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Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of the get to Know OCD podcast. I'm Dr. Patrick McGrath, the Chief Clinical Officer for NOCD. If you're looking for help for OCD related conditions, check us out@nocd.com that's n o c d dot com. If you like the get to Know OCD podcast, you can subscribe to our NOCD YouTube channel on there. Not only can you watch the podcast, but you can see lots of other videos of myself doing webinars and all of our other great trainings and things that we do through NOCD today. Well, Alyssa Lentz is here. Hi. Hi, Alyssa. How are you?
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Hi. I'm doing well. Thank you for having me today.
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Thanks for being on. Glad to have you here. We're going to talk a lot about training and your role here at the NOCD Network and what you do. But first, just tell everybody a little bit about yourself and how you got to NOCD in the first place and how long you've been here and, you know, your career up until this point. Just let's learn a little bit about you first before we get into some other things.
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Sure. So I have been at no City for three years now, actually. Three years in December. I originally was not in the field of working with ocd. I was doing. I was working in a group private practice and something at that time had pivoted me to want to pursue OCD treatment. Um, I have lived experience with ocd, so I guess it just was never on my radar to actually treat ocd. But at that time I had gotten training through the IOCDF to treat OCD and I was living in Texas. And then upon relocating back to Wisconsin, I sought out an ocd. And because I wanted to be working more with people who were also treating ocd so I could also further my knowledge on ERP and really get a chance to learn from everybody in the NOCD community. That's kind of what brought me to nocd and I have since being here for three years, I've recently transitioned in the clinical Operations manager role, which has been really rewarding because I've been able to help other new therapists learn more about OCD and using ERP to treat it.
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So you came in with a little bit of knowledge about OCD treatment. You came in with your own knowledge of OCD in your life. What was it like to experience the NOCD training experience as you, as you joined us?
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I really enjoyed the NOCD training experience. So I, when I did the training through the iocdf, it was like a weekend, very like condensed training. And here at nocd it's more, you know, more involved, it's spread out across, you know, the three months of onboarding. And so you get really a great chance to really learn how to apply the skills. And the different CAMs, the clinical advising meetings that they have where you learn how to apply ERP and get really like structured learning and how to get through everything, it's really comprehensive in a way that gives you all the tools you need, all the knowledge you need, while also building your confidence in using erp, which I really enjoyed because in a lot of trainings you don't get that hands on practice.
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B
Yeah. So what did NOCD provide you that you think was different than other places you've worked or what you've heard about from other people working in other places?
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The, I think the hands on practice is one of the things that really sets it apart. There's lots of role playing, lots of the way this EHR is set up. You can do practice sessions, you can do lots of different, like question and answers on there to navigate things that you might be struggling with and wanting more practice on. And then in addition to that, there's the ongoing consultation. So there's consultations that are offered every day of the week and varying different topics which I think is, you know, really helpful when you're new to ocd. Right. And you don't have experience with, let's say, taboo topics. Being able to attend a consultation on that and getting to learn more from your colleagues that are in there and just being able to present cases and get direct feedback is really helpful.
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B
Yeah. And it probably, I'm assuming, helped to build your confidence in the work that you were doing quicker than if you just had a training and then had to be out on your own.
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A
Oh, definitely. I felt like I was kind of on an island by myself in Texas after I did my training and was the only person at the group practice treating OCD and then having to kind of seek out consultation elsewhere was really challenging. So coming to NOCD and having, you know, a huge community, a huge network where you could get that guidance one on one, really helped me gain my confidence in applying ERP and just even being able to teach others too on how to use ERP effectively with members.
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B
So at that practice in Texas, let's say you are at a challenging OCD case, it didn't sound like there was anyone there to consult with and you had to go externally. But you here at nocd, if you have a challenging Case, what are some options that you might have?
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Yeah, here at nocd, there's so many options really. You can go to consultation if it fits into your workweek, you can reach out to your operations manager and do one on one consultation. You can really. There's a lot of different people in leadership too that you can reach out to and do case consults with as needed. So at any given moment there's somebody available within the NOCD network that you can do consultation with who. Which makes it feel less isolating when you're brand new to doing erp. You know, doing ERP and working with this population.
