Books and Websites About OCD

There are many excellent online and offline resources about OCD. Here are some of the OCD books and websites on my reading list.

This is a recommended list of OCD books and OCD websites that I consider to be essential reading for individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In addition to my formal training in OCD treatment, these OCD books and websites have had a profound impact on how I conceptualize and treat OCD.

This list is not intended to be exhaustive but instead includes only those resources that I have read personally and consider to be the “best of the best.” I will update this list periodically as I come across other “must read” books, websites, and resources for people with OCD.

Please note: In order to keep this list streamlined and useful, unfortunately I can’t accept requests for additions to this list. As such, comments have been disabled for this post.

Books About OCD

Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Personalized Recovery Program for Living with Uncertainty

Freedom From OCD by Jon Grayson

Dr. Jon Grayson’s Freedom from OCD is often the first book I mention when asked for OCD book recommendations. Dr. Grayson’s book has had a tremendous influence on the way I think about OCD. His model for conceptualizing and treating OCD unfolds over the course of the entire book. Thus, if you read this book, I strongly encourage you to read it from cover-to-cover rather than only reading those sections that relate to your specific symptoms. (Grayson, Jonathan. [2003]. Freedom from obsessive compulsive disorder: A personalized recovery program for living with uncertainty.)

The OCD Workbook by Bruce Hyman & Cherry Pedrick

The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

For years, Bruce Hyman and Cherry Pedrick’s OCD Workbook has been my go-to book when individuals ask for reading recommendations about OCD. Dr. Hyman and Cherry Pedrick’s workbook provides quality information about OCD and goes into more detail for certain OCD subtypes. (Hyman, Bruce & Pedrick, Cherry. [2010]. The OCD workbook: Your guide to breaking free from obsessive-compulsive disorder.)

Getting Over OCD by Jon Abramowitz

Getting Over OCD: A 10-Step Workbook for Taking Back Your Life (The Guilford Self-Help Workbook Series)

Dr. Jon Abramowitz’s Getting Over OCD is a more recent addition to my recommended reading list for OCD. I’ve followed his research for years, and this book is an excellent addition to his already impressive CV. Dr. Abramowitz’s workbook provides thorough, comprehensive coverage of all things OCD-related. (Abramowitz, Jonathan. [2009]. Getting Over OCD: A 10-Step Workbook for Taking Back Your Life.)

Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life by Steven Hayes

Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life

Dr. Steven Hayes’s Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life is an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) workbook that is not specific to OCD and, as such, it should not be the only book you have in your personal library. However, this workbook emphasizes the core components of ACT (values-centered living, acceptance of your internal experiences) and provides a distinct perspective that can be helpful on the road to recovery. (Hayes, Steven & Smith, Spencer [2005]. Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.)

Websites About OCD

(Note: The links included below point to specific sections of these websites that contain expert-written articles).

International OCD Foundation – Expert Opinions

The International Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Foundation’s (IOCDF) website is a comprehensive online resource for all things OCD. It is the first OCD website I recommend to those who have been recently diagnosed. IOCDF provides a wealth of information about OCD and includes expert articles, OCD support group listings, OCD therapist listings, and expert-written articles. It even has a specific section devoted to OCD in children and adolescents.

Beyond OCD – Expert Perspectives

Beyond OCD (formerly ocdchicago.org) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to educate the public about OCD. The “Expert Perspectives” section of their website is a curated list of OCD articles that cover a variety of conceptual and treatment-related topics. BeyondOCD provides access to articles written by OCD experts Fred Pinzel, Charles Mansueto, David Keuler, and Jon Hershfield (among others).

Western Suffolk Psychological Services – Fred Penzel Articles

Western Suffolk Psychological Services is a New York-based treatment center that is home to Dr. Fred Penzel, who gets a special mention due to his insightful and helpful posts about OCD. Many of Dr. Penzel’s excellent articles have been republished by ocfoundation.org and BeyondOCD.org.

Steven J. Seay, Ph.D. – Article Archive

This is my own website (hint, hint: you’re visiting it right now), where I blog regularly about anxiety and OCD-related topics. If you live in South Florida, you might also be interested in visiting my Palm Beach psychological practice that provides specialized treatment for OCD.