AT Parenting Survival | Raising Kids with OCD & Anxiety

When you’re raising a child with anxiety or OCD, progress can feel confusing, inconsistent, or even invisible at times. In this episode, we explore how your mindset around progress directly impacts the energy, pressure, and expectations your child feels as they navigate their struggles. We start by unpacking our relationship with the idea of progress and how common, well-intended beliefs can actua...

When your child is struggling with anxiety or OCD, fear can quietly take over your parenting. Fear of making things worse. Fear of missing something. Fear of what the future might hold. In this episode, I explore the hidden cost of parenting from that place. I talk about how fear often shows up in ways we don’t always recognize, such as agitation, constant anxiety, over-cheerleading, or swinging i...

One of the hardest parts of raising a child with OCD is figuring out who you’re actually talking to. Is it your child… or is it their OCD pulling you into another loop? In this episode, we talk about the different ways OCD ropes parents in—whether it’s endless reassurance seeking, constant confessing, permission checking, “just right” demands, or those sneaky checking questions like, “Do I look si...

In this episode, we explore why trust is the foundation for helping a child with OCD. When trust is missing, kids shut down, hide their struggles, and resist therapeutic strategies. I share simple, practical ways to build (and rebuild) trust — from validating their experience, to going at their pace, to connecting with who they are beyond OCD. Even small shifts can strengthen your relationship and...

The holidays can be magical — but for kids with OCD and anxiety, they can also be overwhelming. In this episode, Natasha helps parents prepare for the unique challenges that come with travel, family gatherings, disrupted routines, and sensory overload.  You’ll learn how to anticipate triggers before they happen, create a holiday coping map with your child, set boundaries with relatives, and p...

When your child’s OCD gets loud, it’s so easy to get swept into the panic, the questions, the intensity. But the calmer and more grounded you stay, the faster they can settle. In today’s episode I’m breaking down how to stay present when everything in you wants to react — and why this one skill changes the tone of your entire home. If you want deeper support in staying steady during your child’s a...

What happens when the professionals you trust to help your child’s OCD, actually make things worse? Too many parents of kids with OCD are told to “reassure them,” “avoid the triggers,” or “help them relax.” Even well-meaning therapists often miss the mark — treating OCD like general anxiety or skipping ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) altogether. In this episode, I’m breaking down why OCD is...

When OCD symptoms fade, it’s natural to feel relief — maybe even believe it’s finally gone. But sometimes, that relief can make us miss the signs of OCD returning in new and surprising ways. In this episode, I’ll talk about why parents often overlook new OCD themes and what we can do differently. We’ll explore how tunnel vision, limited communication, and lack of education about OCD’s many disguis...

As parents, we want to rescue our kids from anxiety and OCD—but the truth is, some things are not within our control. And when we spend our energy trying to fix what isn’t ours to fix, we burn out, lose connection with our child, and unintentionally strengthen OCD. In this episode, I break down the critical difference between what is your role and what isn’t, so you can stop spinning your wheels a...

Are you trying everything to help your child’s OCD… yet nothing seems to stick? You’re not alone—and it’s not because you’re doing anything wrong. In this episode, I’m breaking down the 7 most common mistakes parents make when trying to help OCD, and more importantly, what to do instead. These mistakes are incredibly common, even among well-meaning therapists, and understanding them is the first s...

When your child struggles with OCD, it’s natural to want to ease their distress, but those well-meaning “helping” moments can actually feed OCD’s control. In this episode, Natasha breaks down how to pull back accommodations safely and effectively, without creating unnecessary conflict or fear. You’ll learn: What OCD accommodations really are and how they sneak into daily routines Why reducing them...

When your child can’t explain their OCD, it can feel impossible to know how to help. Many kids feel embarrassed, don’t have the words, or experience OCD as a feeling instead of a clear fear. Sometimes the compulsions come first, making it even harder to put into words. In this episode, I’ll share why kids struggle to explain their OCD and what you can do instead of pushing for answers. You’ll lear...

