Do We Have to Shake Hands?

OCD Organizations and Support Groups

Updated 30-Jan-2010

OCD Organizations

United States

• Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation - the OCD organization. Visit and join!
  • Central New York OCF Affiliate (New York, USA)
  • OCD Chicago - a change of name, but still an affiliate of OCF. They have an excellent series of guides:
    • Relief From OCD - A Guide for People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
    • Overcoming OCD: A Guide for College Students
    • How to Help Your Child - A Parents Guide to OCD
    • Got OCD? - A Guide for Teens
    (Illinois, USA)
  • OCF of the San Francisco Bay Area (California, USA)
  • OCF of Jacksonville (Florida, USA)
  • OCF of Greater Boston (Massachussetts, USA)
  • OCF of Michigan (Michigan, USA)
  • NJ Affiliate of the OCF (New Jersey, USA)
  • Philadelphia Affiliate of the OCF (Pennsylvania, USA)
  • OCF of Western Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania, USA)

• Awareness Foundation for OCD and Related Disorders - founded by (among others) James Callner, maker of the films The Touching Tree and The Risk. The foundation offers workshop speakers, films/videos, and books; some video clips are available on the web site.
• Children of Compulsive Hoarders (COH) - "Opening hearts, minds, and homes with understanding". This is an incredible site with numerous resources, including state-specific information (e.g., therapists) for the USA plus Canada and the United Kingdom.
• Clutterers Anonymous - a 12-step program for dealing with hoarding.
• Long Island OCD Support Network - will boost your spirits just by reading the home page! (Long Island, New York, USA)
• Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous - a 12-step program for OCD sufferers.
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Association of Dallas/Fort Worth - sponsors various activities, publishes a newsletter, and runs a support group. (Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, USA)
• Obsessive Compulsive Information Center - "a resource for information on obsessive compulsive disorder and related disorders ... more than 15,000 references on file". You can contact the Center's librarians to perform literature searches, to get bibliographies, and to get copies of individual articles. Simple queries are free; more complex ones cost money. Guide books and information packets are also available for sale. OCIC is part of the non-profit Madison Institute of Medicine.
• Our Courage Defines Us (OCDU) - an "informational and support source for sufferers" of OCD. The organization publishes a quarterly newsletter; the articles from the first issue are on-line. The web site also features a message board and chat room; you need to register (for free) in order to access them.

Australia

• Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria - is the "business and promotional name" of the "Obsessive Compulsive and Anxiety Disorders Foundation of Victoria (OCADF)".

Belgium

• Ligue TOC - "La Ligue Trouble Obsessionnel Compulsif a pour mission: d'informer sur la maladie [et] de soutenir la criation de groupes d'entraide." (Brussels, Belgium)

Canada

• OCD Centre Manitoba, Inc. (OCDC) - an active OCD organization that gives educational presentations, operates support groups, promotes research, and more. (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
• Ontario Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Network - "Providing information and connections to people with OCD and their families."

Denmark

• OCD-foreningen (OCD Foundation in Denmark) - "OCD er en tilstand med tilbagevendende tvangstanker og / eller tvangshandlinger." A new, but growing, site with information, contacts, links, and more - all in Danish.
• OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - "en samling af Litteratur og Links". Useful reviews of both Danish and English books on OCD.

France

• Association Française de Personnes Souffrant de Troubles Obsessionnels et Compulsifs - "Bienvenue ... à vous qui soit souffrez de TOC, soit avez un proche souffrant de TOC, ou qui êtes intéressé par cette maladie mal connue bien que répandue. Ce site est destiné à vous aider à y voir un peu plus clair ..."

Germany

• Zwangsstörungen - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Zwangserkrankungen (DGZ). (From Atsilusgi's OCD Page)

Holland

• OCD Vriendenkring - "Met OCD gaat het om een ziekte waarbij de kwaliteit van het leven in aanzienlijke mate wordt aangetast door angst, dwanggedachten en rituelen. Voor mensen die hier aan lijden of er meer over willen weten is deze club."

Iran

• Shefa Association of OCD - "is an all volunteer non profit charity which is based on the therapy experience of the therapists and cured people within 15 years." I can't read the Farsi (?), but here is an English description of the organization and its goals.

