Transcript

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Want a recipe for success? Step one, visit ocdfamilypodcast.com courses. Step two, click on my link to browse OCD Training School's amazing course catalog. Step three, enroll. And step four, enjoy learning with no added cost to you. You can support the OCD family community while grabbing some continuing education or learning how to bridge yourself to self help strategies for OCD. Again, that's ocdfamilypodcast.com courses and use my special link to sign up today. Hey fam, it's been a minute, right? I know, I know. About a month ago I was like, yay, next week is our season premiere. But guess what? The Internet, the recording setup, life, it apparently had other plans for me. Meaning I've actually been radio silent for the past month. That is the longest break that I've ever had from the POD in all four seasons. And that's right, I said four seasons. Because that makes today our season premiere for season four. What?

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So we're back and I've got something really special for you in this episode. October is OCD Awareness month and this past week actually wrapped up O C D Awareness week. And to celebrate, I had the chance to attend and record some interviews at our first ever Indiana based IOCDF walk held in beautiful Zinesville, Indiana. And it was such an honor to work with OCD Midwest and IOCDF to bring the first million steps for a cure to this state. It was a day full of community, connection and people showing up for themselves and their loved ones. And I'm excited to bring you some of the voices and stories from that day. So let's dive right in because I've got so much to share. I'm Nicole Morris, licensed marriage and family therapist and mental health correspondent. And let me be the first to say welcome to the family, the OCD family that is. I am here to create a community of support for family members, spouses, partners, parents, adult children, as there may be adult words and chosen family of OCD sufferers and their community. I've had over 22 years of experience in the mental health field. But please note that this information does not qualify or substitute as a diagnostic evaluation, therapy or treatment and it is presented on an as is basis. Please follow up with a qualified mental health provider in your area regarding concerns for yourself or loved ones. Thank you for joining us today. Now let's get started. Alrighty. Alrighty. Righty, righty. It feels so good to be back with you, fam. I have missed you. I've gotten some notes like, hey girl, you okay? What's up? And I appreciate it. I will just say I don't understand all the tech things, but we have very high speed Internet in the house. And there are, I'm going to call them routers or some kind of like frequency providers that help bounce that high capacity signal across the home. There's a couple different ports. So we have lightning fast Internet anywhere you go in the house. And as it happens, my podcasting studio is probably as far from the actual Internet router in the home as it can get. So what happened was apparently these frequency providers that bounce the really strong signal crapped out. I'm just gonna say crapped out because that's like the way my brain understands it. Okay. And so we went through the process of calling and fussing with them until finally they were like, hey, we'll just send you a new unit. And then we got the new unit. And guess what? The new unit wasn't working either. I found this out because I was recording with guests and preparing these episodes for you. And the recording process was arduous. It was painful because the delay, because the Internet wasn't crisp where I was recording, we were kind of talking over each other. That wasn't fair to the guests. It wasn't fair to you. And so here I was like, yay, we had our final water cooler jet. We're finally back, and I was having this Internet problem. So we replaced the I'm gonna call em routers again with some new and improved better working routers, and now we're back in business. But I appreciate the check ins from folks and I appreciate your patience. I absolutely have missed this though, and I love the interviews. I've been just chomping at the bit to have all these wonderful conversations and we have so many great things to had. I'm talking with the wonderful Dr. Michael Greenberg and you're gonna be able to hear that episode during OCD Awareness Month. I have different advocates with lived experience. We have the OCRD series coming up, which if you're newer fam, that's the OC Related Disorder series. And it's one of my favorites. I run it every fall during the month of November. And so there's a lot of really exciting things. I'm talking with some new peeps and also collaborating with some of our favorite guests around here, like Dr. Anthony Pinto and more. So I apologize, but it really was one of those things where I was like, Nicole, it's outside of your circle of control. You can only do what you can do. You can't make the techie things do techie things that you don't know how to resolve. We tried to go through different appropriate channels and get things fixed and replaced, and we ultimately had to replace the system. But I think we are back in business. I am so excited. And what a wonderful way to kick off season four with different stories, different resources, different really cool ways of raising awareness. Aditi, I'm talking about you, girl. So without further ado, first up, we have my neighboring table, my purple booth twin, and that would be Dr. Courtney Ward from Zamwell. Courtney and I bonded instantly over all things Violet because we were both, like, here for the purple vibe. You know, purple is one of OCD family podcast brand colors, and it happens to represent Samwell as well. And if you're like, what? Samwell? No worries. I'm gonna have Courtney tell you herself because she is doing vital work for mental health awareness here in the state of Indiana. And I can't wait for you to hear more, Courtney.

Summary

OCD Family Podcast

S4E149: Season 4 Premiere: We Walked For OCD Awareness & Here's What Happened!

