We are proud to offer a comprehensive evaluation of your OCD symptoms and provide various treatment options. To get started, please complete our New Patient Paperwork by clicking the button below. We will review it carefully and reach out to schedule an evaluation for you if we think we can be helpful or we will reach out to you with alternative recommendations.

There are a number of options that might be right for you. We will get to know you and work with you to create a menu of choices. These might include:

• An initial evaluation with an OCD specialist
• Individual Psychotherapy utilizing Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
• Group Therapy utilizing Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
• Collateral sessions with family members (e.g., parents, partners) to identify and reduce family accommodation and to implement behavioral interventions to decrease externalizing behaviors employed to avoid anxiety provoking situations. 
• Psychiatric Evaluation and Medication Management
• Referral to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

RICBT is now offering OCD Services to children, teens, and adults. To schedule an initial evaluation with a member of this program, or if you have any questions please give our office a call at 401-294-0451. We can also be reached at receptionist@ricbt.com

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects up to 2.3% of the population. Individuals diagnosed with OCD experience unwanted recurrent thoughts, urges or images that cause marked anxiety or distress. In an effort to reduce anxiety or distress, individuals with OCD engage in behaviors called compulsions or rituals.

Obsessions

Obsessions are recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and unwanted, and that in most individuals cause marked anxiety and distress. The individual attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, urges, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thoughts or actions (i.e., by performing a compulsion).

Compulsions

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) the individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to a rule that must be applied rigidly. The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety or distress, or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent, or are clearly excessive.

*Although most people experience some form of intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors during their lifetime individuals with OCD experience obsessions and/or compulsions as time-consuming (e.g., take more than 1 hour per day) or cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

• OCD typically emerges between the ages of 8-12 years old or in late adolescence/early adulthood.
• OCD can affect any person regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or nationality.
  
• Current estimates suggest that approximately 1 in every 100 adults has OCD and at least 1 in 200 children have OCD. This amounts to roughly 2-3 million adults and 500,000 children.
  
• The prevalence of OCD is likely under-estimated due to low self-reporting and lack of awareness of what symptoms qualify as OCD.

Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale

The Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) is a semi structured clinician administered assessment utilized to diagnose OCD in children, adolescents, and adults. The assessment utilizes a symptom checklist to determine the type and presence of obsessions and compulsions in the following way:

Exposure and Response Prevention, also known as ERP, is a form of cognitive behavior therapy. It is also considered the “gold standard” treatment for OCD and related disorders. During ERP, the person purposely exposes themselves to situations that trigger obsessions/intrusive thoughts that invoke anxiety/distress and the urge to ritualize or avoid. 

ERP helps change the way the person responds to these obsessions and discomfort. Instead of engaging in compulsions that only temporarily reduce discomfort, the person will learn to manage them differently. Over time, the feared situation becomes less uncomfortable and more easily managed.

You will receive a comprehensive evaluation by an OCD specialist followed by a feedback session where you will receive a diagnosis and discuss available treatment options. 

The length of treatment will be collaboratively determined by you and your treatment team. Generally speaking, in three months, you and your clinician should have a sense of whether you are on the right track.

Nauder Namaky, PhD
Postdoctoral Clinician

Dr. Namaky specializes in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders using evidence-based treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). He has a strong background helping people suffering from OCD, PTSD/trauma, and postpartum anxiety/depression. Dr. Namaky also has experience working with couples and families, including integrating loved ones into treatment for individuals seeking help.

Please call our number to inquire about becoming a new patient.