Ireland

• OCD Ireland - "[A] national organisation for people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and the related disorders of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Trichotillomania".

Italy

• Ossessioni e Compulsioni - "Benvenuto in OSSESSIONIeCOMPULSIONI.IT, il sito per trovare le risposte alle tue domande sulla psicoterapia delle ossessioni e delle compulsioni."

Norway/Sweden

• ANANKE (Norway) - "Brukerorganisasjon for folk med tvangslidelse (OCD) og deres pårørende".
• Foreningen for tvangslidelser/OCD - "Ny forening for deg med tvangslidelse, pårørende og interesserte". Discussion forum, information, links, and a really cool OCD banner on its pages! (Norway)

• ANANKE (Sweden) - "Vi är en rikstäckande idéell förening med uppgift att stödja människor som drabbats av tvångssyndrom."
• OCD-Föreningen Ananke i Malmö (Sweden)
• OCD-föreningen Ananke i östra Skåne och Blekinge (Sweden)

South Africa

• South African Depression & Anxiety Group - has information on OCD and other anxiety disorders.

United Kingdom

• Anxiety Care - is a London, England charity that "tries to help people suffering from anxiety disorders to plan, initiate and carry through their own recovery programmes alone, with the support of charity volunteers, or under the direction of a mental health professional". The web site has a chat room and an interesting, although somewhat out-dated, article on OCD.
• OCD Action - is a London-based "national charity for people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and the related disorders such as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Compulsive Skin Picking (CSP) and Trichotillomania". Judging by its extensive web site, OCD Action appears to be the British equivalent of the U.S. Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation. (OCD Action was formerly known as Obsessive Action.)
• OCD-UK - "is the leading national charity, independently working with and for people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) ... Our objective is to make a positive and meaningful difference in the everyday lives of people affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, by providing accessible and effective support services and by campaigning for improved access and quality treatment and care for people with OCD."

Related Organizations

• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) - has information on OCD in children and adolescents.
• Anxiety Disorders Association of America - has a lot of information on anxiety disorders, including an overview of OCD, an OCD self-test, information on how to get help, and information on helping a child with OCD.
• Family Village - a "Global Community of Disability-Related Resources", has a concise page of links to organizations and information relating to OCD.
• First Steps to Freedom - offers various services for people with OCD and other anxiety disorders.
• HealthyPlace.com OCD Center Homepage - is a mental health site offering information, E-mail lists, chat rooms, etc.
• Internet Mental Health - "a free encyclopedia of mental health information" designed by a Canadian psychiatrist. The OCD page has an on-line diagnosis feature; separate, comprehensive bibiliographies of research papers on diagnosis, treatment, and cause; and a number of on-line, OCD articles from the Harvard Mental Health Letter.
• Messies Anonymous - helps messy and disorganized people.
• National Anxiety Foundation - has information on OCD.
• Tourette Syndrome Association

Support Groups

• OCD Support Groups - is a comprehensive searchable list of OCD support groups throughout the United States and throughout the world. (Maintained by the Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation)

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Meetup Groups - lists 31 discussion/support groups (as of July 2009) that deal exclusively or in part with OCD. ("Meetup is the world's largest network of local groups. Meetup makes it easy for anyone to organize a local group or find one of the thousands already meeting up face-to-face.")

United States

• Illinois OCD Support Groups - is a multiple-page list provided by the OCF of Metropolitan Chicago.
• Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maine OCD Support Groups - is a list of groups provided by the OCF of Greater Boston.
• Pittsburgh OCD Support Groups - is a list provided by the OCF of Western Pennsylvania.
• Support Groups in New Jersey - is a list provided by the NJ Affiliate of the OCF.

• Dr. Jonathan Grayson - of the GOAL (Giving Obsessive-Compulsives Another Lifestyle) support group fame.

