Podcast · Health

The OCD Stories

by Stuart Ralph · English · Health

Welcome to The OCD Stories, hosted by Stuart Ralph. The podcast has been heard over 8million times globally. Check out your first episode from our existing hundreds of episodes featuring experts, and people experiencing symptoms just like you today. If you do, you may just feel understood, heard and

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 50 min
Latest: 11 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026 · 52 min

Saraa D. Lee: OCD, love and marriage: a shift in treatment approach (#559)

In episode 559 I chat with Saraa D. Lee, MSW, LCSW. Sarah is an OCD therapist who also lives with OCD. After recently getting re-married and having a second baby, her experience with OCD led her to take a different approach to helping people with OCD find, build, and maintain lasting love in their lives. As a licensed therapist and Clinical Supervisor specializing in Love, Marriage and OCD, she treats the full picture: ROCD, dating with OCD, marriage/couples with OCD, perinatal & postpartum OCD, and parenting with OCD by combining Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) with Gottman Method…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

4 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Dr Anthony Pinto and Dr Michael Wheaton: Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) (#588)
In episode 558 I chat with Dr Anthony Pinto and Dr Michael Wheaton. Anthony Pinto, Ph.D. is Senior Director of the Northwell Health OCD Center at Zucker Hillside Hospital on Long Island and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Dr. Pinto has published over 100 manuscripts/chapters on OCD/related conditions and has an extensive record of conference presentations, invited lectures, and media appearances. He is the leading clinical and research authority on obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). He co-edited a…
27 Sep 2026 · 1 hr
Krista Reed: Learning to be authentic in life and OCD recovery (#557)
In episode 557 I chat with Krista Reed. Krista is a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW). Krista is passionate about working with patients who have Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders. We discuss her therapy and OCD journey, being your authentic self, struggling to develop an acceptance of her authentic self, learning to be authentic, the Inference-based CBT (ICBT) feared possible self, feeling regret, OCD impacting one's ability to be authentic, Krista gives lots of examples from her own life, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes:…
20 Sep 2026 · 48 min
Story: Jake Moss (existential OCD, and experiencing unethical practices from an OCD coach) (#556)
In episode 556 I chat with Jake who has kindly agreed to share his story with us. Jake is a psychotherapist and person with lived experience of OCD. We discuss his OCD story, experiencing panic, having a drug induced mental health episode, existential themed OCD, working with an unethical OCD coach, past OCD themes, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and values, compassion, his therapy training, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jake-556 The podcast is made possible by NOCD . NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and…
13 Sep 2026 · 47 min
Natalia Aíza: Self-Guided Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy for OCD (#555)
In episode 555 I chat with Natalia Aíza. Natalia, LPC, is a therapist, writer, and mental health advocate. She is the founder of Kairos Wellness Collective, an innovative therapy center specializing in OCD and Anxiety Disorders. She is the author of Self-Guided Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy for OCD, Self-Guided EMDR Workbook, and the forthcoming Anxious to Launch: Empowered Parenting Skills to Nudge Your Adult Child Out of the Nest. We discuss her story, getting distracted by trauma in her own recovery, doing therapy in China, her self-guided exposure and response prevention…
6 Sep 2026 · 32 min
Story: Pat (religious and relationship OCD, pOCD, ERP) (#554)
In episode 554 I chat with Pat who has kindly agreed to share his story with us. We discuss getting diagnosed, religious themed OCD, relationship themed OCD around friendships, pOCD, switching themes, speaking to his workplace about his OCD, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), his compulsions, creative ways of expressing himself, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/pat-554 The podcast is made possible by NOCD . NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans…
30 Aug 2026 · 43 min
Ashley Ordway and Victoria Schweiger: OCD Summer camps for kids (#553)
In episode 553 I chat with Ashley Ordway and Victoria Schweiger. Ashley is a licensed mental health counselor and acting President of the Board at JACK MHA. Ashley's work at the University of Florida Health was foundational in developing the University of Florida's Fear Facers Camp, one of the first in the nation, which provides treatment to children ages 7- 15 with OCD. Ashley also runs her private practice at Magnolia Behavioral Health. Victoria is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor at the Anxiety and OCD Treatment Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ashley and Victoria are part…
