Hi - my son (who is in his mid twenties and is autistic) has recently started having therapy with the nhs for ocd. He’s struggled with ocd for many years. His problem with his therapist is that he cannot bring himself to tell her exactly what his intrusive thoughts are. He has been able to tell her the nature of the thoughts (ie they have a sexual component and he is incredibly embarrassed to talk about them) but he can’t tell her exactly what they are. This is partly due to embarrassment and shame about them, and partly because he fears that if he says them then something might happen. I’m sure that these fears are incredibly common and I’ve assured him she won’t be shocked or judge him - but he still can’t bring himself to tell her exactly what they are.
He’s had 2 sessions with her - but she’s already really pressuring him and threatening to stop treating him if he doesn’t tell her what his intrusive thoughts are if he doesn’t tell her in the next session (which is this week).
She has even said (I’m paraphrasing) ‘there are lots of people who want and need to have this therapy and if your not willing to commit then…..etc etc’.
Because he’s autistic he feels terrible about being told he’s ’doing the wrong thing’ or being a bad person - and he feels really judged and pressured by her. What can we do?
Has anyone else had this problem - and how did you resolve it?
My son’s life is made a misery by his OCD and I don’t want this therapist to discharge him without helping him at all.
Thanks.
