Integrating therapies for children and young people affected by OCD

In December 2024 the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) children and young people published my thoughts and learnings on integrating therapies for OCD.

I wanted to write this article to share my thoughts on integrating therapies into evidence-based OCD therapies when working with children and young people. I discuss exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) along with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), compassion focused therapy (CFT), and sandplay therapy. And how depth therapies may have a place in working with OCD.

‘Reducing symptoms and doing relational work can feel like an either/or choice. I see these approaches not as separate and opposite, but as counterweights that create balance’

Hope it helps,

Stuart Ralph

This article first appeared in the December 2024 issue of BACP Children, Young People & Families Journal published by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. https://www.bacp.co.uk/bacp-journals/bacp-children-young-people-and-families-journal/  ©BACP 2024.