Student Perceptions of How Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is Taught in Graduate Counseling Programs

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a widely misunderstood and misdiagnosed mental health condition. Researchers have found significant delays between the first occurrence of OCD symptoms and treatment, likely due to high rates of misidentification of the disorder by healthcare providers. This study investigated student perceptions of how OCD is taught in graduate counseling programs. A mixed-methods approach was used to examine students’ recollections of specific information taught about OCD in graduate counseling programs as well as their experiences learning about OCD. Participants completed the OCD Counselor Education Questionnaire to assess their perceptions of how OCD was taught in their diagnosis coursework. Quantitative survey questions were analyzed using a frequency analysis, and qualitative answers were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed significant gaps in graduate counseling curriculum related to OCD symptomology and misdiagnosis, as well as an overall lack of education on OCD.