Stay ConnectedTune in each week for a deep dive into all things OCD with host Dr. Patrick McGrath, NOCD’s Chief Clinical Officer. We’ll be sharing inspiring real-life stories of people who’ve faced OCD and came out the other side, as well as practical tips for understanding and tackling OCD. We hope you enjoy the podcast and it helps you get to know OCD.
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Michael Twohig has spent years studying what happens when people try to fight their thoughts — and why that battle almost always makes things worse. As a psychologist, researcher, and leading expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), he’s worked with countless people who felt trapped by their own minds, stuck in loops of overthinking, doubt, and mental exhaustion. In this conversation, he shares how ACT can completely change that dynamic, turning thoughts from something you fear into something you can live with.
Instead of focusing on erasing or “fixing” thoughts, ACT teaches you to see them for what they are and move forward anyway. Michael draws from powerful real-world examples to show how people have gone from feeling powerless against their minds to living fuller, more meaningful lives — without waiting for the perfect thought or feeling to show up first. It’s a practical, compassionate way to stop letting your mind run the show.
Although not a standalone treatment for OCD, ACT can be helpful in conjunction with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy.
Here at NOCD, we specialize in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, the most effective therapy for OCD. To explore treatment options, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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Renee Zukin spent much of her life trying to silence fear — avoiding risk, obsessing over safety, and doing everything possible to feel in control. It worked just well enough to keep going, but never well enough to feel free. In this interview, she opens up about how fear shaped where she lived, how she ate, how she parented, and how long it kept her from getting the right help.
What changed wasn’t the fear disappearing — it was her relationship to it. Renee talks about learning to stop chasing certainty, letting go of safety behaviors, and finding the courage to move forward even when fear was still in the room.
Renee got better using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy — the gold standard treatment for OCD. Here at NOCD, we specialize in ERP. To explore your treatment options, considering book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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Renee's book: https://www.amazon.com/Every-Day-Brave-Cultivating-Resilience/dp/1963827252
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Is OCD seasonal? Not exactly — but it can FEEL that way. In this episode, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains how OCD often ramps up during high-stress times like the holidays, not because of the calendar, but because stress weakens your ability to resist compulsions. Watch as Patrick debunks this common OCD myth!
Here at NOCD, we specialize in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, the most effective therapy for OCD. To explore treatment options, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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Most therapists don’t get formal training in how to treat OCD. In fact, many graduate programs barely mention it at all. That leads to years of misdiagnosis, missed symptoms, and patients getting the wrong kind of help. The result? People with OCD are left suffering longer than they should — even in the care of well-meaning professionals.
That’s why Elizabeth DuPont Spencer and Kimberly Morrow decided to do something about it. After decades of clinical experience, they launched a global training program to help therapists actually understand OCD — and how to treat it with evidence-based care like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). In this conversation, they share the turning points in their own careers, why ERP is so misunderstood, and what it’s like watching clinicians finally connect the dots — and help their clients get better.
If you're suffering with OCD, we think our best-in-care treatment might be able to help. To book a free 15-minute consultation, visit https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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One year ago, the Get to know OCD podcast launched with a simple goal: share real stories from people living with OCD. What happened next was bigger than anyone expected. Each week, guests opened up about their darkest moments, their breakthroughs, and the messy middle in between.
In this special anniversary episode, Dr. Patrick McGrath reflects on the moments that stayed with us, the common threads across so many different stories, and what this first year has taught us about healing, community, and the power of feeling seen.
Here at NOCD, we specialize in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, the most effective therapy for OCD. To explore treatment options, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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The Not Alone project began with a simple, powerful idea: send handwritten letters to people struggling with OCD to remind them they’re not alone. Founded by Molly Fishback and Morgan Rondinelli, the project has grown into a movement — one that’s now reached thousands and was recently honored with the Hero Award at the 2025 IOCDF Conference.
In this episode, they share how Not Alone started, the impact of a single letter, and why creating human connection through words can be a turning point for someone who feels lost in their OCD journey.
Our NOCD therapists specialize in ERP, the gold standard in OCD treatment. To explore treatment options, book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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Megan spent most of her life thinking something was just wrong with her. She was six years old when the compulsions started — counting, checking, rituals she didn’t understand — all fueled by the fear that if she didn’t do them, something terrible would happen. It wasn’t until she was 19 that she finally realized what it all was: OCD.
In this episode of the Get to know OCD podcast, Megan shares what it was like living nearly two decades without a diagnosis, how OCD convinced her she was broken, and what finally changed when she started Exposure and Response Prevention therapy. Her story is a powerful reminder that OCD can go unnoticed for years (decades, in her case) — but it’s never too late to get your life back.
Our NOCD therapists specialize in ERP, the OCD treatment that finally worked for Megan and thousands of others. To follow in the same path, book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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For years, movies and TV shaped how people understood OCD — and for a long time, the portrayals got it ALL wrong. In this video, therapist Dr. Patrick McGrath sits down to watch some of the most well-known OCD scenes on screen. What he finds is a mix of half-truths, stereotypes, and the occasional glimpse of what real OCD actually feels like. Join Dr. McGrath on this watch-along featuring actors like Leo Dicaprio, Jack Nicholson, and more!
Want to treat OCD? At NOCD, we specialize in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, the most proven way to treat OCD. Book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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Eva Gutowski spent most of her life thinking something was just... off. She had intense fears (including of ketchup), strict rules in her head, and thoughts that wouldn’t leave her alone — but no one ever mentioned OCD. Not doctors, not teachers, not even friends. So she kept smiling, kept working, kept growing her social media channels to millions of followers, all while OCD quietly shaped everything in her life.
It wasn’t until years later that the patterns finally clicked. Eva joins the Get to know OCD podcast to share how her OCD flew under the radar for so long, what finally led to her diagnosis, and how understanding it changed the way she sees her past, her work, and herself.
Like Eva, many people live with OCD for years before realizing what it really is. At NOCD, our therapists specialize in identifying and treating OCD with ERP, the gold-standard therapy. To take the first step, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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Mental health doesn’t just affect the person who has it — it affects their partner too. In this conversation, therapist Eli Weinstein talks about the quiet tradeoffs couples make when OCD or other mental health disorders enters the relationship. The missed moments. The unspoken resentment. The blurred line between supporting someone and losing yourself. He shares what happens when partners become caretakers, how to avoid burning out, and why honesty matters more than perfection. If OCD is part of your relationship, this episode is must-listen.
Is OCD affecting your relationships? Help is available. NOCD offers proven, specialized treatment for OCD. Start your journey by visiting https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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