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The OCD Stories

Welcome to The OCD Stories, hosted by Stuart Ralph. The podcast has been heard over 6 million times globally. Check out your first episode from our existing hundreds of episodes featuring experts, and people experiencing symptoms just like you today. If you do, you may just feel understood, heard and possibly help you identify your next step in your own personal journey to healing. Disclaimer - this podcast is not a replacement for therapy. Please seek treatment from a licensed mental health professional.
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The OCD Stories
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Now displaying: Page 1
Jan 19, 2025

In episode 469 I chat with Rachael who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 

We discuss OCD themes including harm, postnatal fears of developing psychosis, existential, religious, and health anxiety. We talk about exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), learnings from ERP, how her partner helped, shame and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/rachael-469 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Jan 12, 2025

In episode 468 I chat with Emily Hemendinger. Emily is clinical director of the OCD Program at the University of Colorado Health Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic. 

We discuss what Emily has been up to, the positives of pets on mental health, how pets can trigger our OCD, how this plays out in various themes of OCD, how vets can play a role in reducing compulsions, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and much more. Hope it helps.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/emily-468

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Jan 5, 2025

In episode 467 I chat with Jonny Say who offers the therapist’s perspective to Jack’s episode last week titled: Understanding and practicing ACT skills (Client’s perspective). Jonny is a therapist and co-founder of The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy. 

We discuss Jonny’s perspective on Jack’s episode, Jonny shares some blocks and resistances to OCD skills practice, he also shares some interpersonal blocks that can occur, and other ideas that can help. Hope it helps.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jonny-467

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Dec 31, 2024

Thank you for all the support in 2024. I appreciate you!

https://theocdstories.com/

The podcast is made possible by NOCD: https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

The integrative centre for OCD Therapy: https://www.integrativecentreforocd.co.uk/

Dec 29, 2024

In episode 466 I chat with Jack who came back on to talk about his approach to learning ACT skills and practising them between his therapy sessions.

We discuss his therapy including exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and compassion focused therapy (CFT), his approach to doing home practice and practicing skills outside of session, Jack recaps some of the ACT skills he learned, the importance of practising often, repetition and consistency, and much more. Hope it helps.  

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jack-466 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Dec 22, 2024

In episode 465 I chat with Molly Schiffer (LCPC). Molly is a therapist and associate director at The Center for OCD and Anxiety at Sheppard Pratt. 

We discuss her therapy story, cognitive processing therapy (CPT), trauma and OCD, CPT for trauma (PTSD & CPTSD), how trauma can fuel the OCD, CPT helping exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), Molly shares a clinical case example of CPT in action, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/molly-465 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Dec 15, 2024

In episode 464 I chat with Carey who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 

We discuss her OCD story, magical thinking, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), fears around medication, feelings of shame, existential OCD, feeling suicidal, going into a psychiatric unit, doing exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), words of hope, and much more. Hope it helps.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/carey-464 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Dec 8, 2024

In episode 463 I chat with Jonny Say. Jonny is a UK based therapist and co-director at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy. 

We discuss an update on Jonny, what is insight in OCD, how it affects OCD, the 4 things Jonny sees in clients with low insight: when mental compulsions go up insight goes down, the intensity of the symptoms, low insight and shame go hand in hand, the beliefs that we carry about thoughts and feelings, words of hope, and much more. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jonny-463 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Dec 1, 2024

In episode 462 I chat with Nick who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. 

We discuss his story, pOCD, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), advocacy, how his sexuality and OCD got entangled, his place of work questioning some of his OCD writings, and more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/nick-462 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Nov 24, 2024

In episode 461 I chat with Dr Michael Alcée. Michael is a clinical psychologist (Ph.D.). 

We discuss his therapy story, how Michael works with OCD, the existential story, exposure to feelings, 3 upsides of OCD, his book, some nuances of OCD, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/michael-461 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Nov 17, 2024

In episode 460 I chat with Lou who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 

We discuss her OCD story, harm themed OCD around her family, self-harm themed OCD, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), her experiences at The OCD Camp, creativity, words of hope, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/lou-460 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Nov 10, 2024

In episode 459 I chat with Nicole Morris, LMFT. Nicole is a therapist and host of the OCD Family podcast. 

We discuss her therapy story, her view of OCD, Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP), her podcast and favourite guests, words of hope and much more. Hope it helps.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/nicole-459 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Nov 3, 2024

In episode 458 I chat with Hannah who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.

In this episode we discuss how OCD manifested for her in childhood including: a fear of rabies, worries around swallowing, worries around her heart stopping, as well as harm, religious, and sexual orientation themes of OCD. We discuss other themes such as pOCD, and doing exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), starting a support group, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/hannah-458 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Oct 27, 2024

In episode 457 I chat with Jon Hershfield, MFT. Jon is the director of Sheppard Pratt’s The Center for OCD and Anxiety. 

