This response to the series focuses on the differentiation between research and clinical work, reminding the reader that research protocols are not treatment protocols and treatment protocols are guidelines, not cookbooks. Too often we stray from the ideal of the scientist/practitioner model, in which practitioners are influenced by research and researchers by clinicians. Within this context three broad areas will be addressed: (1) the role of treating the whole person versus their OCD only; (2) the use of group treatments; and (3) the art of how we explain OCD to ourselves and to those suffering from it.