Best ROCD Podcasts (2025)

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#248- When Obsessions Are Also Your Interests And Values- ROCD Edition 32:00

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11d ago32:00

32:00

Dan reached out with an audio question to ask about what he can do when his interests and values happen to also be the focus of his obsession. Hijacking your values, hobbies, and interests is a really common tactic of OCD, but does that mean you have to give it all up to get better? What happens then if you value intimacy in a relationship? Is Dan …

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E18: Profound Change from Avoidant Attachment to Openness with IFS Therapy - Kleo's Session & Exploring Relationship OCD (ROCD), Disorganized Attachment, Avoidant Attachment, Inner Resistance & more! 50:46

15d ago50:46

50:46

In this episode, Kleo shares her journey of navigating Relationship OCD (ROCD) and Disorganized Attachment. During our session, we worked on helping Kleo connect with her avoidant parts, something she had long resisted due to the intense overwhelm these parts often triggered. In the past, their activation would lead to spirals of anxiety, helplessn…

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Dr Sam Greenblatt: Unlocking Relationship OCD (ROCD) treatment (#506) 56:46

26d ago56:46

56:46

In episode 506 I chat with Dr Sam Greenblatt. Sam is a licensed clinical psychologist. We discuss an update on him, relationship OCD (ROCD) using his personal story as a case study, improving ROCD treatment, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), internal family systems (IFS) therapy, working with other emotions around ROCD, feeling emotio…

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#249- How Choices When Young Help SO-OCD Haunt You Later 43:25

3d ago43:25

43:25

Jeffrey messaged me and wanted to know how to forgive himself for his obsessions and past choices so he can finally move on with his life past the grip of SO-OCD. His question has a lot going on, and includes elements of shame and guilt from his past behaviors, doubt and confusion about motivations for said actions, confusion about titles and ident…

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Ian O'Brien: OCD Story, and research on why people struggle to engage with ERP using over 100 interviews from The OCD Stories podcast (#509) 55:30

5d ago55:30

55:30

In episode 509 I chat with Ian O'Brien. Ian is a psychotherapist based in Dublin, Ireland, who specialises in OCD. We discuss his OCD story including relationship OCD (rOCD) and pOCD, getting therapy, support groups, and becoming a therapist. We then discuss his research on why people struggle to engage with ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) i…

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E19: Working with Love Addiction, Limerence, Guilt, Shame & Disorganized Attachment using IFS Therapy & Parts Work - Akiva's Session 1:11:17

7d ago1:11:17

1:11:17

In this episode, I help Akiva unpack and do a piece of healing around her persistent love addiction, limerence, guilt, shame, Disorganized Attachment & Relationship OCD using the Internal Family Systems Therapy Model. Watch Akiva go from a shut down, dissociated state to being able to access her parts and do a piece of healing, leading her to feel …

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Michael Stier: Health anxiety (#508) 1:14:24

12d ago1:14:24

1:14:24

In episode 508 I chat with Michael Stier. Michael is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Director of Education and Training at the Anxiety Specialists of Atlanta. We discuss his therapy story, working with health anxiety, the health anxiety book he co-wrote, what is health anxiety, insight in health anxiety, bodily sensations, val…

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#247- Science Proves We Don’t Have Free Will… Now What?! 45:53

18d ago45:53

45:53

Just in case the threats of the Rapture didn’t get you down (or amped up with anxiety) enough, GS comes along to ask the question about what to do, and how to move on with life, now that, apparently, science proves that we have no free will. So, GS struggles to know what to do with this information. Luckily, this isn’t my first rodeo, and I’ve got …

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Chrissie Hodges: Acceptance of OCD (#507) 55:31

19d ago55:31

55:31

In episode 507 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'. Chrissie was awarded the hero award at the 24th IOCDF conference in San Fran. We discuss her community, acceptance and radical acceptance, what is acceptance, …

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E17: Chronic Anxiety, ROCD, Disorganized Attachment & Abandonment Healing - Andriy's Session 35:55

22d ago35:55

35:55

In this episode, I help Andriy explore a chronic anxiety that he's been experiencing for most of his life, in addition to Relationship OCD and Disorganized Attachment. By focusing on this anxiety, Andriy was able to connect with a one and a half year old inner child that was abandoned by his mother due to her own mental health issues. Through Andri…

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#246- Are Generalized Anxiety Compulsions Different Than OCD Compulsions? GAD vs OCD! 30:39

24d ago30:39

30:39

By Kevin Foss, MFT

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E15: Relationship OCD (ROCD), Infatuation, Limerence & Disgust - Grace's Session 1:08:44

29d ago1:08:44

1:08:44

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Grace, who courageously shares her journey of living with and healing from Relationship OCD (ROCD). Grace captures the wild oscillation between fantasy, infatuation, and limerence and intense disgust, anxiety, and obsessive thinking, which has gotten considerably better with all the healing work she has bee…

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E16: Relationship OCD (ROCD) and the Shame that Fuels it - Emily's Session 54:56