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Yeah, you did that for a while and then this, this role came up to be able to transition and a lot of people when they're interviewing with us at nocd, ask about what kind of ability there is to move up in the company. I'm wondering if you can describe kind of opportunities that people have here at nocd.
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Yeah, so. Well, I transitioned in the clinical operations manager role, which helps. You know, I have a team of therapists that I'm helping onboard into the network and they're new to treating ocd, so helping them navigate the nuances of gaining their confidence in ERP and treating ocd. There's also like, if you want to work with trauma, there's room to, you know, know, be trained in PE, there's room to be trained in BFRBs. There's different lead positions that people have taken on. We have like the BDD lead. There's all sorts of varying ways that you can get involved. There's also other things you can do like the podcast or do lead consultations after you've been here.
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B
Podcast. What? Oh, wow.
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If you want to do that, lead consultations, if you want to do more of that type of stuff. There's support groups that I know a lot of therapists have interest in leading, so they get to the opportunities to branch out and start leading support groups with members in the community. So there's always various different kind of routes you can go.
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B
That's really great. So I'm assuming it didn't really feel like you were alone here, even though you had a virtual job? Because sometimes that's a question that people have and this is virtual. Can I have that sense of community that I have when I'm working at a group practice?
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Yeah, I was. That's funny you bring that up because I actually just talking to one of the newer therapists when we were going over kind of what NOCD has to offer and I was Highlighting the fact that prior to here, I felt less connected to my colleagues than I do here at nocd, which I think is really interesting because we are a virtual workplace. But I think it also speaks volumes to all the different things that NOCD has to offer and all the ways that we really, you know, NOCD goes and goes out of their way to make sure people feel connected.
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I believe we just had an event that I was at, actually. Maybe you've heard of it too, where, because we met some of the goals that we had as a company, we got a trip to New Orleans to spend time together, and over 500 of us went down to New Orleans to be able to be together for a couple of days and do some work stuff, but have some fun as well.
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Yes, that was amazing. And I think two years prior we went to Las Vegas, so there's opportunities like that. And then state to state, there's meetups. You know, there's. In Wisconsin, we tend to do more meetups than some of the other states. But because we're all kind of in similar areas, that's another way that there's a lot of connections that are built in OCD that I think is really cool.
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I love doing my monthly trivia night. That's always a fun time also. And we have a Family feud night as well. So, yeah, there's a lot of. There's a lot of fun stuff. Even outside of work that we try to do.
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There's a lot of fun stuff. And there's book club, which is a. Is a popular one that a lot of people join.
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Yes. Do. Do they read the book, actually, or do you just get a chance to chat or. I don't.
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I think a lot of them do read the book.
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Oh, well, that's good.
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You know, there's a lot of chatting that happens, but a lot of book.
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I always wondered that about book clubs. Do people read the book? I guess they do. Okay, so that's. Yeah. There's people watching who might consider becoming a therapist at nocd. And we've had on others here who are from more. The training side and the interviewing side. You're unique in the sense of coming in as a therapist. And so I want to hear about your thoughts about that. But maybe even more interestingly from your take, a person with lived experience with OCD coming here and working at ocd, because there are people who have OCD who get inspired through treatment to then go into the field and work and help other people. How do you kind of navigate a life with ocd and working at an OCD company and make. Manage all of that. Right?
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Yeah, it's. It can be a lot. And I feel like it makes it even more fulfilling because I have this very deep understanding of what OCD can be like in its darkest moments. So being able to see other people come outside of that darkness and live their lives is one. Is, you know, the most rewarding work I've ever done, to be honest. Like, I get goosebumps even thinking about it. And I'm also so passionate about helping other therapists navigate this and them being able to see people come out from the other side of it. Even just recently, some of the therapists on my team getting their first treatment conquerors, and being so excited to see that happen and for it to happen so quickly is unlike anything I feel like a lot of people experience as therapists.
