Book Review – The OCD Workbook for Teens
Image: The OCD Workbook for Teens by Len Lantz (CC BY-NC-ND)
Synopsis: Len's Star Rating: 10 out of 10. An excellent, engaging self-help workbook on research-proven strategies for combatting OCD.
BY LEN LANTZ, MD / 7.3.2021; No. 39
Disclaimer: Yes, I am a physician, but I’m not your doctor and this article does not create a doctor-patient relationship. This article is for educational purposes and should not be seen as medical advice. You should consult with your physician before you rely on this information. This post also contains affiliate links. Please click this LINK for the full disclaimer.
Star Rating – 10 out of 10
Rating guide: 1 = horrible, 5 = average and 10 = wow
Author
Jon Hershfield
About the author
Jon Hershfield, MFT, is a psychotherapist and the Director of The Center for OCD and Anxiety at Sheppard Pratt. He has written several books and workbooks on OCD.
General description
The OCD Workbook for Teens is a self-help workbook for youth on implementing mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) strategies to reduce obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms. The author is an expert in treating OCD and he draws upon proven, researched-based strategies for his workbook. He provides background on the condition of OCD, yet he encourages the reader to immediately participate with the text with exercises starting in the first chapter. The workbook is designed to be worked through at a pace that allows the reader to think over what they read, write down thoughts, emotions and examples from their own lives and practice using the strategies shared in each chapter. Topics covered in this book include:
Explaining intrusive thoughts and compulsions
Providing an overview of mindfulness approaches and a rationale for using them
Sharing the powerful approach of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) in a way that makes it seems doable rather than intimidating
Unique and most important aspects
The OCD Workbook for Teens is a well-written, nicely structured workbook with many strategies to combat OCD. The workbook is short (a little over 100 pages). I’m often conflicted over whether a short workbook is better or not. Certainly, shorter workbooks are less intimidating to a reader and force the author to be more concise, however, longer workbooks convey the idea that they are more thorough. I believe that Jon Hershfield did a fantastic job with this workbook by making it brief and thorough in covering important CBT and mindfulness strategies for combatting OCD.
Jon Hershfield accurately describes the battle that people with OCD face in dealing with unwanted thoughts and behaviors. He is an entertaining and engaging writer and his explanations of complex ideas make sense and resonate truthfully. His examples and stories make it clear that he is an expert in OCD and skilled in helping kids and families who struggle with the condition. He even included his own experience with OCD, which adds to his credibility and helps decrease stigma. I believe that the art provided by Sean Shinnock at the end of each chapter adds to reader engagement and it felt like a reward every time I finished a chapter. Important features of this workbook include:
Explaining the strategy of Not Knowing as a tool for dealing with OCD
Addressing shame and stigma that teens experience with their OCD
Outlining the importance of self-care and self-compassion
Including a chapter for family/parents so they help combat – not feed – the OCD
Listing a URL to download exercises/forms from the book for additional practice
Best quotes
“Intrusive thoughts don’t happen because you did something wrong or because you’re some kind of messed-up person. They’re actually a normal part of the human experience. Everyone has intrusive thoughts. People with OCD are more likely to view their intrusive thoughts as problematic and feel like they have a responsibility to do something about them.”
“Thoughts are just words or images that pop up in our heads. Understanding the difference between thinking (a behavior) and having thoughts (an experience) is a big part of understanding OCD and how to overcome it.”
“It’s unlikely you will have made it this far in this workbook without at least sorta kinda knowing your unwanted thoughts are about as reliably true as an old man’s Twitter rant.”
“You’ve never had an unwanted thought that wasn’t shared by someone somewhere at some time. And you are never without a path to OCD mastery.”
Who would enjoy this book?
Teens, therapists and parents of teens who are looking for an enjoyable, evidence-based workbook focused primarily on CBT and mindfulness strategies to combat OCD would likely enjoy The OCD Workbook for Teens.
Who would not enjoy this book?
Someone interested in a self-help book (rather than a workbook) that goes into greater depth on CBT theory and strategies is unlikely to enjoy The OCD Workbook for Teens.
Conclusion
The OCD Workbook for Teens is an excellent, engaging self-help workbook on research-proven strategies for combatting OCD.