1M ago54:56

54:56

In this session, Emily shares her struggles with ROCD that began in her early years. We explored themes of guilt, shame, and the fear of making mistakes, which are deeply rooted in her past experiences, including family dynamics and personal relationships. Through our conversation, we discussed how these feelings impact her current relationship and…

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Dr Fahad Khan: Islamic religious OCD (Waswasa & OCD) (#505) 42:57

1M ago42:57

42:57

In episode 505 I chat with Dr Fahad Khan. Fahad is a licensed clinical psychologist. He currently serves as the Deputy Director at Khalil Center, providing psychological services while supervising clinical and research work. He co-wrote The Islamic Workbook for Religious OCD: A Guide for Overcoming Intrusive Thoughts and Compulsions. We discuss his…

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E14: "Two Weeks in, She Became Hideous," ROCD, Disorganized Attachment - Devin's Story 1:28:07

1M ago1:28:07

1:28:07

In this episode, Devin discusses his experiences with Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (ROCD), which often manifests as feelings of disgust or lack of attraction towards his partners. He describes how these feelings can be sudden and intense, leading to confusion and anxiety about the relationship. Devin shares that these emotions are not…

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#245- OCD Treatment And The Autism Spectrum With Dr. Jeremy Shuman, PsyD 54:40

1M ago54:40

54:40

Dr Jeremy Shuman, PsyD, joins me today to discuss OCD treatment for those on the Autism Spectrum. Dr. Shuman offers a wealth of knowledge, insights, and encouragement to clinicians, families, and individuals alike. We discuss some of the diagnostic complications with the overlap of OCD and Autism symptoms, obstacles in the way of using CBT and ERP,…

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Story: Jack Henderson (OCD, eating disorder, therapy, poetry) (#504) 53:27

1M ago53:27

53:27

In episode 504 I chat with Jack who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. We discuss his OCD story, guilt and shame, diet and exercise as part of OCD, an eating disorder diagnosis, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), medication, support groups, being creative, expressing through poetry, the idea of signal vs noise, self comp…

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#244- Real-Event OCD: I Used AI And All I Got Was Guilt And Anxiety 26:58

2M ago26:58

26:58

Alan sent me a message asking me about how he can deal with a spike in Real-Event OCD themes. He’s a reporter who used AI to help with his grammar, but his anxiety latched on about violating AI policies at work. He struggles to let go of the obsession and get back to appreciating his craft again. We go over Real-Event OCD and how it differs from ot…

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Samantha Faden & Dr Jenifer Cullen: Successfully adjusting OCD therapy for autistic clients (#503) 51:12

2M ago51:12

51:12

In episode 503 I chat with Samantha Faden and Dr Jenifer Cullen. Samantha is autistic and has lived experience with OCD. Sam is the client of Dr Cullen. Jenifer M. Cullen, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist at the McLean OCD Institute. We discuss their therapy relationship as therapist and client, how Sam's therapy journey has gone, what work…

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#243- Toenail Fungus Obsession… Again, and Still! 41:48

2M ago41:48

41:48

Annie reached out to me as a follow up to a previous question she had about her toenail fungus and her obsession about it. She noticed that after all her ERP treatment she continues to have an obsession because she continues to get infections! How frustrating!? I talk about the expectations of ERP and anxiety treatment, how we can deal with the pos…

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Christopher Weston: OCD story, BDD, and Somatic OCD (#502) 58:50

2M ago58:50

58:50

In episode 502 I chat with Christopher Weston. Chris is a therapist (LMFT) specialising in OCD. We discuss his OCD story, his early life experiences that were challenging, panic attacks, somatic/sensorimotor OCD, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and much more. S…

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E13: Working Through Relationship OCD, Attraction and Intelligence Themes - Molly's Session 54:28

2M ago54:28

54:28

In this conversation, Molly shares her journey with Relationship OCD (ROCD) and how it has impacted her relationships, particularly with her husband. She discusses the patterns of infatuation and fear of commitment, the role of attachment, and the challenges of vulnerability in her marriage. The conversation delves into childhood influences on her …

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#242- What If You Actually Believe Your Obsessive Thoughts? 36:41

2M ago36:41

36:41

I recently got a follow up question from the Emotional Contamination episode (#240) asking about what to do if/ when someone actually believes their OCD fear is absolutely real. In Therapy-Land, we call this a high Fixity of Beliefs, or their thoughts are highly rigid or fixed. I know a word that doesnt sound like a word. I talk about what can be d…

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E12: Fearful Avoidant Attachment, Numbness & Disconnection - Christine's Session 1:05:55

2M ago1:05:55

1:05:55

In this episode of the For Love We Heal podcast, Christine shares her journey with Fearful Avoidant attachment. She discusses the complexities of emotional connection, the impact of trauma, and the role of intuition and spirituality in her healing process. The conversation delves into the cycles of numbness and disconnection that arise in relations…

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Alexandra Reynolds: Navigating shame around health anxiety (OCD) (#501) 54:54

