Who is VH1’s ‘The OCD Project’ host Dr. David Tolin?


VH1 is set to release it’s answer to A&E’s “Obsessed” with a high octane 21 day Exposure Therapy tour-de-force called “The OCD Project“.  The show will have the viewers following six participants as they go through a super intense treatment directly confronting their horrible and destructive obsessive compulsive disorder problems.  For a little idea of what’s coming here is the trailer for the show courtesy of VH1:

Man that looks intense!  So who is the attractive shoe licking mad man narrating the video?  His name is Dr. David Tolin and he will be the one responsible for running these folks through the ringers.  For the folks who are curious like I am here is some information on the good (good and whacked out) doctor.

Here is a little clinical bio information from Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living’s Anxiety Disorder’s Center (I think it needs a longer name) which he heads up:

Dr. David Tolin is the founder and Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at The Institute of Living. He is also Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Tolin received his Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas, and completed a predoctoral internship at Tufts University School of Medicine/VA Medical Center, Boston.

Dr. Tolin’s research and clinical interests include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders in adults and children, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder.

The nature and treatment of compulsive hoarding.

The nature and treatment of body-focused repetitive behavior disorders such as trichotillomania.

The interaction between psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

Cognitive processes that underlie anxiety disorders, particularly dysfunctional beliefs and mechanisms of information processing.

Dr. Tolin is board certified in clinical psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology.  He is the recipient of the award for Distinguished Contribution to the Science of Psychology from the Connecticut Psychological Association, and an Early Career Award from the Anxiety Disorders Special Interest Group of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy. Since 2003 he has served as a scientific reviewer for the National Institutes of Health.

Well allrighty then.  Even though he likes to do a little shoe licking and urine fondling with that type of calling card I’d let him date my daughter.  This isn’t Tolin’s first tango with reality TV.  He has appeared frequently on the A&E show Hoarders as well as an impressive list of other network shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show and Dr. Oz.  Here is a clip of Tolin from Dr. OZ where he gives a general description and analysis of what OCD is:

It is all over this guy that he is very passionate about his work and the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder.  I have to say I’m excited about the premier set for Thursday May 27th.