OCD services in London

NHS Talking Therapies services across London accept self-referrals for OCD and should offer CBT with ERP. However, availability of therapists with specialist OCD training varies across London's services. For more severe OCD, London's NHS mental health trusts - including South London and Maudsley and Central and North West London - provide specialist community mental health services. London is also home to several specialist private OCD clinics and therapists trained in ERP.

For mild to moderate OCD, NHS Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT) is the first step. You can self-refer without a GP appointment. These services should offer CBT with ERP (exposure and response prevention), which is the NICE-recommended treatment for OCD. In practice, not all NHS Talking Therapies services have therapists with specific OCD expertise, so it is worth asking about this when you are referred.

For moderate to severe OCD, your GP can refer you to a community mental health team (CMHT) or, in some areas, a specialist OCD service. Specialist services offer more intensive therapy and access to psychiatrists who can prescribe medication (usually SSRIs at higher doses than used for depression). For treatment-resistant OCD, some centres offer specialist inpatient or intensive outpatient programmes.

Private therapists who specialise in OCD and ERP can offer faster access and dedicated expertise. When choosing a private therapist, checking that they are specifically trained in ERP is important - generic counselling or CBT without the exposure component is not effective for OCD. Private psychiatrists can also offer medication management if needed.