The OCD Stories

In episode 483 I chat with Dr Jonathan Abramowitz. Jonathan is a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Chapel Hill, NC specializing in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He is also Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina. And author of several books including Getting over OCD, The family guide to getting over OCD, and Living well with OCD.

In episode 482 I chat with Rebekah who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 

We discuss her early compulsions, trauma, an eating disorder, social anxiety and depression, agoraphobia, panic, being told she wouldn’t recover, her mum advocating for her, involuntary hospitalisation, diagnosis, joining support groups, exposure and response prevention th...

In episode 481 I chat with Zoey who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 

We discuss fears of choking and swallowing, obsessing over her partners porn use, therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy therapy (ERP), aligning therapy with her values, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), seeing her therapist through NOCD, and much more. Hope it helps...

In episode 480 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 talk advocacy, censorship, stigma, the need for advocates to talk about all experiences of OCD to normalise all experiences including t...

In episode 479 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 him, we talk about ideas for when people struggle with therapy for OCD. We discuss the length of therapy, he normalises the time frame, trying other approaches, therapists, or a combination of therapies. Increasing motivation through active reflection, bu...

In episode 478 I chat with Dr Josh Spitalnick. Josh is a licensed psychologist, owner and clinical director at the Anxiety Specialists of Atlanta, an outpatient clinic. He is co-author of “The Complete Guide to Overcoming Health Anxiety”.

We discuss what’s new with him, his book, the title of the book, this idea of mental health - health anxiety, acceptance and commitment therapy ...

In episode 477 I chat with Jakob who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. 

We discuss his story, panic, derealisation, the fear of ‘going crazy’, existential OCD, his advocacy work, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), and much more. Hope it helps.  

Show notes: ht...

In episode 476 I chat with Megan who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 

We discuss her story, worries of choking, hyperawareness of swallowing, her compulsions, other themes including existential and religious OCD, accepting and navigating relapses, OCD getting in the way of medication, health anxiety and fears of other mental health conditions,...

In episode 475 I chat with Nate Gruner and Meaghan Cleary. Nate is a staff behavioural therapist at the obsessive-compulsive disorder institute at McLean hospital. Meaghan is a licensed mental health counselor and a registered dance and movement therapist. She is also a behavioural therapist and group facilitator at the obsessive-compulsive disorder institute at McLean hospital. 

In episode 474 I chat with Catherine Goldhouse. Catherine is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) who specialises in anxiety, OCD, and relationships. 

We discuss Catherine’s OCD story, inference-based CBT (I-CBT), exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), reality sensing, the idea that I-CBT cares about the why, this concept of the feared...

In episode 473 I chat Stephen Smith. Stephen is the Cofounder and CEO of NOCD. 

Stephen shares his OCD story, the story of NOCD, the ups and downs of getting it to where it is today, the commitment from their team to improve access to OCD therapy, NOCD’s therapists and the rigorous training for them, and much more. Hope it helps. 

In episode 472 I chat with Nick Sireau and Margherita Zenoni about their stories. Nick founded Orchard OCD a not-for-profit for advancing global OCD research, and Margherita manages the communication and fundraising for Orchard OCD and is doing her PhD at the University of Cambridge.

We discuss their OCD stories, their work at Orchard OCD, the research they have supported and are a part of, and much more...

In episode 471 I chat with Bronwyn Shroyer. Bronwyn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specialises in two treatment areas: OCD and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Bronwyn has lived experience with both PTSD and OCD.

We discuss her OCD story including PTSD, the interplay between trauma and OCD, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), inference-based CBT (I-CBT), inferential conf...

In episode 470 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 treatment of children and adolescents (9-25) with OCD, Steve breaks it down by age group, indications...

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.

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 (ER...

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 pra...

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 t...