23 Aug 2026 · 47 min
Story: Andrea (existential and sensory OCD, Bergen 4-day treatment) (#552)
In episode 552 I chat with Andrea who has kindly agreed to share her story with us. We discuss panic attacks, existential OCD, some OCD worries including what if gravity ceases to exist and what if my eyes roll up into my head, a core fear of living with suffering, her experiences at the Bergen 4-Day Treatment (B4DT), mental compulsions being missed in therapy, gender dysphoria and gender treatments, sensorimotor OCD, tools that helped her, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/andrea-552 The podcast is made possible by NOCD . NOCD offers effective,…
16 Aug 2026 · 58 min
Story: Andrew (sexual orientation OCD, psilocybin, therapy) (#551)
In episode 551 I chat with Andrew who has kindly agreed to share his story with us. We discuss his story, how a bad experience with psilocybin triggered his OCD, trying to control thoughts, medication, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), sexual orientation themed OCD, compassion focused therapy (CFT), internal family systems therapy (IFS), working with parts of himself, meditation, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/andrew-551 The podcast is made possible by NOCD . NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US.…
9 Aug 2026 · 42 min
Chrissie Hodges: The OCD Relapse Roadmap (#550)
In episode 550 I chat with Chrissie Hodges. Chrissie is a Peer Support specialist, founder of OCD Gamechangers, and Author of 'Pure OCD: The Invisible Side of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder' and 'The OCD Relapse Roadmap'. Chrissie was awarded the hero award at the 24th IOCDF conference in San Fran. We discuss what's new with her, her new book The OCD Relapse Roadmap , relapses in OCD, relapse prevention, the aspects and features of a relapse, having a plan for potential relapses, acceptance, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/chrissie-550 The podcast…
2 Aug 2026 · 55 min
Justin Hughes and Dr Ted Witzig, Jr.: The Christian's Guide to Overcoming OCD (#549)
In episode 549 I chat with Justin Hughes and Ted Witzig, Jr. PhD. Justin, MA, LPC, is a therapist and author specializing in OCD and anxiety. A CBT practitioner trained in psychology and theology (Dallas Theological Seminary), he bridges mental health and faith. Ted, PhD is a clinical psychologist and pastor. His roles give him a special desire to help those whose OCD has become entwined in religious and moral matters. We discuss their therapy backgrounds, Justin's book The Christian's Guide to Overcoming OCD, the integration of faith and therapy, parental accommodation, and much more. Hope…
26 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Rebecca and Dr Jeremy Rowe: Rebecca shares her OCD story and how her work with Jeremy helped (Relationship OCD, RF-ERP) (#548)
In episode 548 I chat with Rebecca and Dr Jeremy Rowe. Rebecca kindly agreed to share her OCD story and her therapy work with Dr Jeremy Rowe with us. Jeremy is a chartered psychologist and clinical director of Ark Psychology, a UK-based independent practice providing specialist OCD treatment, ADHD and autism assessments, psychological therapy, and coaching. With over 25 years' experience across the NHS, private practice, and the criminal justice system, Jeremy has a particular interest in Rumination-Focused ERP for OCD and integrating evidence-based approaches with a deeper understanding of…
19 Jul 2026 · 39 min
Story: Nathaniel Wood (Intrusive thoughts, UFC) (#547)
In episode 547 I chat with Nathaniel Wood. Nathaniel is an English professional mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC. He has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. We discuss his OCD story, hit and run themed OCD, intrusive thoughts, health anxiety, religious themed OCD, medication, fighting in the UFC, having things to focus on, therapy, what helps Nathaniel, words of hope and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/nathaniel-547 The podcast is made possible by NOCD . NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the…
12 Jul 2026 · 55 min
Dr Peter Aston: Treating OCD in professional athletes (#546)
In episode 546 I chat with Dr Peter Aston. Dr. Pete Aston is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he specialises in the treatment of OCD, health anxiety, and related conditions using exposure and response prevention (ERP). He is also the co-founder of California Psychology Center, a Bay Area group practice focused on OCD and anxiety disorders. In addition, Pete serves as the team psychologist for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, where he works with professional athletes on performance, resilience, and mental health. We discuss…
5 Jul 2026 · 57 min
Duke Al shares his OCD poems (#545)
In episode 545 I chat with Duke Al. Duke is a spoken word artist and OCD advocate. In this episode Duke reads some of his poems about OCD and explains the meanings behind them, including a new one partially inspired by a bit of my own story, he talks the power of poetry, and how he used poetry as a self-therapy, and much more. Hope it helps. Poems read: Poetry and rhyme A Letter to myself about letters Dear Chris I wish Little Duke Numbers, prayers, checks A couple brand new poems currently untitled Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/duke-545 The podcast is made possible by NOCD .…
