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Internal Family Systems Therapy for OCD: A Clinicians Guide

“I’m thrilled with this book! I spent much of my career trying unsuccessfully to convince the field of psychiatry that IFS was effective with difficult to treat conditions like OCD. Melissa Mose is an OCD specialist who has a depth of knowledge about and experience with the condition. She knows the pluses and minuses of the traditional exposure approach, and, in this well-written book, she deftly combines elements of exposure with a thorough understanding of IFS. She provides ample case examples complete with transcribed dialogues and extensive details in terms of how to implement her approach. I believe this represents a breakthrough in the treatment of OCD and Melissa exhibits such mastery that I suspect many OCD specialists will be tempted to try it out.”

— Dick Schwartz, PhD

Developer of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model

Adjunct Faculty, Department of Psychiatry

Harvard Medical School

About the Book

Publisher: Routledge (part of Taylor & Francis)

Publication Date: September 8, 2025

ISBN (paperback): 978-1032583730

ISBN (hardcover): 978-1032583747

OCD treatment is challenging and roadblocks abound. Internal Family Systems offers a compassionate approach that can ease the way into evidence-based treatment and enhance recovery when traditional OCD treatment is not enough.

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  • "Melissa's clarifying synthesis of present-day best practices for OCD couched in the Internal Family Systems model."

    —Dan Reed, PhD, LPC, lead trainer for the IFS Institute

  • "Melissa Mose’s book is a groundbreaking resource for those struggling with OCD. Her integration of Internal Family Systems and traditional exposure techniques offers a fresh, compassionate approach to treatment. It’s wonderful to see Melissa exploring the relational aspects that may affect people with OCD not just the symptoms. With rich case examples and practical techniques, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of OCD and IFS."

    —Stuart Ralph, host of The OCD Stories podcast, co-founder of The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy

  • "Melissa Mose reframes OCD through the lens of IFS. This transformative fusion weaves in insights on trauma and the complexities that may challenge conventional treatment methods. Through this approach, the path to recovery becomes accessible to individuals who find ERP methods daunting or unsuitable.”

    —Melissa Quinn, MD,psychiatrist, OCD specialist, maintains a private practice in Los Angeles, specializes in the treatment of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder