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Do you struggle with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? The GOALS (Giving Those with OCD Another Lifestyle) model was developed in Philadelphia in 1981 by Jonathan Grayson and Gayle Frankel. Meetings are designed to allow participants the opportunity to share about their own symptoms and struggles, receive validation from others, and learn new coping strategies to manage their OCD.

Scroll down to learn more about if this group might be helpful for you, and how to join a group.

OCD is a type of anxiety disorder that is most typically characterized by frequent unwanted intrusive thoughts, called obsessions, and unexplained or excessive ritual behaviors, called compulsions. These obsessions and compulsions are different from what some people might consider “preferences” or “quirks” – they are typically frequent, intrusive, unwanted, and oftentimes very disruptive to a person’s life. Obsessions typically center around things that a person values – family, professionalism, etc. – and convinces an individual that they must engage in rituals, known as compulsions, in order to stay safe and prevent the obsessive fear from occuring.

Some types of obsessions might include intrusive thoughts related to:

  • Contamination
  • Symmetry or Orderliness
  • Perfection and Incompletion
  • Fears of Harming Others
  • Sexual Thoughts

 

Learn more about OCD here.

People may engage with a support group at various points throughout their mental health journey. For some, groups may be a safe space to explore their mental health for the first time in a welcoming and accepting community; for others, groups function as a space for validation, troubleshooting, and celebration as they work to manage or maintain their mental health. Regardless of what point you’re at, our participants share that support groups help them to get information and resources from people who have been there; build a support network they can rely on; and talk about their mental health without judgement.

At our groups, we believe in the power of community – a group of people who hear you, understand you, and walk alongside you. There’s a lot of theories behind why support groups work, but the bottom line is this: research shows people who participate in support groups have reduced symptomology, reduced number of crises, reduced use of services, and an overall increased sense of wellbeing (Worrall et al., 2018). It’s more effective than just providing information alone (Griffiths et al., 2012), and some studies even demonstrate that participation in support groups can produce equivalent outcomes to “substantially more costly professional interventions” (Pistrang, Barker, and Humphreys, 2008). No matter what you’re hoping to get out of it, support groups have something for everyone – just ask our participants.

Online: GOALS for OCD Support Group (You must be a resident of Ohio to attend this group.)

  • Day & Time: First and Third Wednesdays, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
  • Location: Zoom
  • Interested? Register and access the meeting at bit.ly/goalsforocd, or via the calendar here.

 

Online: OCD Support Group (Purple)

  • Day & Time: Second Tuesday, from 5pm-6pm (Note: New time beginning November 2023!)
  • Location: Zoom
  • Interested? Register and access the meeting at bit.ly/ocdpurple, or via the calendar here.

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