The OCD Stories

In episode 446 therapist Jonny Say and myself (Stuart Ralph) do a live podcast with an audience at the 29th International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) conference. We asked the audience for topics before recording, and then did our best to answer those topics live.   We discuss my full circle moment, Jonny's experience of the conference, perfection, hyper responsibility, how loved ones can look after the...

In episode 445 I chat with Grace Anderson who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.   We discuss her story, real event themed OCD, magical thinking, contamination themed OCD, memory hoarding themed OCD, PANS, medication, therapy, humour, what else helps her and much more. Hope it helps.   Show notes:  https://theocdstories.com/episode/grace-445   The podcast is made possible by NOCD ....

In episode 444 I chat with Chris Trondsen. Chris is psychotherapist at the Gateway institute, an OCD and anxiety treatment center. He currently serves as the Vice President of the IOCDF Southern California Affiliate, and is on the Board of Directors of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)  We discuss an update on Chris, what is body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), muscle dysmorphia, levels of insig...

In episode 443 I chat with Will who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us.   We discuss his story, harm themed OCD, OCD that latched onto someone, medication, the OCD theme of worrying whether he has OCD or not, tics, what helps him, and much more. Hope it helps.   Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/will-443   The podcast is made possible by NOCD . NOCD offers effective, conv...

In episode 442 therapist Jonny Say interviews myself, Stuart, about my work as a therapist with children and adolescents.   We discuss how I adapt Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for children and teens with OCD, the other therapies I integrate, self-compassion, how parents can help their children with OCD, what I would tell my younger self...

In episode 441 I chat with Madina Alam. Madina is a licensed mental health therapist, and director of therapist engagement at NOCD.   We discuss her therapy journey, Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP) as a tool for life, explaining ERP, working for NOCD, coming up with exposure ideas in session, homework, when ERP works really well what she notices, experiences of being on the TV show...

In episode 440 I chat with Jack who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us.   We discuss his OCD story, an early parental loss, he shares themes of harm OCD, sexual orientation OCD, and peadophile themed OCD. Jack talks about substance use to mask the pain, how numbers played a part in his compulsions, being in an abusive relationship, he mentions suicide, attending The OCD Camp, doing A...

In episode 439 I chat with Jonny Say. Jonny is a UK based therapist and co-director at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy.  We talk about what are values based exposures, Jonny guides me through an imaginal exposure with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), he goes through the skill dropping anchor, and much more. Hope it helps.  Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jonny-439   Th...

In episode 438 I chat with Dr Russ Harris. Russ is a medical practitioner, author of the international best-selling self-help book 'The Happiness Trap' (as well as nine others), and is a world-renowned trainer of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT).  We discuss his new Happiness Trap card deck, rumination, the skill noticing and naming, he guides us through the ACT skill Dropping Anchor, the pro...

In episode 437 I chat with Dr Sam Greenblatt. Sam is a licensed clinical psychologist.  We discuss an update on Sam, intersections between OCD and the LGBTQIA+ community, how OCD can show up in this community, including common OCD themes, working with therapists who understand the needs of the community, and much more. Hope it helps.   The podcast is made possible by NOCD . NOCD offers effective,...

In episode 436 I chat with Dr Steven Phillipson and three members of one of his OCD therapy groups: Sadie, Rachel, and Mike. 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 Steve's therapy group for OCD, we hear from his group members, the...

In episode 435 I chat with Alex who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us.   We discuss his OCD story, harm themed OCD, hit and run themed OCD, reassurance seeking, finding a therapist that could help with OCD, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), judgements, and much more. Hope it helps.   Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode...

In episode 434 I chat to Dr Heather Sequeira. Heather is a consultant psychologist specialising in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). We discuss an update on her OCD story, what is complex trauma, the upstairs-downstairs brain, complex trauma and OCD, shame, we talk briefly on relationship themed OCD, self-compassion, rewiring the brain, disgust, and much more. Hope it helps.   Show notes: https...

