🧠 Can self-compassion really help you recover from OCD?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, host Kristina Orlova speaks with Kimberley Quinlan, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, creator of CBT School, and author of The Self-Compassion Workbook for OCD. Together, they explore how learning to treat yourself with kindness can transform your relationship with OCD and emotional suffering.
Kimberley opens up about:
• Why self-compassion is not weakness or self-indulgence
• How criticizing yourself actually increases stress hormones
• What it means to “be a safe place” for your own emotions
• Simple ways to start practicing compassion without triggering compulsions
Whether you’re living with OCD or supporting someone who is, this episode offers real strategies to reduce suffering, calm your nervous system, and heal with compassion.
📲 About Kimberley Quinlan (guest):
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youranxietytoolkit/
• YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@youranxietytoolkit
• CBT school: https://www.cbtschool.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Meet Kimberley Quinlan — Therapist, Author, and OCD Expert [01:18] What “Self-Compassion for OCD” Really Means (and Why People Get It Wrong) [03:00] Why Being Kind to Yourself Isn’t Weak — It’s Actually Science [04:40] The Stress Hormone Secret: How Self-Criticism Fuels OCD Suffering [07:25] Real Compassion vs. Compulsions — The Long-Term You Strategy [08:55] Becoming a Safe Place for Yourself: Handling Guilt, Shame & Emotions [11:05] The Surprising Power of Doing Nothing With Your Emotions [13:10] Why People Struggle to Accept Themselves (Even When They “Know” How) [16:25] When OCD Tricks You Into Thinking Self-Kindness Is Dangerous [19:00] Step-by-Step: The Self-Compassion Break That Calms Intense Feelings [21:30] “You’re Not Alone” — The Humanity Behind Anxiety & Intrusive Thoughts [23:10] Gentle Self-Kindness vs. “Screw You, Anxiety!” — Finding Your Style [25:30] The Fear of Feeling Itself — Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Avoidance [28:10] The Real Goal: Becoming a Safe Space for Every Emotion [30:05] Where to Find Kimberley — “Your Anxiety Toolkit” Resources
✅ Free Resources & Links
- 🎁 Free OCD Survival Kit & Classes → www.shorturl.at/KcTxM
- 📖 OCD CBT Journal → www.shorturl.at/7pUxB
- 🌐 Website → www.korresults.com/
- ✍️ OCD Academy→ www.ocdacademy.thinkific.com/
📲 Stay Connected
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/korresults
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
- TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ocdwhisperer
- Twitter (X): www.x.com/korresults
- Website: www.korresults.com/
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer
Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords
self-compassion and OCD OCD recovery tools mindfulness for OCD CBT for OCD intrusive thoughts and self-kindness reducing OCD suffering Kimberley Quinlan OCD OCD Whisperer Podcast
© OCD Whisperer
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.