Is OCD a Disability? Qualifications & Benefits
Does OCD qualify as a disability? The short answer is yes, however, the issue is more complex than it may seem.
October 20, 2023I hold a Master’s in clinical psychology and am currently completing my PhD in Clinical Psychology. My years of training include work with both adolescent and adult populations employing emotion-focused modalities to help patients heal. My dissertation research is on obsessive compulsive disorder and improving treatment for this debilitating set of symptoms.
Currently I work clinically with both adolescent and adult populations. I specialize in trauma, anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. I use an emotion focused therapy called Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) which has a growing evidence base for treating complex and treatment resistant symptoms.
I have a private coaching practice https://nickfurnari.com/ in which I specialize in coaching therapists dealing with burnout. I help them with their own anxiety in relation to patients and colleagues in order to limit symptoms of burnout and fatigue. I develop group curriculum and individual interventions for therapists across the country.
I also work as an adjunct professor teaching various psychology courses at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU).
I have spoken at international conferences on the role of emotion and anxiety reactions in chronic pain.
I write for Choosing Therapy because of their exceedingly high editorial standards. I am honored to be a part of a company that strives to put accurate and precise information out to consumers alongside other licensed mental health professionals.
Specializing in anxiety, depression, OCD, and trauma, Nick also addresses interpersonal challenges and helps clients improve sexual potency using acceptance and emotional reconciliation techniques.
Is OCD a Disability? Qualifications & Benefits
Does OCD qualify as a disability? The short answer is yes, however, the issue is more complex than it may seem.
October 20, 2023Is OCD Neurodivergent?
Exploring how our brains work can be fascinating, especially when we think about conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and how they fit into the bigger picture of neurodivergence. Neurodivergence is a term used to describe people living with conditions that are thought to cause subtle symptoms due to slight differences in how the brain functions.
December 1, 2023Sensorimotor OCD: Symptoms, Examples & Treatment
Sensorimotor OCD is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder where an individual becomes overly aware of and fixated on certain involuntary bodily processes or sensations, like breathing, blinking, or swallowing. This heightened awareness can lead to distress and anxiety, as the person constantly monitors these sensations, leading to obsessive thoughts and sometimes compulsive behaviors to try to manage or control them.
March 3, 2024“It is difficult to live a human life. I help people who are ready to accept these challenges and learn to live a meaningful life in the midst of it. Healing is possible. And I am honored to partner with individuals on that healing journey. ”
Nicholas Furnari, MA, PhD(c)
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