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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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Now displaying: Category: self-help
Mar 17, 2024

In episode 425 I interviewed licensed clinical psychologist Nicholas Farrell. Nick is the clinical director of programming and development at NOCD. 

We discuss Nick’s therapy journey, explaining exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) and its effectiveness, working on hierarchies that target the correct thing, home practice, ERP as a lifestyle change, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/nicholas-425 

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 

Mar 10, 2024

In episode 424 I interviewed Psychotherapist Emma Roselli. 

We discuss her therapy journey, working with Stuart at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy, working with and supporting parents of children and teens with OCD, what parents can do more of to support their child, acknowledging the tough experiences of parenting, boundaries and reducing accommodations, ruptures in the parent child relationship, working with taboo intrusive thoughts with children and teens, how parents can help around taboo intrusive thoughts, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/emma-424 

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 

Mar 3, 2024

In episode 423 Will Sadler and Ellie Page of the Lively Minds podcast interviewed myself (Stuart), and Matthew Antonelli of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) about tackling the misinformation about OCD.

We talk about how misunderstood OCD is, why the media gets it wrong, the letting your intrusive thoughts win social media trend, educating a news outlet on OCD miseducation, educating clinicians, and much more. Hope it helps.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/ocd-misinformation-423 

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 

Feb 25, 2024

In episode 422 I interviewed Psychotherapist Joshua Fletcher (Anxiety Josh) about his new book, ‘And how does that make you feel?’.

We talk about his new book, the voices he uses in his book that narrates his inner dialogue, we discuss some of the clients in the book, the writing process being cathartic, we discuss integrative therapists, what he hopes the book achieves, emotional conservatism, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/josh-422 

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 

Feb 18, 2024

In episode 421 I chat with Iona who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 

We discuss her earliest OCD memory and it feeling like a premonition, her obsessions and compulsions, worries of harm coming to her family, wanting to normalise embarrassing compulsions, family support, medication, starting CBT as a teenager and having a tough time engaging and then being ready for therapy later on, how her sister helped, words of hope, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/iona-421 

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 

Feb 11, 2024

In episode 420 I chat with Dr Sam Greenblatt. Sam is a licensed clinical psychologist. 

We discuss an update on Sam, theories on relationship OCD, the nuances of therapy, the idea of trusting your gut, a review of the therapies that have an evidence base for OCD, the need for more longitudinal research, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/sam-420 

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 

Feb 4, 2024

In episode 419 I chat with Saraa D. Lee who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. Saraa is a therapist (LCSW) at Soul Spa Psychotherapy and is an OCD and Trauma specialist.

We discuss her story, traumatic experiences in her childhood, her obsessions and compulsions, not getting a diagnosis, her therapy journey, and much more. Hope it helps.  

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/saraa-419 

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 

Jan 28, 2024

In episode 418 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 OCD in times of crisis, the terms of blood lust and guilt thrill, character indictment OCD, feeling bad because you’re not giving any attention to a crisis, or focusing too much on a crisis because it triggers OCD, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/phillipson-418 

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 

Jan 21, 2024

In episode 417 I chat with Jesse Birnbaum and Sandy Robinson who have kindly agreed to share their OCD stories with us. 

We discuss their OCD stories, living with OCD and chronic illnesses, going through therapy, self-compassion, setting up their special interest group for OCD and chronic illness, their experience of support groups, words of hope, and much more. Hope it helps.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jesse-and-sandy-417 

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 

Jan 14, 2024

In episode 416 I chat with Jonny Say. Jonny is a UK based therapist and co-director at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy. 

We talk about The OCD Camp, positive emotions and experiences as triggers, Jonny’s personal experiences with this, perfectionism of experience, shame around positive emotions and experiences, therapy around this issue, he gives theme examples, self-compassion, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jonny-416 

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 

Jan 7, 2024

In episode 415 I chat with Jack who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. 

