OCD Straight Talk

Chris revisits his conversation with Michael May, MA, LPCC, an ACT therapist and OCD treatment-specialist. He discusses the "I'm having the thought that..." strategy. Tried (by you, the consumer) and true strategies are invaluable when we're in the throws of anxiety.  Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com

Chris discusses the Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) protocol with Michael May, MA, LPCC, an ACT trainer and clinical expert. They talk therapeutic "shop," and delve into treatment strategies that are common to ACT and Ex/RP; as well as, discuss some of the overarching concepts that are beautifully unique to the evidence-based protocol known around the world as, ACT. Feel free to reach ou...

Chris discusses two cases in which stopping rumination was an important part of the therapeutic process. Remember, if "nobody's home" to do the work of rumination, then that compulsive "work" doesn't get done. And that's a beautiful thing.  This episode includes adult, and some explicit material in the way of providing specific examples of technique-application. Feel free to reach out with an...

Chris discusses a complex set of dynamics in modern psychotherapy that serve to offer an explanation to an otherwise puzzling problem: Why do people suffering from clinically significant anxiety often not get better in psychotherapy?  Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have. Chrisleins04@gmail.com

Chris discusses trauma symptoms, and their corresponding treatments with a trauma expert, Dr. Joseph Birli. A wonderfully competent, and seasoned therapist, Dr. Birli brings many years of experience to our discussion about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Chris responds to a listener's question about "Association OCD," pointing to the "heart beat" of this symptom-dimension.  Chris also sets-up Monday's episode: he and a guest will discuss the nature and treatment of PTSD.  Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com

Chris discusses the notion that 'you are not your thoughts," and your anxiety, even when it's really, really bad, can't hurt you - unless you let it. Our compulsions make our thoughts "real." So fight, scratch, and claw to not give into the compulsions. Choose to stop them.  Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com

Chris discloses some of his specific OCD-presentation, and what it looks like in real time. He also responds to a listener's question/email. Thanks for checking out the podcast.  Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have. Chrisleins04@gmail.com

Chris discusses a common familial scenario: family members of OCDers want to know how to be helpful. This is a frequently asked question in the therapeutic process. That said, his responses are necessarily generalized to a wide array of individualized, familial situations. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might to chrisleins04@gmail.com

Chris responds to a listener's question about meds, supplements. In the process, he discusses other substances that are commonly inquired about in treatment.  Feel free to reach out with questions you might have. Chrisleins04@gmail.com

Chris discusses two kinds of patients: one comes to the game to watch from the sideline while the others fight the battle, the other comes to fight through the stages of adversity to win with his teammates at the end. Which kind of patient are you? I'll let you in on a secret: your therapist can't get you better - at least not all by herself. She needs you to get some skin in the game. You need yo...

Chris responds to a listener's request for a subtype-description. Like some others, this listener requested that the response be made on the podcast, rather than via email. Thanks to the listener for reaching out; and thanks for checking out OCDST. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have. Chrisleins04@gmail.com

Chris responds to a listener who requests clarity as to the difference between thinking "rationally" about obsessions for the purpose of disputing them, and ruminating about them. Great question; thanks for the question.  Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com

Chris explains three important elements that, cumulatively, help to identify a behavior as a compulsion. Not every behavior is a compulsion; but compulsions often seem to be just another behavior. So which one is it? It's not enough to identify compulsions. We have to stop them, too. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have. Chrisleins04@gmail.com

Chris rambles about behaviors v. compulsions. If compulsions are always behaviors - and more than that, choices, then this opens a wide array of possibilities. How do we find compulsions in an ocean of options? Or, what makes a behavior a compulsion? Chris will do a brief series on this question.  Feel free to reach out with any question you might have. Chrisleins04@gmail.com

Chris responds to a listener's questions about a specific symptom-dimension of OCD: anxiety relative to the possibility of speaking or behaving inappropriately on a public platform. Thank you to this anonymous listener for his/her kind and courageous willingness to step forward and pose these questions. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have. Chrisleins04@gmail.com

Chris reads, and responds to an email about a listener's symptoms, and OCD-system (with his/her permission). During this episode, we leave the discussion of theoretical strategies and techniques, and talk specifics of how they get applied in real-time.  Feel free to reach out with questions to chrisleins04@gmail.com.

Chris discusses the difference between two kinds of thoughts: obsessions and compulsions. It is an advanced skill to differentiate between intrusive thoughts and rumination - not easy, but often necessary.  Reach out with any questions you might have. chrisleins04@gmail.com.

Chris discusses old theories and new ones regarding why OCD happens - a (very) cursory history of OCD research. But the real question is not, Why does OCD happen? It's, What do we do when it does?  Reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com

So often, OCD-sufferers speak of obsessions as being "irrational." Many have long-been told that. But are they? Chris discusses the irrationality of compulsions, centering this monologue on the reality that we can never escape uncertainty. Chasing certainty, but never really capturing it, is the irrationality of compulsions.  Reach out to chrisleins04@gmail.com with any questions you might ha...

Chris discusses a - the most - frequently asked question at the top of a case: How long is this gonna take? The answer is about four months; but there are important variables to consider. Obviously not every case is the same. How can you maximize the efficacy of your therapeutic experience? Reach out with any questions you might have. Chrisleins04@gmail.com

Chris discusses the "Compulsions Decision Tree" - not technical language - in order to better identify compulsions. The purpose of these 3 questions is to increase the likelihood that listeners will learn to find compulsions in real-time. The essential task of the OCD-er, aside from going to see an OCD specialist, is finding and stopping compulsions. Reach out with any questions you might have. ch...

Chris discusses a common problem among individuals suffering from OCD and clinically significant anxiety - secondary depression. What do you do when your OCD results in a comorbid (or co-occurring) depressive episode? Like OCD, depression can be thought of as a "behavioral problem" in the sense that depressive thinking tends to be associated with depressive behaviors; and depressive behaviors stre...

Chris responds to an email regarding lists of compulsions that tend to travel in packs (or subtypes). But the answer isn't what you think. The fact is that there are as many compulsion-lists as there are people suffering from OCD. The ability, the honed skill of identifying compulsions in real-time, is the missing link. 

Chris discusses OCD 101, How do we tell the difference between OCD-components in order bring to a grinding halt our OCD-systems?  Feel free to reach out with questions to chrisleins04@gmail.com.