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Yeah, that's really great. I think sometimes people are afraid, oh, if I have OCD and I work at a place that treats ocd, it'll be too triggering. Right. For me, and I won't be able to deal with that. And while we can't predict what that outcome will be, you know, I. I think you're a great example of you. You can do both. Right? You can have OCD and you can. You can treat OCD and really, through great treatment, be able to apply all those principles to yourself so that hearing about someone else's OCD doesn't have to be a trigger to you. Correct?
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Right, Exactly. And if it. And if there is something triggering, you know, it's always good. You have the skills, so know exactly what to do. And more than anything, treating OCD helps reinforce that.
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Right. Because every day you're reminded of how good ERP actually works. Right?
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Right, exactly. And how it. You. You know, it really gives you your life back in a lot of ways. And so it's just. You're reinforcing that with every member that you help, with every therapist that you help as they're learning it.
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When you're talking to people who are considering NOCD or don't work here but are looking for jobs, what do you describe NOCD as being like? That is enticing to them and. And what kind of puts it over the edge for them to think about. Okay, I'm gonna. I'm gonna give that a go.
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I always highlight the level of connection because it is a virtual workspace. So that's something people kind of are always doubt if, it seems like. But the level of connection here, I feel like is. Speaks volumes just to the people that are here and that we get the chance to work with the rewarding work that comes from working with the members and seeing the members get better, faster and just being able to be part of that. I highlight that too, especially coming from, you know, group private practice where you don't always see change happen so quickly. And so being able to feel like you really are helping people live their lives to the fullest. I feel like it just speaks volumes and it's hard not to want to do that. So. So I always highlight those two pieces and the ongoing training, the, you know, we have the training in the beginning, but then there's so many opportunities to continue your learning here and to continue growing as a clinician that you're not going to get elsewhere.
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B
Awesome. And as you've transitioned now into the leadership role, what, what insights do you have into working at NOCD that you didn't have before?
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Well, being in the leadership role just highlighted the intentions that everyone has, you know, for making this the best workplace for the therapists that come in member first and making sure our members are getting the care they needed. And that's just really, I guess it's really made me feel even, even more like happy and fulfilled by working here and seeing all that goes on behind the scenes.
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I'm thrilled that you're here as a therapist and now as one of our clinical operations managers because I think that it shows that we do promote from within. Right. We take a look at those who stand out and we want to offer opportunities for people that, so that they can continue their career and still do the fulfilling work of treating people with obsessive compulsive disorder, using evidence based practices, and then also helping other therapists to learn about those evidence based practices. So thank you for that work that you do.
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Well, thank you for having me here. Truly, it's. It's so rewarding and I can't, like, I speak so highly of no CD every time anyone asks. It's like I can't even imagine going back and working somewhere else after, you know, going from multiple places to here and just having access to everything that NOCD offers.
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That's awesome. Any final words for those listening to inspire them to consider NOCD as a career.
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I would say if you're even remotely interested, don't question it. You know, take it on as a challenge and see like, it doesn't ever hurt to pursue it and see if it would be a good fit for you.
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B
Awesome. Well, thanks for being here today, Alyssa. I appreciate it.
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Yeah, thanks for having me.
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And for all of you. At nocd, we're on a mission to restore hope for people struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and we want to bring more awareness and better treatment into their lives. We know the key to this mission is investing in therapists to ensure that they are equipped with whatever they need to deliver this life changing care. So if you're a licensed therapist and you're looking to deliver exposure and response prevention therapy and other specialized cares for OCD and related conditions, well, we would love to talk to you and see if joining the NOCD network is right for you. Head to our careers page on the NOCD website. That's nocd.com, nocd.com and check us out on our careers page. We would love to set up a time to chat with you and do an interview and see if you working with NOCD is the right fit. And thanks as always for watching the get to Know OCD podcast. If you like it, you can subscribe to our NOCD YouTube channel, or you can come to nocd.com nocd.com for great content. Also, we hope to see you again in the future. And remember, be better to yourself than your OCD ever would be. Thanks for watching.