We discuss his story, somatic themed OCD, contamination themed OCD, going through grief, ADHD, pure O, and much more. Hope it helps.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jack-415 

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 

Dec 24, 2023

In episode 413 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 what's new with her, Chrissie’s OCD research, shame and OCD, themes of OCD and their relationship to shame, the question of do themes matter, shame as a barrier to treatment, shame around taboo intrusive thoughts, and much more. Hope it helps.   

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/chrissie-413 

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 

Dec 20, 2023

In this midweek special episode I chat with licensed psychologist Dr Katia Moritz of the Neurobehavioral Institute (NBI) in Florida. 

We talk about OCD and the holiday season, when excitement becomes a trigger for OCD, making values based choices, therapy homework over the holidays, how family can support their loved ones during the holidays, and much more.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/nbi-11 

The midweek special episodes which go out at the end of the month on a Wednesday are made possible by and in partnership with the Neurobehavioral Institute (NBI) in Florida. I will be interviewing different members of their clinical team on a range of topics. NBI specialise in treatment and programs for anxiety, OCD, comorbidities, and complex cases. They also offer an intensive outpatient program, and a residential program called the NBI Ranch: A supportive living experience that complements intensive treatment for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Related Disorders.

To find out more about their intensive outpatient services, or the NBI ranch, as well as to read some of their free information online about OCD via their blog, click here to find out more: https://www.nbiweston.com/

Dec 17, 2023

In episode 412 I chat with Laura who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 

We discuss her story, relationship themed OCD, going inpatient, getting misdiagnosed, getting effective therapy for OCD, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the inner critic, compassion focused therapy (CFT), and much more. Hope it helps.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/laura-412 

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 

Dec 10, 2023

In episode 411 I chat with Ben Eckstein (LCSW). Ben is a therapist in Durham, North Carolina, specialising in the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders. Ben founded his therapy centre Bull City Anxiety, and recently published a book called, ‘Worrying is optional’. 

We discuss what is rumination, building awareness of when ruminating, keeping a log of rumination, working with rumination in therapy, the difference between OCD and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/ben-411

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 

Dec 3, 2023

In episode 410 I chat with Benjamin who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. 

We discuss his story, sexual intrusive thoughts, existential themed OCD, going into an eating disorder rehab facility, suicidal thoughts, doing exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), finding help in mixed martial arts, and much more. Hope it helps.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/benjamin-410 

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 

Nov 30, 2023

In this midweek special episode I chat with Dr Jon Hoffman of the Neurobehavioral Institute (NBI) in Florida, and Dr Amirsaman Sajad, a neuroscientist at Vanderbilt University. 

We discuss what is neuroscience, the difference between brain and mind, what goes on in the brain of OCD, how can neuroscience improve therapy for OCD, the importance of psychotherapy and neuroscience working together, why some people don’t have confidence in science and research, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/nbi-10 

The midweek special episodes which go out at the end of the month on a Wednesday are made possible by and in partnership with the Neurobehavioral Institute (NBI) in Florida. I will be interviewing different members of their clinical team on a range of topics. NBI specialise in treatment and programs for anxiety, OCD, comorbidities, and complex cases. They also offer an intensive outpatient program, and a residential program called the NBI Ranch: A supportive living experience that complements intensive treatment for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Related Disorders.

To find out more about their intensive outpatient services, or the NBI ranch, as well as to read some of their free information online about OCD via their blog, click here to find out more: https://www.nbiweston.com/

Nov 26, 2023

In episode 409 I chat with Olivia Bamber, Mairéad Ruane, and Shaun Flores. This conversation was recorded live at The OCD Action conference. 

You will hear the OCD Action CEO Leigh Wallbank at the start introducing the panel. Thank you to Leigh, Cara, Eden and the rest of the OCD Action team for making it possible.

