspect of treatment and requires the client to practice the skills and techniques they learn in therapy outside of the therapeutic setting. Homework is an important part of treatment here at The OCD Treatment Center and many other facilities.
It is important to note how the therapy is done as well. Some IOPs are able to be done through telehealth sessions, and some involve going off facility grounds to engage in other types of therapies such as at home visits or visits to public places. Also, some facilities have psychiatrists on staff to be able to offer medication management while the clients are doing the IOP. Because of all the different ways therapy for OCD can be done and the ways it can vary between IOPs, check with the facility you are looking into to find out how their therapy works and what a typical day or week of doing an IOP at their facility looks like so you can find what best fits you or your loved ones needs. The International OCD Foundation website has a list of OCD specialists that you can filter to those that offer an intensive outpatient program.
Types of Therapies for OCD
During an intensive outpatient program, the client will engage in several types of therapies. Typically, this includes a psychoeducation portion to speak with the client about what their diagnosis is, why it happens, how it is treated, and what types of treatment they will experience during their therapy. When looking for an IOP for OCD, it is important to make sure the IOP offers Exposure and Response Prevention, or ERP, as it is the most effective therapy we currently know of for treating OCD. Typically, therapists will also use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Behavior Therapy, and other types of evidence-based therapies the clinician has experience using. The therapist will find which of these therapies are most helpful based on the clients diagnosis and what the client responds best to and continue to work with the client using these therapies over the course of treatment. Many of these therapies are also used to treat other diagnoses so it is important that you find an IOP that is specifically for treating OCD as sometimes a more general IOP will not provide the specialized treatment someone suffering from OCD needs.
What is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)?
Exposure and Response Prevention, or ERP, is a type of therapy that is highly effective for treating OCD. ERP focuses on exposing individuals to situations or thoughts that trigger their anxiety or obsessions and then preventing the compulsive behaviors or avoidance tactics they might use to reduce their anxiety. Starting with the least anxiety-provoking situation, the individual is gradually exposed to their fears. Exposure can be in vivo (real-life situations) or imagined (mental visualization). During exposure, the individual is encouraged to resist the urge to perform their usual compulsive behaviors or avoidance strategies. Over time, repeated exposure and prevention of the response leads to a decrease in anxiety and distress. The individual learns that their fears are unlikely to come true or are manageable without resorting to compulsive behaviors. ERP is an extremely important component of treating OCD so finding an IOP that uses ERP is highly recommended.
Facility Requirements and Admissions for an IOP
Many facilities have qualifying requirements that a client must fit before they will do an intake appointment with them. Some facilities only work with certain age ranges of clients such as only adolescents ages 13-17 or only clients ages 18+. Also, commonly for an IOP, the client is required to have a certain level of cognitive ability and cannot be actively suicidal. Oftentimes, a facility will require the client do an assessment or an intake appointment before agreeing to admit a client to their facility for an IOP or any other type of treatment. This initial appointment is to get an idea of who the client is and what they are struggling with. Because different facilities have different requirements, this appointment is a good way for the therapist to gauge whether their facility is a match for the client and also to get an idea of how best to go about treatment. Not only is it helpful for the clinician but it is also a good opportunity for the client to gauge whether the facility is a good fit for them. OCD treatment can be tough both emotionally and physically so it is important they feel comfortable at the facility and feel like it aligns with their personal and treatment related goals.
Insurance and Cost Information
Costs vary among programs as well and it is important to consider your needs financially as well as therapeutically. Some programs will take insurance and provide insurance assistance while many are out of network for all insurance. When looking for programs, consider the financial commitment you are able to make as costs range greatly between programs and facilities.
Different insurance plans offer different benefits and it is important to consider this if you are looking to have insurance cover some or all of the treatment. While many OCD Treatment facilities are in network, many facilities are not in network with any insurance. If the client has a PPO plan with their insurance, it usually means they will have out-of-network benefits so they can get reimbursement if they go to a provider that is not in network with their insurance. If you are curious to know if you have out of network benefits, call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and they will be able to inform you on if you have out-of-network benefits and what the reimbursement rate (sometimes called a co-pay) would be. They will also be able to tell you what your deductible is if you have one so you can know how much you need to pay and how much of it is met before the out-of-network benefits apply. If you have an HMO plan but are looking to get treatment from an out-of-network provider, the HMO plan will likely not offer any out-of-network benefits but sometimes the clients are able to get a single case agreement where the insurance provider agrees to pay for the out of network service one time. If you or your loved one is looking for treatment that is in network there are many facilities that are in network with various insurance providers. When looking at you or your loved ones in network options, we recommend making sure the facilities specialize in treating OCD and offer ERP therapy to ensure they offer the care for OCD that is needed.
No Treatment is One-Size-Fits-All
Treatment for OCD is offered in so many different ways at many different facilities and different clients have different needs. What works extremely well for one person might not work for another so it is important to find a facility that offers treatment that fits what is best for you or your loved one.
Source
The International OCD Foundation. (2022). Retrieved 29 July 2024, from https://iocdf.org
Learn More