120. Pedophilia OCD: The Greatest Misconceptions

Have you ever had thoughts so disturbing they make you doubt yourself? Pedophilia OCD (POCD) can bring intrusive fears that aren’t reflective of who you are—so let’s clear the air: having POCD isn’t the same as having pedophilia. Curious how this all works and how you can break free from its grip?

In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Rachel Tombaugh, a psychotherapist who specializes in OCD and anxiety.

Today, we discuss the complexities of Pedophilia OCD (POCD), a specific and often misunderstood subtype of OCD. We explore the distress it causes and the misconceptions surrounding it. POCD involves intrusive and unwanted thoughts about inappropriate sexual behavior toward children—thoughts that do not reflect the individual's true desires or intentions.

Rachel explains how these distressing thoughts create significant inner turmoil and highlights the importance of specialized treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure and response prevention. This episode aims to dispel misconceptions, reduce stigma, and provide hope by offering resources for additional support.

 

In This Episode

• [00:43] Introduction to Rachel Tombaugh
• [01:57] Discussion on pedophilia OCD (POCD)
• [02:45] Public misunderstanding of POCD
• [04:40] Ego-dystonic vs. ego-syntonic thoughts
• [06:38] The distress of OCD sufferers
• [09:15] Rachel’s explanation of OCD
• [12:31] Nature vs. nurture in OCD
• [14:16] Developmental triggers for OCD
• [15:31] Societal opinions on sexual themes in OCD
• [16:14] The link between OCD and feelings of depression
• [18:01] Information seeking vs. reassurance seeking
• [18:30] How OCD can distort self-identity
• [18:49] Treatment options for OCD
• [19:38] Resources for OCD treatment

 

Notable Quotes

• [02:55] “In the general public, it is a lesser-known form of OCD. It's actually really, really common.”- Rachel
• [05:43]  “The thought is distressing. The thought is scary. It might feel shameful or disgusting. It is not something that the person is thinking on purpose.”- Rachel
• [18:49] “The first thing that I want people to understand about this form of OCD, as with any other subtype, is that this is a treatable condition, and there are people who have the knowledge and the training to help you and to help you feel better and get your life back" Rachel
• [20:02] ''It's always so important that people with OCD find their way to an OCD specialist. This is a very treatable condition.”-Rachel

 

Our Guest

Rachel Tombaugh is a psychotherapist in private practice in Scottsdale, Arizona, specializing in OCD, anxiety disorders, panic disorder, and trauma. She delivers transformative results with advanced training in cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure, response prevention, and inference-based CBT. Rachel lives in the Sonoran Desert with her family, horse Gabriel, and a menagerie of beloved pets. Her clinical expertise and personalized approach ensure effective and meaningful treatment for her clients.

Resources & Links

 

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

• https://www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
• https://www.youtube.com/c/O