I’m sure this article will elicit some harsh responses from people who use ACT to treat ‘Pure O.’ I did not write this article to cause a stir. I wrote it because I feel compelled to speak out against an approach that I believe hurts patients. Please read with this in mind, and feel free […]| Dr. Michael J. Greenberg
* Published December 2022 Defining Compulsion In RF-ERP, the defining characteristic of an OCD symptom is the person’s subjective lack of agency, or their feeling that they don’t have a choice about whether they engage in that symptomatic behavior (1). According to this definition, no behavior is ever objectively OCD. Rather, it is a person’s […]| Dr. Michael J. Greenberg
* Published December 2022 Causal Justifications Introduction A central component of RF-ERP is challenging the ways in which a person justifies ruminating. In order to argue effectively against a justification, one must first fully understand it. This entails helping the patient to formulate exactly why they think it is important to ruminate. Patients are usually […]| Dr. Michael J. Greenberg
* Published December 2022 Anatomical Models of Rumination Rumination as defined in RF-ERP captures all sorts of different thought processes. Taking a closer look at these thought processes can be helpful in various ways. This article presents a few different anatomical models one might use to organize the content of someone’s rumination. Notably, these models […]| Dr. Michael J. Greenberg
* Published December 2022 Three Types of OCD Cases: Integrating Malan’s Model of OCD with the Core Fear Model As discussed here, an individual’s OCD symptoms are aimed at avoiding a specific form of emotional distress, or Core Fear. And as discussed here, OCD symptoms are aimed at preventing a loss of attachment. So is […]| Dr. Michael J. Greenberg
Understanding the Core Fear is foundational to effective treatment of OCD, and can unlock even the most baffling cases. Dr. Elna Yadin introduced the idea that each person with OCD has a ‘Core Fear,’ and that their avoidance and compulsions are aimed at preventing it. This idea is very powerful, because OCD symptoms can seem […]| Dr. Michael J. Greenberg