Every provider is scored on a 100-point scale across five evidence-based signals. These signals are weighted by importance — ERP use matters most because it’s the single strongest predictor of treatment success.
Whether the provider uses Exposure and Response Prevention as their primary treatment for OCD. This is the gold standard, and providers who don't use it are unlikely to deliver effective OCD care.
What percentage of the provider's practice is dedicated to OCD patients. A provider who sees 2 OCD patients a month is not a specialist, regardless of their training.
Specialized OCD training beyond general clinical education. This includes BTTI certification, postdoctoral fellowships at OCD programs, or documented mentorship under recognized OCD specialists.
How well the provider's specialty areas and treatment intensity match common OCD presentations. Providers who offer intensive programs or specialize in severe cases score higher.
Level and relevance of the provider's clinical degree. This is the lightest signal — pedigree alone should never outrank a provider who clearly specializes in OCD.
No provider can score above a certain threshold without using ERP as their primary treatment. Even with perfect scores on every other signal, a provider who doesn’t use ERP cannot be recommended for OCD care. This is non-negotiable.
A high score means strong, verifiable evidence of OCD expertise.
Here’s what it can’t tell you.
We don’t have data on symptom reduction, therapeutic rapport, or how patients feel about their care. A high score means a provider has verifiable expertise in OCD — it’s not a guarantee of any individual patient’s experience. Two people can see the same highly-scored provider and have very different outcomes.
A provider who delivers excellent ERP but has a minimal online presence will score lower than their skill deserves. We measure what you can verify independently before booking — published credentials, training, affiliations, and public specificity. We encourage all providers to make their clinical approach more visible.
The traits we measure are observably more common among providers recognized as OCD leaders. A high score means a provider fits the pattern of deep specialization. It doesn’t guarantee it. Think of it like a signal — strong and evidence-based, but not the full picture.
Doctoral programs, prestigious fellowships, and research opportunities aren’t equally accessible to all clinicians. We weighted ERP evidence and OCD specialization most heavily to partially offset credential-based bias — but we acknowledge our scoring system exists within broader structural inequities in healthcare training.
We built this tool to make finding OCD care less overwhelming — not to be the final word. Use it as a starting point.