I ask my panel guests about road blocks to recovery, dealing with the highs and lows of recovery, what made their therapy effective, how they found the strength to keep trying with therapy, advice for those feeling unsure or undeserving of treatment, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/ocd-action-409

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 

Nov 19, 2023

In episode 408 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 with Jonny, the concept of acceptance from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), what do we mean by acceptance, resentment as a compulsion, acceptance misconceptions, blocks to acceptance and navigating them, and much more. Hope it helps.  

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jonny-408

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 

Nov 12, 2023

In episode 407 I interviewed Kimberley Quinlan. Kim is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who treats people with OCD and related disorders, Eating Disorders and Body Focused Repetitive Disorders. She runs her own podcast called Your Anxiety Toolkit. She also runs CBTschool.com. 

We discuss an update on her, what is meditation, meditation compared to mindfulness, resistances and blocks to meditation, Kim guides us through an OCD informed meditation, the basics of meditation, compassion, and much more. Hope it helps.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/kim-407

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 

Nov 5, 2023

In episode 406 I chat with Abi who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 

We discuss her story, sexual intrusive thoughts, compulsive prayer, scrupulosity, emetophobia, trichotillomania, an eating disorder, what’s helped her, support from her partner, intimacy and intrusive thoughts, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/abi-406

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 

Oct 31, 2023

In this midweek special episode I chat with Dr Dee Franklin of the Neurobehavioral Institute (NBI) in Florida, and Dr David Tolin is the Founder and Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Institute of Living. 

We discuss their therapy journey, what is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD, overlapping symptoms with OCD, high levels of anxiety, how PTSD and OCD interact with therapy, when the OCD latches onto the trauma, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/nbi-9 

The midweek special episodes which go out at the end of the month on a Wednesday are made possible by and in partnership with the Neurobehavioral Institute (NBI) in Florida. I will be interviewing different members of their clinical team on a range of topics. NBI specialise in treatment and programs for anxiety, OCD, comorbidities, and complex cases. They also offer an intensive outpatient program, and a residential program called the NBI Ranch: A supportive living experience that complements intensive treatment for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Related Disorders.

To find out more about their intensive outpatient services, or the NBI ranch, as well as to read some of their free information online about OCD via their blog, click here to find out more: https://www.nbiweston.com/

Oct 29, 2023

In episode 405 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 the things Steve wants you to know about OCD recovery, including why the OCD topics are irrelevant, we need to show the brain that the topic is meaningless, why we shouldn’t use memory to prove the OCD topic is irrelevant, the topics of OCD are only made relevant by the emotion behind it, people with OCD are not fearful people (generally speaking) they are fearful of a small amount of specific worries only. Steve then answers questions from some of the listeners of the show. He answers whether he has OCD or not, superstition and metaphysical OCD, clarification on Steve’s comment about an OCD god, dealing with the fear of death, ways to unhook from OCD thoughts, dealing with obsessing about emotional numbness, are OCD and addiction related, how to deal with intrusive thoughts in everyday moments, how much therapy homework should I do, why am I not getting better from exposures I.e. I’m still obsessing, sensorimotor OCD around the anus, magical thinking around OCD, and much more. Hope it helps.  

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/steven-405 

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. This podcast episode is available as a video recording on our Patreon. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the other benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast 

Oct 22, 2023

In episode 404 I chat with Pernell Taylor who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. 

We discuss his story, OCD staring (Peripheral Vision / Visual Tourettic OCD), sexual orientation themed OCD, relationship themed OCD, doing exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), advocating, support groups, managing OCD in his relationship, mindfulness, faith, masculinity, and much more. Hope it helps. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/pernell-404 

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 

Oct 15, 2023

In episode 403 I chat with Hannah Leib. Hannah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 

We discuss her OCD story, worries around her Dad, an eating disorder, getting a diagnosis and therapy, starting a support group initiative at college, becoming a therapist, domestic violence, working with OCD in children and adolescents, school anxiety, words of hope, and much more. Hope it helps.

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/hannah-403 

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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