Letters from Former Patients of the Center
Thank you for your encouragement, time, and wisdom. I am so grateful and can easily say—it’s made all of the difference in the world.
The training went very well, and helped me greatly. I have been wanting to write you for some time. I hope you are still working at the clinic. I just wanted to let you I've hit the top of my hierarchy... every week for the past year with the help of a local therapist you referred me to. But you started the therapy and released me from the bondage of most of my OCD. I can't thank you enough. I sure hope you get this letter.
Thank you for your guidance, discretion, and understanding into my world of OCD. Feeling helpless and then getting help from the right person using the right technique is the best feeling in the world.
Sometimes people serendipitously drop into your life, pick you up, spin you around, and drop you off heading in the right direction. You did more than that; you gave me a gentle push and a toolbox to keep me going that way. I’m looking at life from that new direction and enjoying the view. You had a tremendous impact on me and that has made me a better person. It doesn’t seem right that for all did for me , the best I can come up with is thank you. If it was only money that you needed to help me I could easily repay that, but your tutorship and kindness has left me indebted for a lifetime.
I hope you realize that you have a wonderful talent for this crazy business that you call cognitive-behavioral therapy. I pray to God that if I ever need help again that you will still be here. Life’s experiences have taught me that most people rarely expose themselves to helping others, but then you’re not like most people.
I wanted to take the time to let you know what an amazing experience I have had at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. I have been working with one of your graduate students since September and cannot tell you how wonderful she has been throughout my treatment. I have suffered from OCD for most of my life. At times, I have felt hopeless because I never thought I would be able to go through with a treatment program. These feelings were compounded by a failed attempt at treatment in the past. I never thought I would be strong enough to fight this condition that was holding me back from living my life. However, this past year my OCD hit a very low point and due to the great reputation of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety I decided to give treatment one more try.
As soon as I met my therapist, she made me feel comfortable discussing things I never wanted to ever think about let alone talk about with a stranger. My therapist always remained professional and patient. She knew when to push me and when to be understanding. In the end, I felt comfortable sharing the information needed to really fight my OCD. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to my practicum student and to the program. It is not an exaggeration to say that my life is now changed. I know that I will always have to fight my OCD, but I now have hope that I can live the life I want to lead.
I could not have gotten through these last weeks without your help. Thanks for all you have done.
I was 'terrorized' and subsequently attacked. Due to the ensuing court battles, I was unable to deal with these symptoms for five years. Though skeptical, instinct told me something was seriously wrong. When my therapist told me I would 'get my life back', I thought she was nuts. Through her confidence and belief in this therapy she convinced me to commit to the treatment. Now I have life back. The resultant change in my behavior has resonated through my entire family (wife and kids, sister,etc .). There is no way for me to express my gratitude sufficiently.
