The OCD Stories

In episode 530 I chat with Amy who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.  We discuss relationship themed OCD, harm themed OCD, contamination themed OCD, realising that what was going on was OCD, compulsions, disordered eating, how her husband helped, finding the OCD community, doing exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), medication, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/amy-530 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 N...

In episode 529 I chatted with Jonathan Hoffman. Jon is a licensed psychologist and Board Certified in Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology. He co-founded the NBI Ranch and the Neurobehavioral Institute (NBI), where he was Chief Clinical Officer, exiting these roles at the end of 2025 after many years of practice.  We discuss an update on Jon, what are mental rituals/compulsions, the history of mental rituals/compulsions, are mental rituals/compulsions behaviours, we debate what is good science, how do we study mental rituals/compulsions, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/j...

In episode 528 I chat with Jeff Bell, a past guest of the podcast. Jeff is a long time OCD advocate and is the author of "When in doubt, make belief" and "rewind, replay, repeat". Jeff co-founded adversity to advocacy. We get a recap of his OCD story, the idea of greater good motivation, lessons OCD has taught him that helps him deal with other conditions such as his Parkinson's disease diagnosis, we discuss stoicism, advocacy and service, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jeff-528 The podcast is...

In episode 527 I chat with Ethan Tuccienza. Ethan is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and clinical director of Behavioural Psych Studio's LA office. We discuss his therapy story, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), exposure to emotions, DBT-PTSD as an intervention, trauma, shame, tolerating emotions, he shares a couple DBT skills including willing hands and mindfulness of our emotions. We also discuss guilt, shutting down during exposures and what to do, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/ethan-527 The podcast is made...

In episode 526 I chat with Mike who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us.  We discuss sexual orientation themed OCD, existential themed OCD, somatic themed OCD, harm themed OCD, compulsing around the recovery process, getting therapy, working with Dr Steven Phillipson and Dr Michael Alcee, words of hope and much more. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/mike-526 (Episode includes explicit language) 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 p...

In episode 525 I chat with Charlotte who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.  We discuss her story, worrying she was pregnant as a kid, realising it's OCD, experiencing theme switches, harm themed OCD, mental health health anxiety, suicidal themed OCD, getting therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), acceptance, her joy journal, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/charlotte-525 The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside t...

In episode 524 I chat with Ray Kolke. Ray is a licensed mental health counsellor (LMHC) who works with people affected by OCD and anxiety.   We discuss his therapist background, why he doesn't ask his clients how they are feeling at the start of the session, he discusses not focusing on feelings in more detail, rumination, his tool of rumination by the numbers (RBTN), he breaks down this tool, and much more. Hope it helps.  Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/ray-524 The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy av...

In episode 523 I chat with Angie who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.  We discuss health anxiety, contamination themed OCD, and suicidal themed OCD. Doubting whether it's OCD or not, compulsions, uncertainty, getting therapy including exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), relationships, exercise, having a dog in relation to OCD, and much more. Hope it helps.   Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/angie-523 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, th...

Escape the everyday and join The OCD Camp – an empowering 3-day outdoor experience in Surrey designed for adults with OCD to connect, grow and thrive together in nature. Since 2018, this unique camp has brought people living with OCD out of isolation, offering shared adventures, group challenges, reflective moments, and opportunities to build resilience alongside others who truly understand the journey. With all meals, activities and supportive staff included in the price, The OCD Camp blends fun, connection and meaningful community in a beautiful natural setting – giving you space to share stories, build friendships and rediscover strength beyond compulsions. Applications for...

In episode 522 I chat with Lauren Rosen, LMFT. Lauren is a therapist and founded the Center for the Obsessive Mind, an outpatient clinic serving individuals in California, Florida, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania and select other states and countries. Lauren is the author of The Mental Compulsions Workbook for OCD. Lauren also hosts the Purely OCD Podcast.  We discuss her Mental compulsion workbook for OCD, what are mental compulsions, rumination, noticing mental compulsions, some skills for addressing mental compulsions, mindfulness, attention, mindfulness meditation, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/lauren-522</p...

