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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Dr. Patrick McGrath, a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience treating OCD, has helped thousands of people reclaim their lives from the relentless grip of intrusive thoughts and compulsions. In this video, he shares the same expert-approved techniques that have transformed lives. Dr. McGrath reveals what works, what doesn’t, and how to push forward even when it feels impossible. Don’t let OCD dictate your life any longer. Start your journey to freedom today.
Ready to take the first step? Visit https://learn.nocd.com/podcast to connect with a specialized therapist and kickstart your recovery journey.
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Dr. Taylor Arnold, pediatric dietitian and the mind behind Growing Intuitive Eaters, joins Get to Know OCD to share her personal journey of overcoming OCD and breaking the cycle of disordered eating. From her struggles with emetophobia (fear of vomiting) to raising three children while managing contamination OCD, Dr. Arnold opens up about the challenges of parenting with OCD and how it shaped her approach to pediatric nutrition.
In this episode, she reveals her strategies for turning food battles into playful connections, growing intuitive eating in kids, and navigating the intersection of mental health and parenting.
Ready to treat OCD in OCD? Visit https://learn.nocd.com/podcast to connect with a specialized therapist and make 2025 the year of change.
0:00 Intro
4:03 Taylor’s own OCD journey
9:57 What is ARFID?
14:28 How ARFID can manifest
17:16 How Taylor juggled life and OCD
20:26 Reassurance-seeking makes OCD worse
22:56 How Taylor’s emetophobia affected her parenting
26:08 How OCD has influenced Taylor’s work life
30:26 How Taylor will manage OCD going forward
34:02 Tips for raising kids to be intuitive eaters
38:33 When the OCD brain takes over
42:41 The importance of investing in yourself
45:34 Outro
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Welcome to 2025! With a new year comes new opportunities to take charge of your mental health. In this video, Brenna Posey — a NOCD team member who’s also faced her own OCD journey — shares five essential tips to help you start 2025 on the right foot.
From understanding intrusive thoughts to embracing discomfort, Brenna offers actionable advice based on her experience with ERP therapy. This year, let’s make it the year you break the cycle, manage your symptoms, and reclaim your life.
Ready to take the first step? Visit https://learn.nocd.com/podcast to connect with a specialized therapist and kickstart your 2025 journey.
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Kick off 2025 with an empowering episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast featuring Katie Horwitch—author, mindset coach, founder of Women Against Negative Talk (WANT), and OCD advocate. Katie has faced the grip of negative self-talk firsthand and transformed her experience into a mission: to help others reshape how they speak to themselves, about others, and the world around them.
Katie calls negative self-talk a “cultural epidemic,” a pervasive, automatic voice that often goes unnoticed yet deeply influences our lives. In this transformative conversation, she shares practical strategies to quiet that voice, shift your mindset, and take control of your narrative in 2025.
Want to treat your OCD this year? Book a free 15-minute consultation with one of our experts at https://learn.nocd.com/podcast to learn about our best-in-care treatment options.
Show notes:
0:00 Intro
2:03 Katie’s background
6:52 Casual negativity explained
10:46 Why Americans and OCD sufferers don’t like compliments
16:48 OCD lightbulb moment
27:08 The relationship between OCD and negative talk
33:40 Recognizing negative talk
38:58 The devil you know vs. the devil you don’t
41:30 Breaking the compulsion cycle
46:42 Practice makes routine — both good and bad
47:39 OCD isn’t high-functioning as pop culture makes it seem
53:07 Katie’s advice of “let’s see”
56:10 Outro
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https://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd
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Make 2025 the year you take control of your OCD with insights from Brenna Posey, a NOCD team member. Brenna brings a unique perspective as both an expert in OCD care and someone who has personally experienced and managed her own OCD.
In this episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast, Brenna dives into the questions many are asking as they consider treatment in the new year. Take 10 minutes of your time as she answers three key questions to help you approach OCD treatment with confidence and make this your year of progress.
Start 2025 by booking a free 15-minute consultation with one of our experts. Visit https://learn.nocd.com/podcast to pick your appointment.
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How far have we come in understanding OCD? We’ve made incredible strides, but there’s still so much to uncover. On this episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Christopher Pittenger, a leading researcher whose lab at Yale University is pioneering groundbreaking studies into the science of OCD.
From genetics to psilocybin to cutting-edge brain scans, Dr. Pittenger breaks down the latest advancements in OCD research. But he goes beyond the science, challenging the misconception that OCD is either a "brain problem" or a "mind problem." Instead, he reveals how these two facets are deeply interconnected — and what that means for treatment.
It’s an engaging, science-driven conversation that you don’t want to miss.
