How Judith Steverson, MSW, LCSW, found her niche in OCD care, and has grown her career at NOCD
Judith Steverson came to NOCD primarily from working in child protective services, where she spent a little over three years providing in-home services while earning the clinical hours for her license. Once licensed, she was ready for something new, and she was curious about obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
“I was very curious about OCD, what it was, and what the treatment was,” she says. As a newly licensed therapist, she was excited by the opportunity to learn exposure and response prevention (ERP) and become a specialized care provider.
Finding her speciality
Specializing in OCD turned out to be the right fit for Steverson. “I feel like OCD is my niche,” she says. “I would never have found that without NOCD.”
Five years in, what keeps Steverson at NOCD is the change she’s able to see in the Members she works with. “I get to watch their lives turn around,” she says. During her sessions, she makes a point of naming those changes early, to help Members recognize their wins and stick with treatment when they might otherwise leave because they don’t yet see results.
That matters because the work is hard. “Let’s face it, this is hard treatment,” she says. “For someone to come in and face their fears is extremely difficult.” But it’s worth it, because Members start to see real change. NOCD’s assessments help track that change, measuring symptoms over time so Members can see their scores shift alongside how they feel. “Seeing the changes in the scores that match what they’re experiencing, that really, really makes them feel good about the treatment and themselves, and they work hard,” she says.
Opportunities that keep growing
As she found her niche in OCD, Steverson also found a place that allowed her to keep growing as a clinician. “They like to assist you in gaining more knowledge, more modalities,” she says about NOCD. Beyond OCD, she’s trained to treat depression with behavioral activation, and body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) such as hair pulling and skin picking, which she says she doesn’t often hear of other therapists treating.
Support and recognition
Along with the opportunities to grow, Steverson has found a culture that supports her and celebrates her work.
It starts with her clinical manager, who she describes as extremely supportive. She says she feels “seen, heard, and supported,” and that her manager makes time to connect through Slack, email, or a meeting. She also points to how available senior leaders are, making time to talk with therapists about what’s working and what isn’t. “I’ve never seen that before, never heard of that before,” she says. To her, it shows care for therapists and, ultimately, for Members. “The culture of the company has been, I feel, really extraordinary.”
She also feels recognized. “I get rewarded and they celebrate me,” she says. After five years, NOCD offers a paid month-long sabbatical for therapists, which she calls “one really great benefit.” “I’ve reached that goal,” she says, and she plans to use it next summer.
Her advice for therapists considering the move: expect a learning curve. “It might be a little difficult in the beginning,” she says. “Don’t be discouraged, because you’re going to feel uncomfortable. This will be new. Stay with it, because the rewards are really great, especially what you are able to see in your clients.”
Looking to join a network that’s invested in you? Explore therapist opportunities at NOCD.
