
The OCD Stories
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.
Latest episodes

Jul 21, 2024 • 48min
Story: Will (#443)
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, 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 Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast

Jul 14, 2024 • 60min
Jonny interviews Stuart on OCD Therapy for Children and Teens (#442)
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, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/stuart-442 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 Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast

Jul 7, 2024 • 49min
Madina Alam: Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP) (#441)
Licensed therapist, Madina Alam, discusses Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP), sharing insights on therapy journey, creating exposure ideas, when ERP works well. Also, reflects on TV show experiences, self-care in caregiving roles, and balancing urgency in therapy.

Jun 30, 2024 • 48min
Story: Jack (#440)
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 Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP). Jack discusses secondary spikes, what else helps him, self-compassion and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jack-440 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 Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast

Jun 23, 2024 • 59min
Jonny Say: What ACT based Exposure can look like (#439)
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 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 Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast

Jun 16, 2024 • 58min
Dr Russ Harris: We practice ACT and compassion skills for OCD (#438)
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 problems with distraction, self compassion, and he guides us through the kind hands exercise, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/russ-438 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 Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast

Jun 9, 2024 • 48min
Dr Sam Greenblatt: Intersections between OCD and the LGBTQIA+ community (#437)
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, 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 Thanks to all our patrons for supporting our work. To sign up to our Patreon and to check out the benefits you’ll receive as a Patron, visit: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast

Jun 2, 2024 • 53min
Dr Steven Phillipson’s OCD therapy group featuring Sadie, Rachel, and Mike (#436)
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, their experiences in group, processing shame in the group, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) in the group, the safety of sharing in the group, their favourite group moments, words of hope, and much more. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/phillipson-436 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 our Patreon to see the video versions of the podcast ad-free and other perks: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast

May 26, 2024 • 35min
Story: Alex (#435)
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/alex-435 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 our Patreon to see the video versions of the podcast ad-free and other perks: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast

May 19, 2024 • 43min
Dr Heather Sequeira: Complex trauma and OCD (#434)
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://theocdstories.com/episode/heather-434 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 our Patreon to see the video versions of the podcast ad-free and other perks: https://www.patreon.com/theocdstoriespodcast
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.