If you’ve tried to treat OCD but haven’t found success, there’s hope. Our evidence-based care could make the difference you’ve been waiting for. Visit us at https://learn.nocd.com/podcast to book a free 15-minute consultation and explore your options.
Show notes:
0:00 Intro
1:31 Chris’ background
3:45 Latest research on automatic behaviors and OCD
8:44 OCD as a brain or mind problem
10:16 How Chris’ research has influenced OCD treatments
15:23 Chris’ work with IOCDF’s grant program
18:00 The future of OCD research
19:38 How much do we actually understand OCD?
25:48 How Chris does OCD research
28:17 Why brain scans can’t diagnose OCD
30:47 How Chris mentors others
32:39 Latest research on treating OCD with psilocybin, ketamine, and more
39:15 The promise of psychotherapy
43:37 Chris’ advice if you’re struggling with OCD
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OCD doesn’t stay the same throughout your life — it changes, evolves, and adapts to new stressors and stages of life. In this episode, Dr. Patrick McGrath breaks down how OCD can manifest from childhood to adulthood, highlighting common themes like contamination fears, existential worries, and intrusive thoughts. Learn how OCD shifts across your lifespan, why it thrives on stress, and most importantly, what you can do to manage it at any age.
Need help treating OCD? We can help. Visit us at https://learn.nocd.com/podcast to book a free 15-minute consultation with one of our experts.
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On this episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast, Patrick McGrath sits down with Jonny Say, a London-based therapist whose personal experience with OCD spans over 30 years. From childhood panic attacks to intrusive thoughts and existential struggles, Jonny shares how these challenges shaped his journey to becoming a therapist and advocate.
Now part of the Integrative Center for OCD Therapy, Jonny dives into the nuances of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), compassion-focused approaches, and the critical role of values-based living in recovery. He reflects on the grief of time lost to OCD, the challenge of breaking free from rumination, and the importance of fostering self-compassion in the healing process.
Need help treating OCD? We can help. Visit us at https://learn.nocd.com/podcast to book a free 15-minute consultation with one of our experts.
Show notes:
0:00 Intro
1:30 Jonny’s background
2:31 The use of mindfulness in therapy
4:52 What is ACT therapy?
10:46 The importance of compassion
13:20 Fear of being around others with OCD
14:51 Emotions beyond anxiety or distress
19:43 Sticking with ERP and other treatments
21:41 Functional analytical psychotherapy
23:06 Using lived experience when treating others
25:12 “I have a little OCD too”
28:36 Triggering OCD during therapy?
33:08 Dealing with the regret of “lost” years to OCD
36:55 If OCD was an ice cream flavor
37:42 How OCD interferes with making choices
39:16 Phrases that OCD loves
40:50 Jonny’s advice to others
42:07 Not all treatments are created equal
44:18 Jonny’s career 25 years from now
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What is OCD recovery avoidance? It’s not about refusing treatment on purpose — it’s about patterns of behavior that unintentionally keep someone from getting better. Whether it’s denying there’s a problem, minimizing the severity, or avoiding effective therapy, recovery avoidance can leave individuals and families feeling stuck and overwhelmed.
In this episode, Dr. Patrick McGrath sits down with his mentor, Dr. Alec Pollard, to unpack this often misunderstood concept. They explore the real reasons why someone with OCD might avoid recovery — like fear, skill deficits, or lack of motivation — and how these barriers show up in daily life.
Patrick and Alec also shed light on how well-meaning family members can unintentionally reinforce avoidance through behaviors like accommodation or minimizing. More importantly, they offer practical, empowering steps families can take to help their loved one move toward recovery — while protecting their own well-being.
Are you or a loved one avoiding treatment for OCD? We believe we can help. Book a free consultation with us to hear what we have in mind: https://learn.nocd.com/podcast
Show notes:
0:00 Intro
2:49 Alec’s background
8:00 Alec’s new book
15:01 Defining recovery avoidance redefined
19:40 Real reasons that drives recovery avoidance
24:18 How families are affected by recovery avoidance
28:32 Educating families about OCD
32:37 Common mistakes families make with recovery avoiders
38:32 Families are not at fault
43:44 The next frontier of treatment?
50:41 Group effort to write the book
52:35 Outro
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The holidays can be magical, but for those with OCD, they can also be stressful. In this special episode, Dr. Patrick McGrath cuts through the holiday cliches to tackle real challenges — like navigating germ anxiety at family gatherings or dodging well-meaning but triggering comments from relatives. Whether it’s setting boundaries around alcohol or learning how to say “no” without guilt, Patrick shares insights to help you reclaim the season on your terms. If OCD has ever threatened to steal the season from you, this episode is your chance to take it back.
Still struggling with OCD during the holidays? We’re here to help. Visit us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT to learn about our best-in-class treatment options.
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