How Dr. Justin Trout, MED, LPCC, became the specialist he always wanted to be
For about ten years, Dr. Justin Trout worked in community-based treatment programs and led a team that helped kids avoid hospitalization by working intensively on their behavior. Then COVID hit, and the in-person program rapidly changed which led him to consider new opportunities.
During this shift, he came across a job posting for NOCD and decided to learn more. Part of what drew him in was personal. Dr. Trout has OCD and panic disorder himself, diagnosed in his early thirties, and that experience shaped why he became a therapist in the first place.
Becoming a specialty care provider
What ultimately convinced Dr. Trout to make the switch wasn’t just the focus on OCD. “What really drew me to it was the structure and the training,” he says. He wanted to become a specialist. “I want to be considered somebody who knows a lot about a particular subject and be considered an expert in OCD treatment.”
That same drive to become an expert shows up elsewhere in his life. At the time, he was also working on his PhD, and the opportunity to build deep expertise fit his career goals. It also reflects one of his core values: a love of learning. “I love learning,” he says. “I’ve got bookshelves everywhere,” he jokes. “You name it, I’ve probably read it.”
What that expertise makes possible
That specialization has shown up directly in his work with clients and in the impact he’s able to have. A few years ago, Dr. Trout took on a new client whose OCD had taken over so much of their life that they couldn’t work, spend time with family, or hold their own newborn. Dr. Trout and his client got to work quickly. A few months later, that client had regained their life. “They just really got their life back,” Dr. Trout says. “That really stood out to me.”
Moments like this one are what keep him at NOCD. “I can see the difference and the level of care that people get,” he says.
Building a career at NOCD
That kind of impact is a big part of why Dr. Trout has built a long career at NOCD. He’s been here for years now, long enough to become what the company calls a distinguished therapist, a status that comes with its own kind of flexibility, including more control over his schedule. He also points to the PTO and bonus structure as reasons he’s stayed. “My time is very important to me, and I do like the PTO structure,” he says. “And the bonus structure is a good perk, too. You can count on it.”
Dr. Trout is also candid about the importance of self-care in this field. His advice to therapists: take care of yourself first. “You are an instrument,” he says. “If you can’t take care of yourself, you’re not going to do a very good job taking care of other people.” He notes that NOCD supports this with built-in admin time and regular encouragement to actually use PTO.
Asked to describe his experience at NOCD in one word, Dr. Trout doesn’t hesitate: consistent. “I think NOCD is consistently trying to better the experiences of all its individuals,” he says, “the experience of all the therapists that work for them… We are a company that is always changing, and I would say NOCD is very consistent.”
Looking to make an impact like Dr. Trout? Explore therapist opportunities at NOCD.
