Podcast Summary: Get to Know OCD – "How We Train World-Class OCD Therapists To Help You"

Host: Dr. Patrick McGrath, Chief Clinical Officer, NOCD
Guests: Dr. Mia Nunez (NOCD Interview Process Lead), Taylor Newendorp (NOCD Training & Onboarding Lead)
Date: March 1, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode departs from the usual firsthand OCD stories to spotlight how NOCD trains and develops its world-class therapists. Dr. Patrick McGrath is joined by Dr. Mia Nunez and Taylor Newendorp, who walk listeners through the rigorous, evidence-based training journey—covering recruitment, comprehensive onboarding, and the ongoing support system designed to ensure therapists become specialists in exposure and response prevention (ERP) for OCD and related anxiety disorders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The State of OCD Training in Mental Health (00:00–04:34)

• Most therapists enter NOCD with minimal or no formal training on OCD or ERP from graduate programs.
  • Taylor: “Literally. I’m not kidding. I got zero information on OCD in my entire grad program.” (04:06)
• NOCD seeks applicants with a passion for evidence-based treatment and a student mentality, not prior expertise.
  • Mia: “We want to see people with a passion for the work... people who would consider themselves lifelong learners and are very open to receiving feedback.” (03:31)
• Previous training often missed ERP’s crucial “response prevention” element.

NOCD’s Comprehensive Training Model (04:34–12:48)

• First three months: Equivalent to a semester of graduate-level, OCD-specific education.
  • Emphasis on deep clinical knowledge, including subtypes and complex manifestations of OCD.
• Multi-modal approach: Combines didactic lectures, discussion, video demonstrations (often starring Mia), hands-on exercises, and simulation practice.
  • Taylor: “We wanted to make sure... we were basically going to disseminate roughly a semester’s worth of graduate level education just focused on OCD and how to implement ERP.” (05:15)
• Child & adolescent-specific modules ensure therapists can confidently treat all ages.
• Dismantles the pattern of sufferers waiting “14 to 17 years” for effective care due to lack of specialized therapists. (08:34)

Robust Ongoing Support and Continuing Education (12:48–17:21)

• Ongoing practice as a core element; training extends well beyond initial onboarding.
• Case consultation groups run nearly every hour, fostering peer support and expert input.
  • Mia: "Almost every hour during the business day... you can drop into those consultation groups." (14:10)
• Continuing education program, monthly meetings, and a lending library (expert-led talks, recorded for flexibility).
• AI-based simulated “members” allow for virtual practice; consent-based observations of real sessions further learning.
• Active clinical community—nearly 1,000 clinicians in the network—expands professional growth and connection.
• Strong conference presence facilitates in-person learning and community building.

Quality Standards & Therapist Competency Verification (17:21–27:54)

• Multi-step process:
  1. Selective Interviewing: Prioritizes empathy, rapport, and cultural awareness; includes scenario-based questions/feedback.
     • Mia: “We've actually often been told, ‘thank you, I've learned so much from this interview.’” (24:40)
  2. Deep-Dive Training: In-depth on OCD subtypes, ERP, and co-occurring anxiety conditions.
  3. Competency Testing: New therapists must pass mock sessions with trained actors before going live, ensuring readiness for both clinical and platform-related tasks.
  4. Continued Learning: Mandatory consultation groups, ongoing training, and protocol updates as new research emerges.
     • Mia: "We recently made a little change to our protocol... in response to what we discovered had come out most recently in the research." (27:54)

Empowerment, Impact, and Access (17:21–End)

• NOCD addresses a historic scarcity of ERP specialists and cost barriers—the network accepts insurance and provides accessible, standardized care.
  • Mia: “It’s just been such an issue for this community that we have this amazing effective treatment. But there haven’t been clinicians that have been trained in it... we accept insurance. It’s a really cool thing to be a part of.” (17:36)
• Transformational, “life-changing” impact for both members and clinicians. Therapists find ERP work genuinely rewarding.
  • Taylor: "We truly see people make meaningful gains through ERP." (18:57)
• Commitment to quality over quantity: caution against therapists who claim too many specializations without true expertise.
  • Patrick: "When you see someone who says, I specialize, and then they click off 37 different things... I’d be very, very wary." (21:19)
• Compassion for therapists new to ERP—normalizing a “month of guilt” as they realize the limits of their past training but emphasizing growth and learning.

Memorably Honest Moments & Quotes

• On Therapy Training Gaps:
  • Taylor: “I got zero information on OCD in my entire grad program.” (04:06)
• On NOCD’s Mission:
  • Patrick: “Just because somebody's profile says that they treat OCD doesn't mean that they know how to treat OCD.” (20:17)
• On Training Impact:
  • Mia: “You will see people turn their lives around and there’s so much pride to be had in that.” (29:09)
  • Taylor: “Administering this kind of treatment... seeing the positive impact... It really is very rewarding, fulfilling work.” (28:26)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:05 – 04:34: Traditional training gaps and applicant expectations
• 04:34 – 12:48: Structure and ethos of NOCD’s immersive training
• 12:48 – 17:21: Ongoing education, AI simulations, and community culture
• 17:21 – 27:54: Recruitment, stepwise competency checks, and adapting to new evidence
• 21:19: Cautions about therapist specialization claims
• 27:54 – End: Takeaways, impact, and why clinicians and members alike benefit

Concluding Thoughts

This episode demystifies how NOCD methodically cultivates ERP specialists—combining a unique interview approach, intensive training, multi-layered support, and a validating, collaborative community. The rigorous standards are not only about therapist competence but about guaranteeing life-changing care, accessibility, and real hope for anyone affected by OCD and related conditions.

Useful for Prospective Therapists:

• Expect a rigorous yet supportive path—for those passionate about evidence-based, impactful mental health work.

Reassuring for People with OCD:

• NOCD’s therapists aren’t just “checkbox” professionals; they’re deeply vetted and specifically trained to help you get better.

(For therapist applicants: see nocd.com/careers to learn more.)