Sexual Obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Step-by-Step, Definitive Guide to Understanding, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Sexual Obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Step-by-Step, Definitive Guide to Understanding, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Sexual obsessions are a common symptom of OCD, but addressing them in treatment is uniquely challenging due to feelings of shame, prior misdiagnosis, and the covert nature of ritualizing behaviors. These complicating factors make it difficult for clients to disclose their symptoms and for clinicians to know how to approach treatment. Sexual Obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder provides clinicians with the information and guidance needed to help clients experiencing unwanted and intrusive thoughts of a sexual nature. Opening with background information on sexual obsessions and OCD, including assessment and differential diagnosis, Williams and Wetterneck then offer a complete, step-by-step manual describing treatment using a combination of empirically-supported CBT strategies, such as exposure and response prevention, cognitive therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy, as well as useful mindfulness techniques. Accompanying these practical, step-by-step instructions are educational handouts and diagrams for clients designed to promote learning. The book concludes with a discussion of relationship issues that commonly result from sexually-themed OCD, and how therapists can tackle these problems. Sexual Obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an essential resource for clinicians who treat OCD, as well as students and trainees from across the mental health professions. "Williams and Wetterneck, both highly respected clinical psychologists, have produced what is arguably the magisterial volume on approaching sexual obsessions in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)... One of the strengths of the volume is precisely its open approach to a multitude of practices without sacrificing the depth required to guide practitioners who must work with a challenging population of clients. There is currently no better book on the sexual obsessions specific to OCD, and this definitive volume serves as an indispensable resource for students and practitioners of psychology, psychiatry, and social work, as well as those employed in allied mental health fields." -- CHOICE "There are two very important reasons for this book. First, there is just too much shame about this type of OCD and if this book can decrease that stigma it is a major win for the OCD community. Second, it is disturbing that there are therapists who do not understand this very common presentation of OCD, so I hope that this text will become a standard read for new graduates to help them fully understand the complexities of OCD. Most excellent work Monnica and Chad." -- Patrick B. McGrath, PhD, Executive Director of the AMITA Health Foglia Family Foundation Residential Treatment Center, President, Anxiety Centers of Illinois "This is an exceptionally impressive and comprehensive book! Specific examples of hierarchies, step-by-step treatment descriptions for sexual obsessions are well written. Adding "third wave" treatments- ACT and Association Splitting provides richness to standard ERP/CBT approaches. Sexual obsessions are confusing for most clinicians. This book is among those considered a seminal resource for OCD practitioners and will receive high acclaim." -- Barbara Van Noppen, PhD, LCSW, Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Associate Professor, President, OCD Southern California, an affiliate of the International OCD Foundation "Finally, a book dedicated to understanding sexual obsessions in OCD! Williams and Wetterneck, two leaders in the field of OCD assessment and treatment, have compiled an expert cast of authors who intimately examine how to conceptualize, assess, and treat sexual obsessive-compulsive symptoms. This valuable text belongs on the shelf of any clinician specializing in OCD and related disorders." -- Eric Storch, PhD, Professor and McIngvale Presidential Endowed Chair, Vice Chair & Head, Psychology, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine Monnica T. Williams , Ph.D., ABPP, is a board-certified clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa in the School of Psychology, where she serves as Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Disparities. Her clinical work and research focus on OCD, trauma, culture, and ethnic minority mental health. Dr. Williams has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and her work has been featured in several major media outlets, including NPR , CNN , and the New York Times . Chad T. Wetterneck, PhD is a clinical director and supervisor at Rogers Memorial Hospital (RMH). Over the past four years, he has served at the Co-Director of Research at the Houston OCD Program and served on the training and research committee for Obsessive Compulsive Foundation of Texas. Dr. Wetterneck has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters focused on OCD and OC-spectrum conditions and presented at many peer-reviewed national/international conferences (over 150 paper/poster presentations).