Trust and Thrive

Do you feel like you need to make the best decision and maximize every single experience? Maybe you've felt like you're living life "wrong" and need to "get the most" out of everything...  In this solo episode, I talk about Optimization OCD, which as a reminder, is not a formal clinical term or separate diagnosis. It's simply a term used to describe how OCD can l...

Tom Smalley is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC), Employee Success Manager for North America at NinjaOne, and founder of Struggle Into Strength Performance. His work focuses on performance psychology, leadership development, and helping individuals and teams build confidence, resilience, and mental skills.  Diagnosed with OCD at age 16, Tom became passionate about raising awareness...

Rev. Dr. Katie O’Dunne (she/her) is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and founder of Stick with the Ick , a virtual inclusive interfaith community app for those navigating faith and OCD, offering resources across traditions. She spent seven years as Academy Chaplain and Chair of Religious Studies at Woodward Academy in Atlanta while consulting on interfaith programming nationwide...

We're kicking off OCD Awareness Month with a solo episode. I open up about some of my childhood experiences with OCD, before I even had the language or understanding of what it was. In this episode, I reflect on some of the thoughts, fears, behaviors, and patterns I experienced growing up, while normalizing how confusing and isolating OCD can feel. As always, this episode is not a replacement...

Gilly Kahn, Ph. D. is a clinical psychologist, writer, and mother with ADHD. She practices in Atlanta and specializes in neurodiversity. She is the author of Allow Me to Interrupt: A Psychologist Reveals the Emotional Truth Behind Women’s ADHD . You can learn more about Gilly and her work by visiting her website at https://www.drgillykahn.com In this episode, we explore ADHD beyond the common ster...

Kathryn Hope Gordon, Ph. D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Boston area who specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy. For the first 10 years of her career, she was a professor who taught classes and published research focused on eating disorders and suicide prevention.  Currently, she is the Director of Clinical Training for a virtual eating disorder treatment organization. Dr. Gordo...

In this solo episode, I talk about Suicidal OCD, a subtype of OCD in which one may experience obsessions or intrusive thoughts related to suicide.  I also hold space for the importance of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and the importance of speaking openly about a topic that leaves many feeling isolated.  As a disclaimer, this episode is not a replacement for professional support or a place to...

In this solo episode, I talk about what happens when Relationship OCD thoughts and patterns overlap with "real" relationship concerns. I share some of my own experiences and examples of how OCD can latch onto genuine concerns, disagreements, or areas of uncertainty and turn them into something that feels urgent and impossible to stop thinking about.  I also talk about the practice of rec...

In this solo episode, I share some recent reflections on showing up online, dealing with comparison, and learning to be honest with myself about my capacity. I talk about how I'm holding space for personal transitions, navigating social media while living with OCD, the pressure that can come with being consistent, and noticing when comparison creeps in. I also reflect on what it looks like to...

Dr. Kevin Chapman is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and internationally recognized expert in anxiety, CBT, and sport performance psychology. He is the founder and director of the Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (KYCARDS) and Mental Lock Sport Performance Psychology, where he specializes in anxiety, emotion regulation, and mental performance. A former collegiate track and field...

In this solo episode, I explore the pressure many of us feel to optimize everything: our careers, productivity, relationships, interests, self-care, rest, therapy, and even "healing."  I talk about how time-consuming and how mentally draining it can be to try to make the "best" choice every time and make the most out of very experience. I also touch on how optimization can show...

In this solo episode, I break down some differences between rumination and reflection, and explore why rumination can be so sneaky. Using both personal and professional experiences, I share how we can start to recognize rumination, and discuss how it often shows up in OCD and anxiety. I also discuss common signs of rumination, how it can function as a mental compulsion in OCD, why it often feels p...

Sarah Ann Saeger, LPC, LCADC, LAMFT, is an Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist who specializes in complex trauma, addiction, and relationships. She is trained in IFS and an array of somatic,attachment-informed therapies. Sarah shares psychoeducation and reflections on parts work and the healing journey on her Instagram and Substack platforms. She is dedicated to helping survivors embrace the w...

When society says "it's just a pet," Beth Bigler says "your grief is valid and profound." As a double-certified Pet Loss Grief Counselor and founder of Honoring Our Animals, Beth is a pioneering voice in pet loss support, offering personalized care to individuals and families before, during, and after their beloved's transition. After the sudden death of her soulmate...

We're back with a solo episode on Relationship OCD. In this episode, I talk about a common experience many with ROCD may experience: romanticizing the past - whether that's the beginning of your current relationship, past relationships, or past experiences, including being single.  I explore how this pattern can show up in the context of Relationship OCD. I also touch on the anxiety, dou...

In this solo episode, I talk about the grief that can come with receiving a diagnosis, or simply understanding patterns and behaviors that have impacted your day-to-day life. I share my personal experience in hopes of normalizing and validating anyone who might feel similar.  You might be grieving experiences and how different they could have been, for younger you who did not get the support they...

Barlas Günay is a registered psychologist and certified meditation and mindfulness teacher based in the Netherlands, who over the past 13 years has guided thousands of people across the globe through profound journeys of healing and self-discovery. Trained in both the USA and Canada, he is the founder of Accept and Act, a healing platform offering online psychotherapy and a membership-based self-r...

In this solo episode, I share recent life updates and reflect on what I've been noticing come up for me lately. After a few weeks of travel and starting my own practice, I've recognized the ways anxiety has shown up amidst an inconsistent schedule. I talk about the importance of checking in with one's capacity, recognizing urgency and guilt, and practicing slowing down instead of im...

Genny Rumancik is a mental health advocate and educator, and the creator of The EQ School, which offers courses and online resources to improve self-awareness, navigate emotional self-management, and shift relational patterns for healthier relationships. Her debut book, The Wisdom of Feeling , will be published by Penguin Random House in June 2026. In this episode, we explore the topic of emotiona...

In this solo episode, I discuss the topic of Real Event OCD, a subtype of OCD that can involve rumination around something that actually happened in the past. This can come with feelings of guilt, shame, and doubt. Real Event OCD can leave one feeling trapped in a cycle of analyzing, replaying, and trying to "figure out" what their past says about them. I share a few examples of how Real...

In this solo episode, I reflect on a topic that’s been on my mind and explore the complexity and nuance of mental health, especially in online spaces. As someone who shares both personal and professional experiences with OCD and anxiety, I’ve noticed the pressure to reflect so many different experiences within just a few of my posts. I talk about why social media does not capture the complexity of...

Mary Feldman, A-LPC/MHSP, is an OCD & anxiety therapist, educator, and speaker with lived experience. Mary first encountered OCD in middle school, which became the catalyst for a deep commitment to psychology, leadership, and systemic change in how anxiety and related disorders are understood and treated. While earning her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Mary worked full-...

And we're back! I'm excited to share that I've passed my state licensing exam and am now officially a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist!  In this catch-up solo episode, I share some professional and personal updates (including some exciting news!!). I reflect on the journey toward licensure, from grad school and practicum to the associate years. I also share my real-time experi...

Shahem McLaurin is a licensed therapist, founder of an independent mental health agency, and public mental health educator whose work bridges clinical expertise with large-scale public engagement. They have led and participated in national mental health awareness campaigns in collaboration with institutions such as Harvard University and the National Ad Agency, and have partnered with brands and o...

In this solo episode, I talk about Moral OCD (also known as scrupulosity), a subtype of OCD that can make everyday decisions feel heavy and high-stakes. I discuss how thoughts related to this subtype can show up as intense guilt, fear of being a "bad" person, perfectionism, people pleasing tendencies, and feeling responsible for doing the "right" thing at all times. In addition...