When your child is stuck in an endless cycle of reassurance, it can feel impossible to break free. Reassurance may bring temporary relief, but for kids with OCD it actually fuels the disorder and makes things worse in the long run. In this episode, I talk about how reassurance becomes a compulsion, why it keeps your child trapped in OCD’s cycle, and what you can do differently instead. You’ll lear...

Parents often rely on their usual parenting strategies to help their child with OCD — but those same strategies can actually backfire.  In this episode, I break down the most common approaches parents try and explain why they don’t work when it comes to OCD. If you’ve ever felt stuck, repeating the same things without progress, this episode will help you understand why and what to do differen...

OCD loves to change costumes. One week it’s germs, the next it’s harm or moral worries—and parents are left wondering, “Are we back at square one?” In this episode I explain why theme changes are common, what’s actually staying the same beneath the surface, and how to respond without chasing content. You’ll learn: Why themes change (and why that doesn’t mean regression) How to spot the OCD cycle a...

In this podcast episode, I sit down with Dr. Tamar Chansky to talk about the newly revised edition of her classic book, Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Dr. Chansky has helped countless families better understand OCD and learn practical, compassionate strategies to support their children.  In our conversation, we discuss what’s new in this updated edition, how the field’...

OCD can show up much earlier than most people realize — and often in ways parents don’t immediately recognize. For younger kids, compulsions might appear before they can even describe intrusive thoughts. You might see rigidity, controlling behaviors, repetitive actions, or big meltdowns over things that don’t seem to make sense. In this episode, I’ll walk you through how OCD can look in young chil...

Contamination OCD can be easy to spot, but often, it runs much deeper than what you are observing. In this episode, I break down the common mistakes parents make when trying to support a child with contamination OCD, such as: Assuming it’s always about germs or illness Focusing only on visible rituals instead of the underlying fear Overlooking how contamination spreads from “ground zero” to more a...

Moral OCD can be tricky for parents to recognize because it often looks like strong values, deep guilt, or honest confessions.  In this episode, I break down the most common pitfalls parents fall into when trying to support their child with Moral OCD like: Mistaking OCD-driven fears for good morals Treating compulsive “confessions” as real Worrying that if you don’t respond, your child will b...

Parenting a child with OCD, anxiety, and ARFID changes you in ways you can’t fully understand until you’re living it.  Over the years, I’ve learned some powerful lessons — often the hard way — that have reshaped how I show up for my child and for myself.  In this episode, I’m opening up about five insights that have made the biggest difference in our journey, and how you can begin to app...

When our child is in distress, it’s natural to want to jump in and fix things. But with OCD, that urge to solve, control, or protect can actually get in the way of long-term growth. In this episode, I talk about one of the most powerful mindset shifts we can make as parents of kids with OCD: moving from “fixer” to “anchor.” You’ll learn how to step out of the cycle of urgency and step into a role...

You’re reading the books, watching the videos, and learning everything you can to help your child with OCD. But your child? They’re shutting down, avoiding exposures, or flat-out refusing to engage. Sound familiar? In this episode, I talk about what’s really going on when you’re more motivated than your child to fight their OCD — and how to respond in a way that builds connection and long-term pro...

When you’re raising a child with anxiety or OCD, it’s easy to feel like you’re absorbing all of their fear, stress, and urgency. Their nervous system is on high alert—and suddenly, so is yours. In this episode, we explore why anxiety and OCD can feel contagious in families, and how to stay grounded in the middle of your child’s emotional storm. You’ll learn: Why your regulation matters more than y...

When you’re parenting a child with OCD, burnout can sneak in quietly—and then hit hard. You’re doing all the things: managing compulsions, pulling back OCD accommodations, showing up for exposures, and trying to keep everything afloat. But what happens when your own emotional gas tank is empty? In this episode, I’m talking about what burnout really looks like in OCD parenting, why it’s so common,...

Do you ask your child with OCD a question—about their thoughts, feelings, or fears—only to get “I don’t know” in return? It can be frustrating, confusing, and leave you feeling stuck. But for kids with OCD, those three words often carry a lot more meaning than we realize. In this episode, I’ll unpack why “I don’t know” is such a common response in kids with OCD—and what it’s really communicating....