In episode 433 I chat with Kayla who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.   We discuss her story, her early worries, self harm themed OCD, a bad psychedelic trip, health anxiety, OCD worries around the Covid vaccine, worries about going crazy, harm themed OCD, religious themed OCD, OCD worries of possession, finding appropriate help, medication, exposure and response prevention therap...

UPDATE (30/09/2024): Since this podcast came out, this BBC Panorama episode was released. I am keeping the podcast episode live because I found the conversation with Louise insightful on the topic discussed, but please be aware of some of the criticisms surrounding Dr Newson and her private practice Newson Health. It's important to have a full picture when deciding on the best course of action for...

In episode 431 I chat with Paul Huntingford. Paul is an integrative therapist, and sees clients through the Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy.   We discuss his therapy story, addiction, anxiety, what is acceptance, the many opportunities to practice acceptance in OCD recovery including: acceptance of the feelings, acceptance of the process, acceptance of the presence of thoughts, conditional acce...

In episode 430 I chat with Edith Bell. Edith is a CBT Therapist and Director of Counselling  for Familyworks Northern Ireland. We discuss her therapy story, PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), what is PANDAS, working therapeutically with OCD brought on by PANDAS, what to look out for, Sydenham chorea, and much more. Hope it helps.   Sh...

In episode 429 I chat with Dr Michael Greenberg. Michael is a clinical psychologist who specialises in Rumination-Focused ERP (RF-ERP).   We discuss what's new with him, he then answers listener questions, he explores how RF-ERP has helped people, learning to let go of the questions, some justifications of rumination that people use to justify it, persistent obsessions and urges, and much more.  ...

In episode 428 I chat with Kelly who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.   We discuss health anxiety, postpartum OCD, harm OCD, violent intrusive thoughts, getting help, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), physical sensations alongside intrusive thoughts, words of hope, and much more. Hope it helps.   Show notes:  https://theocdstories.com/episode/kelly-428   The podcast...

In episode 427 I chat with Erica who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. You may know Erica as a trainer from USA Networks Biggest Loser TV show, or from her Instagram (EricaFitLove).   We discuss her OCD story, suicidal and self harm themed OCD, getting diagnosed, working with NOCD, doing exposure and response prevention therapy, the Whac-A-Mole effect of OCD, the power of tracking...

In episode 426 I chat with Josh who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us.   We discuss his story, his early experiences of OCD, intrusive thoughts, sexual intrusive thoughts, religious OCD, self harm, joining the military, perfectionism, getting therapy, and much more. Hope it helps.   Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/josh-426   The podcast is made possible by NOCD . NOCD...

In episode 425 I interviewed licensed clinical psychologist Nicholas Farrell. Nick is the clinical director of programming and development at NOCD.   We discuss Nick's therapy journey, explaining exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) and its effectiveness, working on hierarchies that target the correct thing, home practice, ERP as a lifestyle change, and much more. Hope it helps.   Show n...

In episode 424 I interviewed Psychotherapist Emma Roselli.   We discuss her therapy journey, working with Stuart at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy, working with and supporting parents of children and teens with OCD, what parents can do more of to support their child, acknowledging the tough experiences of parenting, boundaries and reducing accommodations, ruptures in the parent child relat...

In episode 423 Will Sadler and Ellie Page of the Lively Minds podcast interviewed myself (Stuart), and Matthew Antonelli of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) about tackling the misinformation about OCD. We talk about how misunderstood OCD is, why the media gets it wrong, the letting your intrusive thoughts win social media trend, educating a news outlet on OCD miseducation, educating clinic...

In episode 422 I interviewed Psychotherapist Joshua Fletcher (Anxiety Josh) about his new book, 'And how does that make you feel?'. We talk about his new book, the voices he uses in his book that narrates his inner dialogue, we discuss some of the clients in the book, the writing process being cathartic, we discuss integrative therapists, what he hopes the book achieves, emotional conservatism, an...