28 Jun 2026 · 42 min
Story: Nicole Sophia (Suicidal, Sexual Orientation, and Relationship themes of OCD, self-compassion and her music) (#544)
In episode 544 I chat with Nicole Sophia who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. We discuss suicidal themed OCD, getting diagnosed young, meeting Dan Siegel, sexual orientation themed OCD, relationship themed OCD, her music, mental compulsions, feeling her feelings, self-compassion, making friends with her OCD, expressing through being a singer song writer, using humour, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/nicole-sophia-544 The podcast is made possible by NOCD . NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the…
21 Jun 2026 · 43 min
Jonny Say: Self-compassion in OCD recovery (#543)
In episode 543 I chat with Jonny Say. Jonny is a UK based therapist and co-director at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy. We discuss self-compassion, integrating self-compassion into exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), some benefits of self-compassion, the inner critical voice, shame, real event themed OCD, Jonny guides us through an exercise in self-compassion to the past, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jonny-543 The podcast is made possible by NOCD . NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the…
14 Jun 2026 · 40 min
Blakely Hunze-Austin: OCD and Sex (#542)
In episode 542 I chat with Blakely Hunze-Austin. Blakely is a licensed professional counselor in the states of Colorado and Tennessee. She obtained her master's degree in clinical mental health counseling with a concentration in addictions. She's a nationally certified counselor who specializes in sex therapy, eating disorders, trauma, and OCD. She enjoys working with LGBTQIA, kink, and poly/ENM communities. She is completing hours to become a certified sex therapist and is trained in psychedelic-assisted therapy. We discuss her therapy story, OCD and sex, anxiety around sex and intimacy,…
7 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Story: Brad Stulberg (Self-harm-themed OCD, writing, and his book The Way of Excellence) (#541)
In episode 541 I chat with Brad Stulberg who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. Brad is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who writes about mastery, meaning, and excellence. We discuss his OCD story, beginnings of his OCD, health obsessions, self-harm themed OCD, finding a therapist for his OCD, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), writing about his OCD, OCD support groups, values, mindfulness, his new book The Way of Excellence, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes:…
31 May 2026 · 46 min
Alex Habens: A Therapist's journey with OCD and Compassion Focused Therapy (#540)
In episode 540 I interview Alex Habens. Alex is a BABCP Accredited CBT Therapist, Clinical Supervisor and OCD Specialist. He also works with myself at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy. We discuss why he became a therapist and his own OCD experiences, what is compassion focused therapy (CFT), compassion more generally, integrating CFT into OCD treatment, shame, connecting with compassion, fears blocks and resistances to compassion, compassion during exposures, his CFT therapy group, and his CFT therapist training he is running, and much more. Hope it helps. Check out Alex and Dr Amy…
24 May 2026 · 48 min
Katie d'Ath: OCD therapeutic communities and groups (#539)
In episode 539 I interview Katie d'Ath. Katie is a cognitive behavioural therapist with a special interest in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders. She is also the co-author of "Managing OCD with CBT for Dummies" and she has a popular YouTube channel where she shares OCD videos. In this episode we discuss running OCD therapy groups, managing an online OCD community platform, benefits of community to people with OCD, what Katie's learned from her OCD community, learning from groups that the content of OCD isn't the problem, consistency in the skills and therapy, and much…
17 May 2026 · 38 min
Dr Ronald Nicholson: Sensory OCD (Somatic/Sensorimotor OCD) (#538)
In episode 538 I chat with Dr Ronald Nicholson. Ron is a clinical psychologist. We discuss why he doesn't use somatic and sensorimotor OCD labels interchangeably, why he likes the label of sensory OCD, core fear vs the content, the idea of taking the B grade, the obsessions and compulsions around this theme, using exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) on this theme, exposure scripting, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/ron-538 The podcast is made possible by NOCD . NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the…
10 May 2026 · 37 min
Story: Shannon (existential themed OCD and postpartum OCD) (#537)
