OCD is typically treated with psychotherapy (talk therapy), such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and/or medication. Some people with OCD find value in joining a support group in addition to treatment.
This article discusses how to find a support group to help with OCD.
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.
They may be organized by individuals or made available through support agencies such as:
Community organizationsMental health service providersSchoolsCampusesHospitalsClinics
Support groups can be:
Peer-led: Run by a nonprofessional with firsthand experience and possibly some training in facilitation Formal: Led by health or mental health professionals Combination: Co-led by a peer and a professional
Support groups typically involve regular meetings that take place in person or online.
Benefits of Group Therapy
Group therapy is a way for mental health professionals to offer an effective, affordable alternative to individual psychotherapy.
Group therapy can also:
Provide social support Improve social networks Reduce stigma, isolation, and feelings of alienation
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:
Find comfort in others and know they are not alone Give and receive emotional support Share resources, such as information about local services Reduce stress Develop helpful coping and symptom-management skills Learn ways to better communicate with healthcare and mental health professionals
Red Flags to Avoid
Anyone can start a support group, and not all of them are of high quality. Some signs a group may not be worth your time—or worse, be harmful—include:
It promises a cure. It discourages evidence-based treatments, such as CBT or medication. It’s a judgmental environment. There are unreasonably high costs. You’re offered a sales pitch. You’re made to feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or disrespected. It is unstructured and solely a social gathering with no helpful elements.
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.
What Look For
Some indications a group is worth looking into or continuing include:
It’s a welcoming, supportive environment. It’s affordable. It respects members’ privacy and offers confidentiality. Leaders share useful resources and good-quality, reliable information. It fosters inclusion, safety, respect, and an environment in which members feel comfortable sharing. There are clear guidelines, rules, and expectations. It helps members develop healthy and helpful coping strategies. It’s affiliated with or led at least in part by a CBT-trained therapist. Members enjoy being there. It offers helpful meetings and you benefit from being part of the group. It encourages socializing in addition to the structured meeting.
Support Group Options
Types of support groups include:
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
Curriculum-based: Informative and promotes well-being through psychoeducation; often implements tools such as readings from articles and booksTopic-focused: Focuses on a specific subject, which may or may not changeOpen forum: Least rigid or structured; typically no preselected topics; free-flowing conversations and it adapts to the needs and interests of the members
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:
Anxiety and Depression Association of America International OCD Foundation
Examples of online groups include:
OCD Peers My OCD Community
In-Person Support Groups
To find an in-person group in your area, speak with your mental health professional, or try searching:
Anxiety and Depression Association of America International OCD Foundation
Summary
The first-line treatment for OCD is psychotherapy, such as CBT. CBT is effective in both one-on-one and group therapy.
People with OCD may also find connecting with others 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.
A Word From Verywell
If you are living with OCD, you may find joining a support group beneficial, in addition to your formal treatment. Talking with others who understand your experiences can be both helpful and validating. Your healthcare or mental health provider may have contact information for local support groups, or you can join one that is based online.