2M ago54:54

54:54

In episode 501 I chat with Alexandra Reynolds. Alexandra is an OCD Advocate, Community Support Group Leader at NOCD, and is currently doing her graduate clinical training. We discuss her health anxiety story, stigma around the diagnosis, running her health anxiety support group, shame and guilt around having health anxiety and the compulsions, expe…

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#241- The National OCD Survey with Dr. Caitlin Pinciotti and Jon Hershfield 1:04:07

2M ago1:04:07

1:04:07

Today’s episode feature Dr. Caitlin Pinciotti, PhD, and Jon Hershfield, MFT in our discussion of the National OCD Survey. The goal of the National OCD Survey is to gather information about the demographic differences in OCD subtypes across the United States in alignment with identified cultural groupings within the United States. This was a really …

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The 500th episode. Musings and reflections from a Welsh mountain range. 48:42

2M ago48:42

48:42

In episode 500 I, Stuart Ralph, reflect on my journey with The OCD Stories podcast over the last nearly 10 years. To do this I took a hike in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales, UK. Thanks for listening over the last 500 episodes! Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/500 The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, c…

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#240- Emotional Contamination For Ellie’s 14 Year Old 39:08

2M ago39:08

39:08

Ellie reached out to ask about how to help her 14 year old who is struggling with a fear of becoming like other people. Emotional Contamination the name we often apply to the OCD subtype where someone is afraid they will take on the unwanted characteristics of other, or specific, people. To help, I discuss what Emotional Contamination is, how obses…

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Dr Ronald Nicholson: Using humour in OCD therapy (#499) 41:13

2M ago41:13

41:13

In episode 499 I chat with Dr Ronald Nicholson. Ron is a clinical psychologist currently practicing as a post-doctoral fellow at Dr. Steven Phillipson's Center of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy. We discuss humour in OCD therapy, why humour can help, finding the right balance between humour and seriousness, humour as a way of showing irrelevance…

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E11: Harmony's Journey with Relationship OCD 1:05:36

3M ago1:05:36

1:05:36

In this conversation, Harmony and I discuss her personal journey with relationship OCD, exploring the impact of her past relationships, self-sacrifice, the importance of self-advocacy, and the challenges faced in her current relationship. We delve into coping strategies, particularly in the context of Harmie's skating career, and how she navigates …

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E10: Navigating Cheating OCD, Guilt & Shame - Annuziata's Session 1:08:44

3M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

In this episode, Annuziata shares her personal journey with Relationship OCD, detailing her experiences from a young age and the impact it has had on her relationships. She discusses the feelings of guilt and self-doubt that arise, particularly in the context of her current relationship. The conversation explores the healing process, the importance…

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#239- SO-OCD Is Leading To Troubles In The Bedroom. Help! 31:21

3M ago31:21

31:21

Ward emailed me to share a struggle he’s going through related to his SO-OCD. He notes that he’s in therapy and making progress, but the anxiety is impacting his performance in the bedroom and his libido is much lower than he wants. Anxiety can have serious negative impacts on someone’s sexual life. I discuss how the expectations of sexual performa…

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Jonny Say interviews Stuart on the lead up to episode 500! Podcast beginnings, Stuart's key learnings, and what helped him (#498) 47:33

3M ago47:33

47:33

In episode 498 psychotherapist Jonny Say interviews Stuart. Stuart is the host and founder of The OCD Stories podcast. Stuart is a psychotherapist, and co-founder of The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy. In the build up to episode 500 Jonny interviews me (Stuart), we discuss the history of the podcast and some of my personal history, how the podc…

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E9: Healing the Shamed, Confused and Embarrassed Child - Colleen's Story 46:24

3M ago46:24

46:24

The main themes in the conversation with Colleen Herman revolve around her journey with relationship OCD (ROCD) and attachment issues. Colleen shares her experiences of anxiety and self-doubt in relationships, often feeling torn between staying in or leaving a relationship due to obsessive thoughts about making the right choice. She discusses her s…

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#238- Will Payton Ever Be Able To See Life Past Her Nose Again? 31:30

3M ago31:30

31:30

Payton reached out with a voice question on Instagram with a question that a lot of people who listen to this podcast can understand. She struggles with what she believes is Hyperawareness OCD/ Sensorimotor OCD and is fixated on the fact that she can see the tip of her nose. While it may seem harmless, like all other obsessions in the category, she…

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Dr Steven Phillipson: Identity contamination, not buying into OCD themes, talking about OCD, ERP tools (#497) 43:13

3M ago43:13

43:13

In episode 497 I chat with Dr Steven Phillipson. 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 identity contamination as a theme of OCD, the amygdala, not buying into OCD themes, talking …

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"My mind bullied me to leave my relationship" - Lekha's Story 1:02:47

3M ago1:02:47

1:02:47

In this episode of the For Love We Heal podcast, Alex Bishop and Chandralekha delve into the complexities of relationship OCD, attachment issues, and the impact that anxiety and shame have had on her relationships. Chandralekha shares her journey of self-discovery, revealing how her mind often bullied her into avoiding connection. The conversation …