The OCD Whisperer Podcast with Kristina Orlova

Every OCD spiral begins the same way... with one moment of self-doubt.   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, ICBT therapist and OCD specialist. Together, they break down exactly how Inference-Based CBT (ICBT) is applied to some of the most common OCD themes—including Harm OCD, Relationship OCD, Contamination OCD, Health OCD, and Pedophilia...

What if the thing you trust most… your own mind… is the very thing that's tricking you?   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, therapist and ICBT expert. Together, they explore one of the most confusing parts of OCD recovery: how OCD pulls you away from reality and convinces you to trust your imagination instead. Catherine opens up about: •...

Why does OCD feel more convincing than your own eyes?   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, ICBT therapist and OCD specialist.   Together, they explore one of the most powerful concepts in Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT): how OCD overrides your mind by convincing you that possibility is evidence.   Catherine breaks down...

Could OCD be tricking you into trusting your imagination more than reality?   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, ICBT therapist and OCD specialist.   Together, they explore one of the most powerful concepts in Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT): how OCD overrides your mind by convincing you that possibility is evidence.  ...

A guided meditation to help with overthinking, anxiety, and a mind that just won’t slow down. Some days your head feels on overdrive. You sit down to relax and the thoughts keep racing anyway. This meditation doesn’t ask you to stop the thoughts. You’ll rest your attention on your breath, lose it, get pulled into a thought, and come back. That’s it. That’s the skill of mindfulness, and it gets str...

Why do OCD thoughts feel so real? What if the problem is not the intrusive thought itself… but the conclusion your brain makes about it?   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, therapist and ICBT specialist, to explore a powerful shift in understanding OCD through Inference Based CBT (ICBT). Together, they unpack why OCD may not be about ran...

You thought it was bad behavior… but your child was secretly terrified.   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Keesha Scott, mom, entrepreneur, podcast host, and author, about her daughter’s deeply personal journey with OCD, emetophobia (fear of vomiting), panic disorder, and recovery.   Together, they explore what it’s really like to parent a child with OCD, t...

*What is intensive treatment for OCD — and who is it actually for?*   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Chad Brandt, clinical psychologist and OCD specialist. Together, they explore intensive ERP treatment for severe OCD, the Bergen 4-Day Treatment model, and why longer-form exposure therapy can create rapid breakthroughs in recovery.   Dr. Chad Brandt o...

Can OCD therapy actually make OCD worse if it’s done incorrectly?   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Fugen Neziroglu, one of the pioneers in OCD treatment and the founder of the BioBehavioral Institute. With over 50 years of experience and more than 4,000 OCD patients treated, Dr. Neziroglu shares what most people still misunderstand about OCD therapy,...

The Hidden OCD Behind “Normal” Routines in Kids...   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Julie Lustig, clinical psychologist and founder of CBT Tools for Life Center. Together, they explore how childhood OCD and anxiety often hide in plain sight—and why so many parents miss the early signs.   Dr. Lustig opens up about: • Why OCD can take 14–17 years to be...

Why does it feel like everyone else can manage their OCD… but you just can’t seem to make it stick?   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Rachel LaFleur. Together, they unpack the often-missed overlap between ADHD and OCD—and why you might feel stuck in your recovery even when you’re doing “everything right.”   Dr. LaFleur opens up about: • Why so many adu...

I thought I was just “anxious”… until my thoughts started scaring me.   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Alicia and Liam, hosts of OCD Confessionals. Together, they explore how OCD can go unrecognized for years, how it impacts relationships and family life, and what changes when you finally understand what’s really going on.   Alicia and Liam open up about:...

Is it OCD… or autism? And how do you actually treat both?   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Jenna Stone, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and founder of SideQuest Psychotherapy. Together, they explore the complex overlap between OCD and autism, and how proper evaluation and therapy can change everything.   Jenna opens up about: • Her personal journey with O...

Does Your Brain Feel Like It’s Been Hijacked?   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Maggie Duret, LPCC, an OCD specialist who integrates DBT, ERP, and ICBT into her practice. Together, they explore how to manage the "Red Alert" of high-distress OCD and the specific nuances of moral and religious scrupulosity.   Maggie opens up about: • The Misdiagnosis Trap: H...

Can you build a global movement and lead a team while navigating the "fangs" of OCD   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Pavel Reppo, founder of A Fine Mind and a leader in international mental health. Together, they explore the intersection of high-stakes leadership, cultural expectations, and the persistent drive required to turn a diagnosis into a catalyst...

Can you be terrified of the future and still move forward to build it?   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Lauren Cook, a licensed clinical psychologist and author of Generation Anxiety. Together, they explore the unique mental health pressures facing Gen Z and Millennials, and how to navigate big life transitions without letting anxiety hold the steerin...

Can you stop being a "fixer" and start building your feeling muscle?   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Jenn Rapkin, a Naturopathic Physician, bodyworker, and author of The Feeling Muscle. Together, they explore the powerful intersection of mindfulness, parenting a child with OCD, and learning how to sit with the "just right" discomfort that keeps so ma...

Is it OCD, or is your brain just wired differently?🧠   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Jeremy Shuman, a psychologist and specialist in the intersection of Autism and OCD. Together, they explore the complex overlap between neurodevelopmental traits and obsessive-compulsive patterns.   Dr. Shuman opens up about: • The definition of Autism and the shift...

Is it OCD, or is your brain just wired differently?🧠   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Jeremy Shuman, a psychologist and specialist in the intersection of Autism and OCD. Together, they explore the complex overlap between neurodevelopmental traits and obsessive-compulsive patterns.   Dr. Shuman opens up about: • The definition of Autism and the shift...

Is Perfectionism Hijacking Your Values? 🧠   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Marisa Mazza, PsyD. Together, they explore the final pieces of the ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) puzzle: values and committed action, and how to integrate these tools into a long-term recovery journey.   Dr. Mazza opens up about: • The critical difference between "Va...

How can you stay present when your brain is screaming with OCD? 🧠   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Marisa Mazza, PsyD. Together, they explore the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) concepts of Self-as-Context and Present Moment Awareness—and how to apply them even when anxiety feels overwhelming.   Dr. Mazza opens up about: • Why "being present"...

Can You Really Accept a Thought You Hate? 🧠   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Marisa Mazza, a psychologist and expert in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Together, they explore the "how-to" of diffusion and acceptance—the tools that transform your relationship with intrusive thoughts from a battle into a peaceful coexistence.   [Dr. Mazza open...

🧠Is the opposite of anxiety actually trust?   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Marisa Mazza, PsyD, a faculty member of the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute and author of The ACT Workbook for OCD. Together, they explore Psychological Flexibility—the core of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—and how it integrates with ERP to help you live a "b...

🧠Can OCD trick even a trained medical professional? What happens when your worst fear actually comes true—and your OCD tells you it’s your fault?   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Sarah Michelle Boes, nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, mother, and OCD advocate. Together, they explore what it’s like to live for decades with undiagnosed OCD, how pregnancy in...

🧠Can you really accept OCD thoughts without agreeing with them? And what does “acceptance” actually look like when your mind is attacking you nonstop?   In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova, LMFT, speaks with Dr. Sarah Brungardt, psychologist and founder of Calm OCD. Together, they explore one of the most misunderstood (and feared) concepts in OCD recovery: accepting intr...