In this episode we discuss what is a residential treatment center, who can benefit from residential treatment, what a day in the life in residential looks like, the duration of a residential stay, therapy at residential centers, art therapy, yoga, mindfulness, having a team around you, the use of family therapy, and much more. Hope it helps.  

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jon-457

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Oct 20, 2024

In episode 456 I chat with Dr. Marisa T. Mazza. Marisa is a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of choicetherapy psychological services.

We discuss her book, what is shame, how shame manifests in OCD, how shame can interfere with exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the inner critic, self-compassion, loving kindness, why we all deserve self-compassion, how to integrate self-compassion into ERP, fears blocks and resistances to self-compassion, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/marisa-456 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Oct 13, 2024

In episode 455 I chat with Elena Fasan. Elena is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and founder of the Children’s OCD & Anxiety Collective. 

We discuss her OCD story, how OCD can effect a child’s development, getting creative with kids in  OCD therapy, working with parents, supporting siblings, and much more. Hope it helps.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/elena-455 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Oct 6, 2024

In episode 454 I chat with Katie Marrotte. Katie is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Katie kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.   

We discuss her story, harm themed OCD, magical thinking, worries around natural disasters, sexual orientation themed OCD, worries around her dog, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), we discuss inference-based cognitive behavioural therapy (I-CBT) in detail, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/katie-454 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Sep 29, 2024

In episode 453 I chat with Natasha Daniels. Natasha is an anxiety & OCD therapist. She runs her online membership AT Parenting Community. And recently authored the book, “Out of my shell: overcoming social anxiety from childhood to adulthood”. 

We discuss her community, her social anxiety story, the loss of her husband, working through social anxiety, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), her new book, social anxiety and OCD, and much more.  

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/natasha-453 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Sep 22, 2024

In episode 452 I chat with Dr Lauren Wadsworth, Dr Caitlin Pinciotti, and Dr Nathaniel Van Kirk. Lauren is a clinical psychologist in private practice, Caitlin is a clinical psychologist, researcher and assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine, and Nathaniel is a clinical psychologist and director of psychological services at McLean OCD Institute. 

We discuss who they are, how do we define trauma, complex trauma (CPTSD) and PTSD, stats on trauma and OCD, static vs dynamic trauma and OCD links, research, therapies for trauma, treating OCD and trauma together, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/trauma-452 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Sep 15, 2024

In episode 451 I chat with Chrissie Hodges. Chrissie is a Peer Support specialist, founder of OCD Gamechangers, and Author of ‘Pure OCD: The Invisible Side of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder’. Chrissie was awarded the hero award at the 24th IOCDF conference in San Fran.

We discuss her new community, grieving from OCD, the points of grief in Chrissie’s OCD story (OCD onset, lost opportunities, love and sexual development, lost time, stigma), her grieving process, her difficulty of being involuntarily admitted to a mental health hospital, navigating anger in grief, self-compassion, figuring out who you are and what you want to do with your life as symptoms reduce, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/chrissie-451 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter  

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Sep 8, 2024

In episode 450 I chat with Carrie who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 

We discuss her story, intrusive thoughts, religious themed OCD, pocd, suicidal thoughts, postpartum OCD, getting therapy, doing exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), going to intensive outpatient therapy, shame, self-compassion, mindfulness, words of hope, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/carrie-450

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter 

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Sep 1, 2024

In episode 449 I chat with Dr Steven Phillipson. Steven is a licensed clinical psychologist who specialises in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for OCD. Steven is the Clinical Director at the Center for Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy in New York. 

We discuss figuring out what’s the problem in OCD, defining what a problem is, anxiety vs worry, what gets in the way of OCD treatment, the issue with seeing thoughts and feelings as the problem, judging thoughts as bad, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/steve-449

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Aug 25, 2024

In episode 448 I chat with Chris Russo who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. 

We discuss his story, an early parental loss, religious themed OCD, hit and run themed OCD, the fear of rejection, panic attacks, getting therapy, finding it hard to let go of compulsions, trauma and OCD, what else helps, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/chris-448 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Aug 18, 2024

In episode 447 I chat with Nadav who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. 

We discuss his story, obsessing over if he had damaged his hearing and the compulsions around this, starting exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), sexual orientation OCD, zoophilia OCD, obsessing about obsessing, imaginal exposures in ERP, social anxiety, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/nadav-447

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Aug 11, 2024

In episode 446 therapist Jonny Say and myself (Stuart Ralph) do a live podcast with an audience at the 29th International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) conference. We asked the audience for topics before recording, and then did our best to answer those topics live. 

We discuss my full circle moment, Jonny’s experience of the conference, perfection, hyper responsibility, how loved ones can look after themselves when supporting someone with OCD, and how loved ones can support their loved ones with OCD, just right OCD, Inference-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (I-CBT), and much more. Hope it helps.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/live-446 

The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

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