Reid Wilson’s groundbreaking work in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder is by traditional CBT standards, unconventional, even provocative; especially for clinicians who have neither been trained in exposure therapy or have been resistant to using the approach. However, by watching him at work with these three clients, you will quickly understand the nature of the disorder, and how to harness his powerful methods for helping these clients develop new and healthy ways of living with uncertainty and more fully engaging with their recovery.

Dr. Wilson begins his demonstrations with Kathleen, who struggles with anxiety and uncertainty around two main issues: accidentally setting her house on fire and contaminating loved ones with germs and illness. Controlled by the need for absolute certainty, pervasive self-doubt, and time-consuming cleaning and checking rituals, and deep ambivalence, she repeatedly checks to make sure her stove is turned off and washes her hands up to 30 times a day. In two live sessions with Kathleen, Wilson shows us how a pragmatic assessment, clear protocols for exposure experiments, and a thorough briefing about the insidious nature of OCD can alleviate, rather than validate, the need for reassurance that drives Kathleens’s obsessions and compulsions. With humor and clarity, he passionately encourages Kathleen to rise above the content of her obsessive thoughts and practice moving towards that which she fears, supporting her in learning to tolerate uncertainty. With practice and patience, Kathleen’s checking behavior decreases significantly.

Next, we meet Bob, a young, fit personal trainer who exhibits pervasive “repeater” behaviors and a history of multiple failed past treatments that lead him to exclaim to Wilson, “I want my mind back.” Bob lacks real-world tools to manage his anxiety and has nearly given up hope for change. Obsessed with the worry that his debilitating anxiety and fear-based thoughts will remain until he takes repetitive corrective action, he spends much of his time mired in dressing and sleep-preparation rituals that rob him of freedom to live. In these live two sessions, Wilson demonstrates the core concepts of his innovative approach to exposure with response prevention and leverages Bob’s innate fighting spirit to support him in “moving toward” the anxiety that drives his compulsive behaviors, helping him more fully engage with his discomfort and wrestle his life back from OCD.

Finally, we meet Rita, a middle-aged mother, and marathoner, who, after receiving a medical report of cardiac irregularities, becomes preoccupied with her health. Trying to avoid any situation that triggers her fear of having a heart attack, Rita is now missing out on living the active lifestyle she longs to live and barely enjoys time with her family and friends. She spends much of her time seeking reassurance that she’s “okay” and becomes paralyzed by obsessional thinking. Over the course of two sessions with Rita, Dr. Wilson demonstrates the core concepts underlying his paradoxical approach to treating anxiety disorders, encouraging her through humor, compassion, and mild provocation to rise above the content of her fears and instead move towards them. Calling upon her courage and urging her to want her symptoms as opposed to trying to get rid of them, he turns everything upside down, and points Rita squarely on the track to freedom and a return to her active life.

So, if you’re looking for a fresh understanding of OCD and effective ways to treat its self-reinforcing and destructive, all-consuming grip on clients, you’ll find it and more in these riveting demonstrations of Wilson’s engaging, lively, and highly effective approach.



Learning Objectives

After watching these videos, you will...

• Apply the core concepts of Wilson’s approach to treating clients suffering from OCD
• Use paradoxical interventions to increase the OCD client's tolerance for uncertainty and discomfort
• Design interventions that utilize clients' existing strengths and personalities