• Anxiety Resource Center - co-founded by Alan Carriero of OCD Grand Rapids, has a number of support groups that meet in the oldest standing firehouse (pictures) in Michigan: (i) Teens with Anxiety, and the following Adult groups - (ii) Compulsive Hair Pulling, (iii) Adult OCD, (iv) Compulsive Hoarding, and (v) General Anxiety. (Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA - click the easy-to-miss "contact us" link in the upper right-hand corner of the page for the exact address)
• Berkeley OCD Support Group (Berkeley, California, USA)
• Bozeman OCD Support Group (Bozeman, Montana, USA)
• Central NY Support Group - associated with the Central New York OCF Affiliate, gives OCD sufferers, family, and loved ones "a chance to meet with others to discuss their experiences and feelings." (Utica, New York, USA)
• Eating Disorders & Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Support Group (Newark, Ohio, USA)
• Elliot Behavioral Health Services - hosts a 12-step support group: A+anonymous Obsessives Compulsives. (Yahoo OCD12Step group) (Manchester, New Hampshire, USA)
• Hudson Valley OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) Support Group (Poughkeepsie, New York, USA)
• Long Island OCD Support Group (Long Island, New York, USA)
• Lori Riddle-Walker, MFT - runs an OCD support group in San Diego County. (Escondido, California, USA)
• Mental Health Association in Vanderburgh County - has an OCD support group. (Southwestern Indiana, USA)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Association of Dallas/Fort Worth - has meetings twice a month. (Dallas, Texas, USA)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Page - a support group?
• OCD Center of Los Angeles - conducts a weekly OCD support group and a weekly support group for family members.
• OCF of Jacksonville runs (i) an OCD support group and (ii) the Mothers of Obsessive Compulsive Children & Adolescents (MOCCA) support group. (Jacksonville, Florida, USA)
• Opening New Doors (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA)
• Philadelphia OCD Interest Group - organized by Monnica Williams, Ph.D. The group "is for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and people with an interest in OCD." You can sign up for E-mail alerts about the next scheduled meetings.
• Parents Helping Parents - has a support group for parents of children with OCD. (Palo Alto, California, USA)
• Saint Louis Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Support Group - St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
• San Francisco OCD - is a support group that also has an on-line discussion group. (San Francisco, California, USA)
• Southern New Jersey/Philadelphia Trichotillomania Support Group - "is a free meeting for children, adolescents, and adults living with trichotillomania", conducted by Dr. Marla Deibler of The Center for Emotional Health of Greater Philadelphia. (Cherry Hill, New Jersey, USA)
• Spokane OCD Support Group (Spokane, Washington, USA)
• SupportWorks® Online - lists OCD support groups in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA. The main page appears to be a good resource for people wishing to start their own support groups.
• Western Suffolk Psychological Services - hosts Dr. Fred Penzel's OCD Q&A support group and Susan Vitek's support groups for children and family members. (Huntington, New York, USA)

Australia

• North East Valley Division of General Practice, Victoria - has an overview of the symptoms and treatment of OCD, as well as the addresses of some OCD support groups in Australia.
• OCD Family & Carer Support Group - is a "monthly support group for family members, carers and friends of people living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder." (Ashwood, Victoria, Australia)

Belgium

• Le Groupe GDTOCS (Université de Liège, Sart Tilman, Belgium)
• Le Groupe TIC TAC TOC (Brussels, Belgium)

Canada

• Kitchener-Waterloo O.C.D. Support Group (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada)
• Newmarket OCD Support Group - has suspended its meetings, but it will continue to provide support to and act as a resource for both existing members and for new individuals seeking help. (Newmarket, Ontario, Canada)
• OCD Centre Manitoba - conducts several support groups. (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
• OCD Niagara - is "a volunteer group dedicated to providing a support and information network in the Niagara Region for those with OCD, their family and friends." (St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada)
• Regina OCD Support Group (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada)
• Saskatoon OCD Support Group (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada)

Ireland

• OCD Ireland Family & Friends Support Group (Dublin, Republic of Ireland)

New Zealand

• OCD Support Group (Christchurch, New Zealand) - has a very nice web site. Its informative newsletters are available on-line in PDF format.

United Kingdom

• Wallsend Self Help Group - helps "those suffering with Anxiety, Depression, OCD, and many other phobia and stress related problems." (Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, Great Britian)