New online therapy group
The California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center is now offering an online-based group therapy option for those living in California. This low-cost option will utilize evidence-based practices founded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, and mindfulness. The online group is limited to a maximum of 6 people and runs for 90 minutes in order to allow ample individual time for each group member to discuss their symptoms and receive therapeutic guidance tailored to their specific needs. Additionally, the group meets on a HIPAA compliant video-chat platform to ensure security and privacy.
Of the many advantages group therapy has over individual counseling is the support and accountability of the other group members. Ensuring an encouraging and compassionate group environment is pivotal to the therapeutic process. Therefore, all group members will be pre-screened by a therapist in order to make sure the group is the right fit for your individual needs. This initial assessment also allows the group leader to learn more about your symptoms and goals.
To learn more about these groups or schedule a pre-screening assessment, please contact me. You can also add your name to the wait-list by submitting your name and email address below:
People suffering with OCD and anxiety-spectrum disorders can feel alone and isolated with their symptoms. Understandably, they often feel hesitant to share their obsessions with friends and loved ones out of a fear that they will be dismissed, their fear will be confirmed, or others will label them as “crazy.” Furthermore, they feel that no one will understand them and they cannot be honest about their inner experience. Still others, in an attempt to seek therapy, find treatment fees overwhelming and decide to “white knuckle it” through their obsessions and hope their anxiety simply goes away.
Group therapy for OCD and anxiety treatment can be the perfect alternative to the costs associated with traditional weekly psychotherapy. Group therapy can also supplement individual counseling by offering additional support in a collaborate and encouraging environment. Therefore, it is not just a lower-cost alternative to individual treatment.
CalOCD’s groups are geared toward learning and implementing Cognitive-Behavioral skills to address specific treatment goals. In addition to utilizing Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), CalOCD’s groups are heavily oriented toward Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to help attendees face their fears in a gradual, structured process.
The anxiety and OCD therapy groups are best suited for individuals with:
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), including all subtypes
- Phobias of all variety
- Social Anxiety
- Hypochondria (Health Anxiety)
Benefits of group therapy include:
- Lower fees compared to weekly individual therapy
- Peer accountability
- Variety in perspectives on OCD and anxiety treatment
- Encouragement toward one’s goals from other group members
- A sense of belonging and reduced symptom stigma
Group therapy is offered on a weekly and ongoing basis. The specific date and time for groups vary, however they most often occur on Tuesday or Thursday evenings to accommodate attendees work and school schedules. At this time, group treatment will only be offered to qualifying individuals 18 years of age and above.
To learn more about the group or be placed on the wait list, please contact me.
The California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center offers specialized therapy for OCD and related disorders in its Fullerton offices. In addition to serving North Orange County, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire, CalOCD offers online therapy, group therapy, and Intensive Out-Patient treatment.
I am writing for my 16 year old son. He struggles with anxiety. He thinks its generalized and that may be true but I also really think he struggles with social anxiety as well, which is really impacting his high school experience and I fear it will limit his post high school decisions.
Would he maybe be a good fit for a group therapy? Any suggestions?
Hi Stephanie, Thanks for the comment. Group therapy for social and generalized anxiety can be a very effective means of treatment. Whether or not he’s a good fit for a group may be a different story. Sometimes a group can be too overwhelming initially, so individual therapy is a good place to start learning skills to help work him into a group setting. Setting up an assessment for treatment is a good first step. This will help us determine which setting would be best for him while giving him the opportunity to consider whether he’s ready and willing to jump into a group. Let me know if you have any further questions!