

The OCD Stories
Stuart Ralph
Welcome to The OCD Stories, hosted by Stuart Ralph. The podcast has been heard over 7million 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 possibly help you identify your next step in your own personal journey to healing.
Disclaimer - this podcast is not a replacement for therapy. Please seek treatment from a licensed mental health professional.
Disclaimer - this podcast is not a replacement for therapy. Please seek treatment from a licensed mental health professional.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 18, 2026 • 42min
Story: Regan (Harm and contamination OCD, panic attacks) (#521)
In episode 521 I chat with Regan who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. We discuss her OCD story, the journey to getting an OCD diagnosis, moving countries in adolescence, panic attacks, harm themed OCD, contamination themed OCD, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), nightmares, childhood experiences of OCD, her cat in the context of OCD, her partner, the grounding techniques Regan uses, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/regan-521 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 and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter

Jan 11, 2026 • 39min
Brad Hufford: Functioning well despite OCD distress is still a victory (#520)
In episode 520 I chat with Brad Hufford. Brad is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-C) who specialises in working with OCD. He is a therapist at the Behavior therapy Center of Greater Washington. We discuss Brad's OCD story, being a therapist over the last 30 years, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the therapy relationship, the idea of functioning well despite distress is still a victory, motivation in ERP, words of hope and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/brad-520 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 and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter

Jan 4, 2026 • 51min
Story: Ally Kristan (Grief, worries of harm coming to others, her book) (#519)
In episode 519 I chat with Ally Kristan who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. We discuss her story, her compulsions, starting therapy in adolescence, grief, worries of harm coming to others, what else has helped her, intuition, her book, connection with nature, animism, penguins and the Antarctic (Ally's a penguin expert), and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/ally-519 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 and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter

Dec 28, 2025 • 57min
Jonny Say and Stuart Ralph role-play a key ACT skill for rumination (#518)
Jonny Say, a UK-based therapist and co-director at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy, dives into practical Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) skills. He discusses the transformative 'dropping anchor' technique, helping individuals manage emotional storms and compulsions. The podcast also explores the innovative 'dipping in and out of the stream' exercise, vital for combating rumination. Jonny and Stuart demonstrate role-play scenarios, showcasing how these skills can disrupt negative thought patterns, offering listeners actionable tools for their journeys.

Dec 21, 2025 • 55min
Spenser Gabin: Reflections on ERP therapy, and becoming a therapist (#517)
In episode 517 I chat with Spenser Gabin. Spenser is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Encinitas, California We discuss his OCD, becoming a therapist, his thoughts on Ian O'Brien's episode and clinical perceptive on Ian's research findings on exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP): drop out rate, explaining how ERP links to life, setting expectations, ERP as a lifestyle, and motivation in ERP. We also discuss building trust in therapy, therapist disclosure, self-efficacy, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/spenser-517 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 and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter

Dec 14, 2025 • 41min
Story: Emma (Group therapy, OCD around parenting, real event OCD) (Ep516)
In episode 516 I chat with Emma who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. We discuss OCD around parenting, real event themed OCD, group therapy and experiences of it, rumination, reassurance, dealing with shame, creativity in recovery, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/emma-516 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 and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter

Dec 7, 2025 • 19min
The 10-Year Anniversary Episode: Featuring the Listeners (#515)
In episode 515 I opened the 10-year anniversary episode up to the listeners. People were able to make a recording of a 30 second sound bite for the show. This episode features all those recordings. Thank you to all those who submitted a sound bite. And thanks to you for listening and for your support over the last 10 years. What a ride it's been! Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/10-year-515 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 and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter

Nov 30, 2025 • 51min
Dr Ron Nicholson: AI and OCD (#514)
In episode 514 I chat with Dr Ronald Nicholson. Ron is a clinical psychologist. We discuss why it's important to talk about artificial intelligence (AI) and OCD, AI and reassurance, how AI can play into compulsions, cognitive struggles due to over reliance on AI, the detriment of the loss of engagement with other humans, technology reducing distress tolerance, the future of mental health in this AI age, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/ron-514 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 and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter

Nov 23, 2025 • 43min
Story: Amanda (OCD themes: Religion, harm and contamination) (#513)
In episode 513 I chat with Amanda who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. We discuss OCD themes of religion, harm and contamination. Amanda talks about depression, controlling food, stopping driving, navigating the Covid pandemic and OCD, compulsions controlling other people, therapy, grief and loss, figuring out it was ok not to do her compulsions, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), inference-based CBT (I-CBT), medication, managing family accommodation, words of hope and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/amanda-513 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 and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter

Nov 16, 2025 • 1h 7min
Dr Steven Phillipson and Sarah: Metaphysical OCD and Sarah's story (#512)
In episode 512 I chat with Dr Steven Phillipson and Sarah. 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, Sarah, who has kindly agreed to share her story. We discuss what is metaphysical themed OCD, what is metaphysical contamination OCD, trauma, Sarah's OCD story, her sticking points in recovery, getting the wrong diagnosis, how her husband supported her, and her therapy with Steve. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/steve-sarah-512 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 and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter


