What Is OCD and Why Does It Need Specialized Treatment?
OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, is an anxiety-related condition characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental rituals performed to relieve the distress those thoughts cause (compulsions). The relief is temporary. The cycle continues.
OCD is commonly misunderstood. It is not about being neat or organized. It can involve fears about harm, contamination, religion, sexuality, relationships, or dozens of other themes. It is also frequently misdiagnosed or undertreated, because most therapists are not trained in the gold-standard treatment: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
Seeing a therapist who understands OCD specifically, and who is trained in ERP, makes a significant difference in outcomes.
How Erin Treats OCD at Nido Waco
Erin McGinty Fort, MS, MHA, LPC-S, CEDS-S, completed her ERP training through the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI), a program run by the International OCD Foundation. BTTI-trained therapists have completed intensive, supervised clinical training specifically in ERP for OCD. This is not a general CBT certification with an OCD module added on; it is specialized training for this condition.
ERP works by gradually exposing a person to the thoughts, images, or situations that trigger obsessions, while resisting the urge to perform compulsions. Over time, the brain learns that the feared outcome does not occur, and the urgency of the compulsions decreases. It is uncomfortable. It also works.
Erin also draws on IFS and DBT where relevant, and brings her clinical experience with the overlap between OCD and eating disorders: a co-occurrence that is more common than many providers expect and that requires a clinician who understands both.
Postpartum OCD and Perinatal Anxiety
Postpartum OCD is a specific presentation of OCD that occurs during pregnancy or after childbirth. It typically involves intrusive thoughts about harming the baby, fears of contamination, or repetitive checking behaviors. These thoughts are ego-dystonic, meaning they feel wrong and distressing to the person having them, and they are not indicative of intent.
Postpartum OCD is often underdiagnosed because new parents are reluctant to disclose the thoughts, and many providers are not familiar with this presentation.
Erin has advanced training in perinatal mood disorders, including postpartum OCD, since 2019. She is a mother herself and brings both clinical expertise and direct personal experience to this work.
What to Expect from OCD Therapy at Nido Waco
Initial Assessment
ERP Treatment
Ongoing Support
Frequently Asked Questions about OCD Therapy
General talk therapy is often not effective for OCD and can sometimes make it worse by reinforcing the compulsion cycle. ERP is the treatment with the strongest evidence base for OCD. If you have tried therapy before and not seen improvement, this may be why.
Intrusive thoughts in OCD are often disturbing, violent, sexual, or taboo, and that is part of what makes them so distressing. Erin works with all OCD themes. The content of the thought is not the problem; the relationship to the thought is.
Nido Waco is a private pay practice. If you have out-of-network benefits through your insurance plan, you may be able to apply them toward sessions. Erin can provide a superbill to support that process.
Yes. Erin has advanced training in perinatal mood disorders including postpartum OCD. If you are pregnant or recently postpartum and experiencing intrusive thoughts or compulsive behaviors, this is something she works with directly.
Yes. Erin treats generalized anxiety, health anxiety, phobias, and perinatal anxiety. Many clients present with OCD and anxiety together. If you are unsure which fits your experience, that is fine: the assessment will clarify what is going on.
Start with a Conversation
If you have been struggling with OCD or perinatal anxiety and have not found a therapist with specialized training in ERP, this is the right place to start.
Nido Waco Counseling & Consulting
1615 Wooded Acres Dr, Suite CWaco, TX
76710-2863 View Staff & Treatments
