If you or a loved one is struggling with obsessive compulsive disorder, finding the right treatment can be a challenge. We’re here to help you determine whether the care we offer is the right fit.
Learn About Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treatment
Learn about OCD treatment at Belmont Behavioral Health System in Philadelphia, PA
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is often referred to as OCD, is a mental health condition that is marked by symptoms such as compulsive actions and unwarranted thoughts. Those who grapple with OCD experience severe upset and pain that often interrupts their everyday lives to a point where they are struggling to be happy and productive. For some, panic attacks are common, while others are afflicted with feelings of disgust and unease. To avoid these behaviors, individuals might go to great lengths to avoid people, places, or things that bring about their symptoms of OCD.
At Belmont Behavioral Health System, an OCD treatment center in Philadelphia, we know just how upsetting OCD can be on an individual, and we recognize that the symptoms associated with it can negatively impact him or her, as well as the loved ones surrounding him or her. At our center, individuals who struggle with OCD can obtain treatment that is provided by experienced and committed professionals.
How to Help a Loved One
Helping a loved one get treatment for OCD
If your loved one is battling OCD, and his or her symptoms are seemingly out of control, it can be hard to feel as though there is anything you can do to help him or her. While you cannot single-handedly fix the issues that your loved one is facing, there are things that you can do to encourage your loved one to obtain the professional help that he or she needs to recover.
For starters, educate yourself on OCD. Go online, visit a library, or speak with a professional to uncover causes, symptoms, and treatments for this condition. When you inform yourself, you will be better able to understand what your loved one is experiencing, as well as begin to piece together a plan to help encourage him or her to obtain help.
While you are working to educate yourself about OCD, find out what services and treatments are offered in your loved one’s area so that if and when he or she decides to get help, you can be prepared with some options. It is important to not let too much time pass by once your loved one decides to get help, or else he or she might change his or her mind. Being prepared is the most effective way to provide your loved one with treatment when it’s asked for.
In the meantime, remain in communication with your loved one. Be sure to share your concerns gently, and without threat. Explain why you are worried about his or her wellbeing, and offer to help. Allow your loved one to air his or her perception of the problem, and end the conversation letting him or her know that he or she can always come to you to talk. Keeping that line open can benefit your loved one significantly, because if he or she decides to get help, he or she is likely to come to you.
It is important not to lose sight of your needs at this time. While it might seem impossible to care for yourself to the same degree, it is imperative that you maintain good health and mental peace. You can do this by continuing to engage in activities that bring you happiness, maintaining a healthy diet, and ensuring that you are getting enough sleep. Neglecting your needs for care will only backfire and make helping your loved one more challenging.
Also, enlist the help of friends, family, loved ones, or other individuals who can help support you at this time. You cannot be the sole individual caring for your loved one, so having others help you do so can make a world of difference. This can also be beneficial in that your loved one will see that others also care for his or her wellbeing.
Remember that this is just the first of many steps in the recovery process. Remain patient as your loved one works his or her way through treatment, and continue to support him or her as much as possible.
Why Consider Belmont
Why consider treatment for OCD at Belmont Behavioral Health System in Philadelphia, PA
Someone who has a case of untreated OCD will experience many negative consequences to his or her health that impact him or her from living life to its fullest. In many instances, those with OCD struggle at work, at school, and socially. When someone with OCD refuses to get treated for his or her mental health condition, he or she can begin to experience chronic unemployment, which can lead to financial distress and the inability to live a life that he or she wants. Also, when OCD runs rampant, one can begin experiencing family discord and the loss of friendships that stem from social isolation, which can make the individual’s levels of stress and pressure even more intense. In many cases, the individual who is suffering from OCD will begin abusing substances like drugs and alcohol, which can make the issues that he or she is struggling with more severe. However, if an individual with OCD does decide to obtain treatment at our hospital, he or she can begin to obtain relief for the symptoms caused by all aspects of his or her OCD.