In episode 521 I chat with Regan who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.  We discuss her OCD story, the journey to getting an OCD diagnosis, moving countries in adolescence, panic attacks, harm themed OCD, contamination themed OCD, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), nightmares, childhood experiences of OCD, her cat in the context of OCD, her partner, the grounding techniques Regan uses, and much more. Hope it helps.  Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/regan-521 The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in th...

In episode 520 I chat with Brad Hufford. Brad is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-C) who specialises in working with OCD. He is a therapist at the Behavior therapy Center of Greater Washington. We discuss Brad's OCD story, being a therapist over the last 30 years, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the therapy relationship, the idea of functioning well despite distress is still a victory, motivation in ERP, words of hope and much more. Hope it helps.  Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/brad-520 The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers e...

In episode 519 I chat with Ally Kristan who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.  We discuss her story, her compulsions, starting therapy in adolescence, grief, worries of harm coming to others, what else has helped her, intuition, her book, connection with nature, animism, penguins and the Antarctic (Ally's a penguin expert), and much more. Hope it helps.  Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/ally-519 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 NO...

In episode 518 Jonny Say and I practiced some Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) skills together. Jonny is a UK based therapist and co-director at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy.  We discuss the skill dropping anchor, how the skill dipping in and out of the stream can help us learn how to deal with rumination, Jonny and I role play a client session using dipping in and out of the stream, and much more. Hope it helps. Our ACT skills training for therapists: https://www.icocdtraining.co.uk/live-training Show notes: https://theocdstories.c...

In episode 517 I chat with Spenser Gabin. Spenser is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Encinitas, California We discuss his OCD, becoming a therapist, his thoughts on Ian O'Brien's episode and clinical perceptive on Ian's research findings on exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP): drop out rate, explaining how ERP links to life, setting expectations, ERP as a lifestyle, and motivation in ERP. We also discuss building trust in therapy, therapist disclosure, self-efficacy, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/spenser-517 The podcast is made possible...

In episode 516 I chat with Emma who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.  We discuss OCD around parenting, real event themed OCD, group therapy and experiences of it, rumination, reassurance, dealing with shame, creativity in recovery, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/emma-516  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.t...

In episode 515 I opened the 10-year anniversary episode up to the listeners. People were able to make a recording of a 30 second sound bite for the show. This episode features all those recordings. Thank you to all those who submitted a sound bite. And thanks to you for listening and for your support over the last 10 years. What a ride it's been! Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/10-year-515 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...

In episode 514 I chat with Dr Ronald Nicholson. Ron is a clinical psychologist. We discuss why it's important to talk about artificial intelligence (AI) and OCD, AI and reassurance, how AI can play into compulsions, cognitive struggles due to over reliance on AI, the detriment of the loss of engagement with other humans, technology reducing distress tolerance, the future of mental health in this AI age, and much more. Hope it helps.  Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/ron-514  The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in th...

https://www.speakpipe.com/TheOCDStories We are celebrating 10 years of the podcast. If you are over 18 and would like to leave a message to be included in the podcast. Please record a max 20-30sec message, sharing your relationship with the podcast i.e. if it's helped, things you've enjoyed etc.  Submitting is agreeing that we can use your audio in the 10 year anniversary episode. Please do not use any last name or identifiable info as we want to protect your anonymity. You also don't need to use any name. Unless you are a...

In episode 513 I chat with Amanda who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.  We discuss OCD themes of religion, harm and contamination. Amanda talks about depression, controlling food, stopping driving, navigating the Covid pandemic and OCD, compulsions controlling other people,  therapy, grief and loss, figuring out it was ok not to do her compulsions, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), inference-based CBT (I-CBT), medication, managing family accommodation, words of hope and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/amanda-513 The podcast is made possible by NO...