At last, we reach the end of The OCD Project, as well as our episode-specific commentary with Dr. David Tolin. Below, Dr. Tolin gives us his final thoughts on the series — the process, the results, the televising of it all. He also lets us know which of his on-air patients he’s been in touch with, and which he hasn’t…
All this season, board-certified clinical psychologistDr. David Tolin will be checking in with this blog for episode-specific interviews on The OCD Project, which places six people living with obsessive-compulsive disorder in a house in an attempt to treat and control their disorder. Our chat on the seventh episode is below. In it, Dr. Tolin talks about Traci’s grieving, Cody’s makeup exposure and why he regrets blowing up at Kristen.
All this season, board-certified clinical psychologistDr. David Tolin will be checking in with this blog for episode-specific interviews on The OCD Project, which places six people living with obsessive-compulsive disorder in a house in an attempt to treat and control their disorder. Our chat on the sixth episode is below. In it, Dr. Tolin talks about Kevin’s dismissal, Kristen’s improvement, Arine’s driving exposure and the fake funeral for Traci’s son…
All this season, board-certified clinical psychologistDr. David Tolin will be checking in with this blog for episode-specific interviews on The OCD Project, which places six people living with obsessive-compulsive disorder in a house in an attempt to treat and control their disorder. Our chat on the fifth episode is below. In it, Dr. Tolin talks about Jerry’s withdrawal, the duration of Arine’s exposure, Kevin’s prayer and why he thinks this method of treatment might not be right for Kevin…
All this season, board-certified clinical psychologistDr. David Tolin will be checking in with this blog for episode-specific interviews on The OCD Project, which places six people living with obsessive-compulsive disorder in a house in an attempt to treat and control their disorder. Our chat on the fourth episode is below. In it, Dr. Tolin talks about his suspicion that Kevin may have Asperger’s, Jerry holding a knife to his arm and Arine’s toilet scones…
All this season, board-certified clinical psychologistDr. David Tolin will be checking in with this blog for episode-specific interviews on The OCD Project, which places six people living with obsessive-compulsive disorder in a house in an attempt to treat and control their disorder. Our chat on the third episode is below. In it, Dr. Tolin talks about taking the patients to Skid Row, why anger is not the best motivation for overcoming OCD, and the element of fun in his job…
All this season, board-certified clinical psychologistDr. David Tolin will be checking in with this blog for episode-specific interviews on The OCD Project, which places six people living with obsessive-compulsive disorder in a house in an attempt to treat and control their disorder. Our chat on the second episode is below. In it, Dr. Tolin talks about shoe-licking, the patients’ supermarket outing and the bug Kevin suspected to be planted in his bed…
Dr. David Tolin comes to VH1 with a stack of professional achievements under his belt — he’s a board-certified clinical psychologist who founded the Anxiety Disorders Center at The Institute of Living, he teaches at Yale and recurred on A&E’s Hoarders. Most importantly for our purposes, he’s heading VH1′s own The OCD Project, which places six people living with obsessive-compulsive disorder in a house in an attempt to treat and control their disorder. Along the way Dr. Tolin will use exposure therapy on his patients, which forces them to confront their fears in what may appear to be outlandish ways.
All this season, Dr. Tolin will be checking in with this blog for episode-specific interviews. Our introductory one for The OCD Project premiere is below. In it, Dr. Tolin talks about bringing therapy to reality TV, the up- and downsides of treatment in the presence of cameras, the thought process behind exposure therapy and why he won’t be surprised if people laugh at this show (at least at first).
The online premiere of The OCD Project has arrived (see below). The show “centers on patients impacted by obsessive compulsive disorder living together as they strive to overcome their affliction.” (More info is here.) I’ll say no more than this so as not to spoil anything: this show is amazing, with a slightly more entertaining (or at least, self-aware) angle on VH1′s rehab-reality subgenre. Don’t miss it.
As previously announced, The OCD Project (premiering on air Thursday, May 27 at 10/9c) “centers on patients impacted by obsessive compulsive disorder living together as they strive to overcome their affliction.” Furthermore:
Six participants diagnosed with the most severe forms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) have lost their friends, put their families on the brink of collapse, and completely bankrupt their lives. Now, as a last resort, they’ve decided to move together and undergo intensive therapy.
A team of doctors led by highly respected expert Dr. David Tolin will offer a rare glimpse into the hellish world of OCD and the destructive effect it has on the participants and their families. The patients have each identified a specific goal they want to achieve at the end of their treatment, something very personal they could never do in their present condition. In order to reach their objective, the patients undergo a grueling treatment process known as Exposure Therapy. This treatment is founded on the principle that OCD can only be conquered through repeated and prolonged exposure to the maladaptive associations that cause the obsessions.
Viewers will see a character-driven world of highly intelligent, creative and empathetic people living a life that has spiraled out of control. The series will chronicle each participant’s journey into the debilitating doubts that consume their lives and witness the amazing transformations treatment can provide.
In the end, the patients will learn they’re not alone, that together they can finally confront and overcome the compulsions, and that life does not have to be the limited existence they’ve lived for so long.
Excessive hand-washing, tapping, fear of cancer — this looks beyond intense.
Related content
The OCD Project show page
