OCD Q&A With Alegra Kastens

Summary

In this insightful live discussion, a licensed marriage and family therapist, who specializes in OCD, eating disorders, and anxiety, shares her expertise and personal experiences with OCD. She emphasizes the importance of accurate information and provides general advice on managing OCD symptoms, especially for children and those with relationship OCD. The conversation highlights the significance of exposure and response prevention, acceptance of anxiety, and the role of mindfulness in treatment. The therapist also discusses the challenges of identifying and treating OCD in young children and offers guidance on finding a qualified therapist through iocdf.org.

Takeaways

• 😀 Allegra is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD, eating disorders, and anxiety disorders, with personal experience with OCD.
• 📚 Allegra emphasizes the importance of accurate information about OCD, especially for clinicians who may not fully understand the condition.
• 👶 For suspected OCD in children, Allegra suggests looking for impairment in the child's life and seeking a therapist experienced with young children.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents with OCD may inadvertently accommodate their child's potential OCD behaviors, which could be counterproductive to treatment.
• 🔍 When finding a therapist for OCD, Allegra recommends using iocdf.org to ensure the therapist specializes in OCD and utilizes exposure and response prevention.
• 🤔 Allegra discusses the challenge of managing intrusive thoughts and images in OCD, noting that they can feel real even when logically known to be false.
• 🧘 Mindfulness and meditation are suggested as tools to increase awareness of rumination and to stay present, which can be beneficial in managing OCD.
• 🤝 In relationships where both partners have OCD, working individually with therapists and understanding the importance of not accommodating OCD behaviors is crucial.
• 💪 Allegra encourages embracing the presence of anxiety and not striving for a 100% 'cure', as some level of intrusive thoughts and anxiety is normal.
• 👕 Allegra promotes her Instagram account and website for daily content and merchandise related to OCD awareness and advocacy.
• 🎥 She also mentions starting a YouTube channel, suggesting it as another platform for sharing information and experiences related to OCD.

Q & A

What is Allegra's professional background and area of specialization?

Allegra is a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in the treatment of OCD, eating disorders, and anxiety disorders. She has personal experience with OCD, which inspired her to pursue a career in helping others.

How does Allegra's personal experience with OCD influence her work?

Allegra's lived experience with OCD provides her with a unique perspective and understanding of the disorder, allowing her to empathize with her clients and offer personalized care based on her own therapeutic journey.

What is the importance of accurate information in understanding and treating OCD?

Accurate information is crucial for proper understanding and treatment of OCD because misconceptions can lead to ineffective therapies and stigmatization. Allegra emphasizes the importance of sharing correct information through her Instagram platform to educate others about OCD.

How can parents identify if their young child might have OCD?

Parents should look for impairment in the child's life due to certain behaviors. If the behavior is causing significant distress or affecting the child's daily activities, it might be indicative of OCD. Consulting a specialist who understands OCD and has experience with young children is recommended.

What is the role of a therapist in treating a child with suspected OCD?

A therapist who specializes in treating OCD and has experience with children can help assess whether the child's behaviors are indicative of OCD. They can also provide appropriate therapeutic interventions, such as exposure and response prevention, tailored to the child's needs.

Why is it important not to accommodate a child's suspected OCD behaviors?

Accommodating OCD behaviors can reinforce the compulsions and make them stronger. It's important for parents to resist accommodating and instead encourage the child to face their fears and anxieties, ideally under the guidance of a therapist.

How can someone with OCD manage overwhelming anxiety during exposure exercises?

If the anxiety becomes overwhelming, it might be helpful to start with smaller exposures and gradually work up. The key is to learn to tolerate discomfort and anxiety while resisting the urge to perform compulsions.

What is the significance of acceptance in managing anxiety and OCD?

Acceptance is vital in managing anxiety and OCD because it allows individuals to tolerate their feelings without resistance. This approach can reduce the intensity of anxiety and make it easier to engage in exposure and response prevention exercises.

How can mindfulness help in dealing with OCD and rumination?

Mindfulness can help individuals become more aware of their thoughts and ruminative patterns. By practicing mindfulness, such as meditation, they can learn to observe their thoughts without judgment and return to the present moment, reducing the power of rumination.

What advice would Allegra give to someone who has been recently diagnosed with OCD?

Allegra recommends finding a therapist who specializes in treating OCD, utilizing resources like the International OCD Foundation (iocdf.org), and asking specific questions about the therapist's approach and experience with OCD.

How can someone find a therapist who is experienced in treating OCD?

One can start by visiting the International OCD Foundation's website, which provides resources for finding therapists who specialize in OCD. It's also important to ask potential therapists about their experience with exposure and response prevention and how much of their caseload consists of OCD clients.

What is Allegra's perspective on the use of apps for managing OCD symptoms?

Allegra is cautious about the use of apps for managing OCD symptoms without proper guidance. She suggests that exposure and response prevention is the primary treatment approach, and any app should support this method rather than promoting avoidance or suppression of thoughts.

How does Allegra define 'normal' in the context of OCD recovery?

Allegra suggests that aiming for a '100% normal' state might not be helpful because it can create unrealistic expectations. Instead, she encourages individuals to accept the presence of intrusive thoughts and anxiety as part of the recovery process.

What advice does Allegra have for couples where both partners have relationship OCD?

Allegra recommends that both partners should work on their individual treatment with separate therapists and understand the importance of not accommodating or seeking reassurance for OCD behaviors. Couples therapy with a therapist who understands OCD can also be beneficial.