Although effective treatments for OCD exist, more than half of people with OCD never receive the care they need, especially if they have financial challenges. Caregivers, who play a critical role in supporting loved ones with OCD, frequently experience high levels of stress and may unknowingly engage in “accommodation” behaviors that worsen or maintain symptoms over time. One promising way to address this problem is through single-session interventions (SSIs) — brief, online programs that can deliver effective and low-cost mental health support.

This project will develop and test Project EMPOWER-OCD, a free, web-based, self-guided single-session intervention (SSI) designed to reduce caregiver stress and accommodation behaviors. The program is intentionally brief (about 25 minutes) and accessible from any device, making it particularly suitable for socioeconomically diverse families facing structural barriers to care. In collaboration with caregivers with lived experience, the team will co-design and refine the tool, then evaluate its effectiveness in improving caregiver well-being and reducing OCD symptoms.