In episode 537 I chat with Shannon who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. We discuss her earliest OCD memory, various themes of OCD, existential themed OCD, worrying everyone is an 'non-playable character (NPC)', finding out it was OCD, starting therapy for OCD, doing therapy homework, postpartum OCD, support groups, non-engagement responses, shame and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/shannon-537 The podcast is made possible by NOCD . NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about…
3 May 2026 · 1 hr
Dr Fugen Neziroglu: When a higher level of care may be needed, and overvalued ideation (#536)
In episode 536 I chat with Dr. Fugen Neziroglu. Fugen is a board-certified cognitive and behavior psychologist and the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Bio Behavioral Institute in Great Neck, NY. Fugen has published more than 150 papers in scientific journals and authored or co-authored 15 books. We discuss her rich background in the field of OCD, being mentored by the late Dr Edna Foa, the dosage of therapy, when to level up care, some of the earliest signs once a week therapy isn't working for someone, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), residential treatment, inpatient treatment,…
26 Apr 2026 · 56 min
Story: Michael (health anxiety, trauma and OCD) (#535)
In episode 535 I chat with Michael who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. We discuss his OCD story, nightmares in childhood, relationship themed OCD, the onset of his OCD, harm themed OCD, getting therapy, experiencing a health condition, medical trauma, health anxiety, balancing real health conditions with health anxiety, trauma and OCD (PTOCD), living life and making choices, doing exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) for health anxiety in the midst of an actual health issue, self compassion, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes:…
19 Apr 2026 · 36 min
Rachel Kuchem Woodward: Faith, Scrupulosity and OCD (#534)
In episode 534 I chat with Rachel Kuchem Woodward (LCSW). Rachel is the owner of Re-Viving Lives Counseling, in Fort Worth. Rachel is a therapist holistically and clinically treating girls and women since 2019. Having her own 20+ year personal journey with OCD, Rachel is passionate about treating sufferers of OCD and educating faith circles on OCD, bridging the gap between biblical and clinical circles around this topic for clients, church leaders, and mental health leaders. We discuss her therapy journey, how OCD can latch on to faith, telling the difference between a genuine faith based…
12 Apr 2026 · 53 min
Dr Steven Phillipson and Sean: 'Sarnos' and Sean's story (#533)
In episode 533 I chat with Dr Steven Phillipson and his patient Sean . 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. He is joined by one of his patients, Sean, who has kindly agreed to share his story. We discuss Sean's OCD story, Steve discusses the idea of Sarnos (psychosomatic symptoms), Sean's difficulty bragging and worrying about Sarnos, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the idea of the brain voice and the gatekeeper…
5 Apr 2026 · 50 min
Dr Sorcha O'Connor: The PsilOCD study investigating low-dose psilocybin for OCD (#532)
In episode 532 I chat with Dr Sorcha O'Connor. Sorcha is a neuroscientist and PhD graduate from Imperial College London, where she led the PsilOCD study investigating low-dose psilocybin for OCD. We discuss Sorcha's background that led her to this work, what is psilocybin, the background to the study, what the actual study looked like for participants, the outcomes of the study, what's happening in the brain during a dose of psilocybin, future studies, how psychedelics may improve learning, integration sessions with a therapist, what people with OCD can take from this study, limitations of…
29 Mar 2026 · 56 min
Story: Alex (suicidal OCD, existential OCD, health anxiety, I-CBT) (#531)
In episode 531 I chat with Alex who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. We discuss his OCD story, suicidal themed OCD, inference-based cognitive behavioural therapy (I-CBT), worries of harming others, existential themed OCD, how his wife helped, meditation, low self worth, understanding the past, peadophile themed OCD, health anxiety, self compassion, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/alex-531 The podcast is made possible by NOCD . NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about…
22 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Story: Amy (relationship OCD, harm OCD, contamination OCD) (#530)
In episode 530 I chat with Amy who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. We discuss relationship themed OCD, harm themed OCD, contamination themed OCD, realising that what was going on was OCD, compulsions, disordered eating, how her husband helped, finding the OCD community, doing exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), medication, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/amy-530 The podcast is made possible by NOCD . NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their…

About The OCD Stories

The OCD Stories is a English health podcast from Stuart Ralph. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Stuart Ralph
Language: English
Category: Health
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 50 min
Latest episode: 11 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1065492988
Rights: 2015 Stuart Ralph Ltd

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