Types of Treatment
Types of OCD treatment offered at Belmont Behavioral Health System in Philadelphia, PA
Our hospital is an inpatient and outpatient treatment center where adult men and women ages 18 and above can receive comprehensive and compassionate care for a wide range of emotional and behavioral health issues, including obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Men and women who are being treated for OCD at our treatment center will work in close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams of experienced professionals. Our staff features board-certified psychiatrists, internal medicine physicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, mental health therapists, activity therapists, and mental health technicians.
We place a premium on providing personalized care that has been customized to address the specific strengths, needs, and treatment goals of each person who heals with us. As a result, no two patients will have identical treatment experiences at Belmont Behavioral Health System, a hospital for OCD treatment in Philadelphia. Depending upon the specifics of a patient’s individualized plan, his or her treatment may feature the following elements:
Medication management: Prescription medications have proved to be quite effective in alleviating symptoms associated with certain mental health disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder. In order to ensure that all patients have the optimal opportunity for a successful treatment experience, we may incorporate medications into treatment plans when clinically appropriate. Patients whose treatment includes prescription medications will meet with a psychiatrist on a daily basis, and may also receive medication management services from members of our nursing staff.
Individual therapy: All patients, including those who are being treated for obsessive-compulsive disorder, will have the opportunity to participate in individual therapy sessions during their time in treatment at our treatment center. These one-on-one sessions between a patient and either a psychiatrist or mental health clinician allow the patient to process issues related to his or her treatment, address topics that he or she may be hesitant or unwilling to bring up in a group setting, and receive invaluable feedback from an experienced professional. Individual therapy sessions at our hospital are scheduled on an as-needed basis to ensure that all patients receive this form of therapy at the frequency that is most appropriate for them.
Group therapy: Group therapy is a fundamental element of treatment at our OCD treatment center. Patients who are being treated for OCD will have the opportunity to attend multiple group therapy sessions every day. These sessions, which will be led by mental health clinicians, activity therapists, registered nurses, or mental health technicians, are excellent opportunities for patients to learn from the insights and experiences of others, share their own thoughts, and practice skills such as giving and receiving support, expressing empathy, and communicating effectively. Types of group therapy sessions that are available at our hospital include process groups, activity therapy groups, educational groups, and didactic groups.
Experiential therapy: As its name suggests, experiential therapy occurs in a more immersive and hands-on environment than do more traditional forms of talk therapy. At our treatment center, we provide patients with a variety of experiential therapy opportunities through which they can continue to make progress while discovering new ways to express themselves and/or learn healthier ways to fill their leisure hours. Our experiential therapy offerings include expressive arts therapy, recreation therapy, and music therapy. These sessions are scheduled on an individualized basis to ensure that each patient receives the type and frequency of experiential therapy that best meet his or her unique needs.
Family support services: At our hospital for OCD treatment, we are well aware of the degree to which an individual’s struggles with OCD can impact close friends, family members, and other loved ones. We are also cognizant of the essential role that loved ones can play in an individual’s recovery, both during and after his or her time in treatment. As a result, we provide patients and family members with the opportunity to schedule family meetings or family therapy sessions on an as-needed basis. These sessions, which are led by a mental health clinician, provide a structured and supportive environment in which family members can address how they have been affected by the patient’s mental health problems, heal intrafamilial rifts and strengthen family bonds, and learn how to develop the skills that allow them to provide the best possible support for their loved one.
Discharge planning: Planning for a patient’s discharge and ensuring that he or she has the ongoing support that he or she needs begins the day that the patient enters our treatment center. When a patient has completed his or her time with us, he or she will have a thorough plan that identifies the services and resources that will put him or her in the best position to maintain and improve upon the progress that he or she made while in treatment for OCD.
At our treatment center in Philadelphia, we are dedicated to providing the focused, personalized care that will best prepare our patients who have been struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder to experience continued success both during and after their time in treatment with us. For more information about our services, or for answers to specific questions about how we may be prepared to serve you or someone you love, please do not hesitate to contact us at your convenience. We look forward to speaking with you and helping you to make the most informed decision.