Setting the Tone
with Carissa Crabtree
Behavior Bites Podcast - Episode 07Feb 8, 2023What do you think of when you hear OCD?
In today’s show— Carissa and I chat about what it’s like living with obsessive compulsive disorder, common misconceptions, and if using ACT as a treatment for OCD is effective.
Excerpts from the Episode
(*Paraphrased highlights)-
Muchness.
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My brother is on the spectrum so I grew up around ABA.
I wish I knew that not all ABA was like the ABA I saw all the time.
I came in with the expectation that I was going to come in like a jackhammer, beat the crap out of everybody else, and revolutionize the field.
Then I got here and there was everybody else already doing that, and I was like, Oh, I'm late to the party.
So when we're so heavily exposed to one company, one group of people, for literally 20 years. It's hard to think that ABA exists outside of that.
I wish I had known I didn't have to be so angry in the beginning, come in so strong. There were already a lot of good people doing a lot of good work. I've been grateful to be in a community with them and inspired by them.
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I've been diagnosed OCD since I was 17 years old.
People think of it as a cleaning disorder or the neatness disorder; things have to be lined up, things have to match, but there are 1000s of subtypes of OCD.
In the last year I've gotten puppies, and through taking care of them my anxiety has manifested. I fear their well-being constantly which has manifested now into compulsions. I'm waking up in the middle of the night to check on them. I check their food several times a day. Lots of fear and anxiety and intrusive imagery…
ABOUT Carissa
Carissa Crabtree, MA, BCBA, (she/her)
* Connect with her on Instagram: @the_aba_gingerCarissa Crabtree was born and raised in Kennesaw, GA. Growing up with a brother on the Autism Spectrum gave her true insight into the strength and resilience of the ASD community.
After getting her BA in International Politics from Georgia State University, she decided to follow her mother into becoming a Behavior Analyst. Carissa earned her ABA Masters program at Arizona State University in 2021.
She joined her current company in April of 2021 as an RBT and became a BCBA in 2022. She has worked with children and adolescents from 3 years old to 18 years old.
In Carissa’s free time, she loves to crochet, sew and quilt. She also helps run an animal rescue.
Visit my Podcast page to learn more about Behavior Bites!