Host: Nicole Morris, LMFT
Date: October 10, 2025

Overview

In the Season 4 premiere of the OCD Family Podcast, host Nicole Morris, LMFT, celebrates the return of the show after an unexpected tech-related hiatus. She dives into the significance of October as OCD Awareness Month, sharing stories, interviews, and experiences from Indiana’s first-ever IOCDF "Million Steps for a Cure" walk. This episode spotlights clinicians, advocates, supporters, and people with lived experience, focusing on building community, raising awareness, and supporting families affected by OCD.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Podcast Return and Tech Troubles

Nicole addresses her recent month-long absence due to severe internet and recording issues, humorously describing "routers crapping out" and the struggle to resolve technical mishaps.
Despite frustrations, she frames the break as necessary self-compassion and a lesson in accepting what’s outside one’s control.
Announces new season plans: upcoming interviews with Dr. Michael Greenberg, OC Related Disorders (OCRD) series in November, and collaborations with favorite guests.

Quote:
"You can't make the techie things do techie things that you don't know how to resolve... We ultimately had to replace the system. But I think we are back in business." — Nicole (04:20)

2. Indiana’s First-Ever OCD Walk

The central focus is on Indiana’s first IOCDF-sponsored OCD awareness walk, orchestrated by OCD Midwest and local advocates.
Nicole captures the event as a day of "community, connection, and people showing up for themselves and their loved ones."
The walk involved clinicians, family members, partners, local organizations, and grassroots supporters.

Quote:
"It was a day full of community, connection and people showing up for themselves and their loved ones." — Nicole (02:29)

3. Community Resource Highlights

a. Zamwell and Mental Health Conversations

Interview with Dr. Courtney Ward (06:31–09:13):

Zamwell (Zionsville Alliance for Mental Wellness), founded in 2023, aims to foster open conversations and provide resources about mental health.
Zamwell’s podcast "Unmasked" covers diverse topics like navigating therapy and suicide prevention for youth.
Initiatives include educational seminars and local provider directories.

Quote:
"The goal of our nonprofit is really just to encourage conversations about mental wellness..." — Dr. Courtney Ward (06:51)

b. Grassroots Advocacy and Consultation

Interview with Amber Young (10:17–16:48):

Amber, seasoned advocate and organizer, discusses her years-long dream to bring an OCD walk to Indiana and her commitment to building inter-clinician collaboration.
Runs Indiana’s free monthly OCD Consultation Group via OCD Midwest for clinicians at all levels.
Shifting from clinical to advocacy and policy work, Amber calls for collaboration:
“If you are somebody who has connections and abilities in terms of advocacy, policy, those types of things, I would love to hear from you. Let's not reinvent the wheel.” (16:20)

4. Partner & Family Support

a. Partners’ Perspectives

Aditi (18:30–21:33): Shares her journey supporting her partner with OCD, first in Boston then Indiana. She fundraises via curated vintage thrift sales and offers advice on learning not to provide reassurance.
“Learning how to not do that, not fan the flame of OCD, that can be really challenging...” — Aditi (20:29)
Cameron (22:47–25:07): Discusses logistical and emotional support for his fiancée whose OCD complicates travel for therapy. They joined the walk through a support group.

b. Importance of Partners

Nicole celebrates the visible presence of partners at the walk, emphasizing that OCD impacts the entire family and highlighting the power of community support.

5. Clinician Perspectives and Training

a. Bronwyn Schroyer, OCD Training School (28:56–34:05)

Grand marshal of the walk and ICBT (Inference-Based CBT) specialist.
Notes the upcoming International OCD Conference in Indianapolis in two years.
Discusses the value of multiple OCD treatments: ERP, ICBT, ACT, and intersection with trauma work.
Emphasizes the importance of options and growing evidence base.

Quote:
"Adding in another tool is always a good thing in my mind, especially with that evidence base growing..." — Bronwyn (31:38)

b. Angie Henry: Statewide Advocacy (35:31–40:44)

Co-chair of the walk, prominent provider in Indiana, and advocate for BFRBs, PANS/PANDAS, and tic disorders.
Talks about the event’s logistical triumphs, community involvement, and the importance of quick psychoeducation to reduce suffering time.
Celebrates fundraising success and local organizational support.

Quote:
"We can do better. So this is a way that at least in Hoosierland here this weekend, that we did our job in helping raise information..." — Angie (38:03)

c. Ellie Skelton: Outreach and Connection (42:03–47:55)

Chair of Outreach for OCD Midwest and walk organizer.
Reflects on the unique spirit of each regional walk and the necessity of team effort.
Stresses the importance of spaces where individuals can share their struggles openly, fostering hope and connection.

Quote:
"Each walk has their own different flavor... I just get a rejuvenation of compassion, passion for our community, and such a really great sense of hope." — Ellie (44:05)

d. Madison (@obsessivelystrong): Advocacy & Lived Experience (48:47–55:25)

Social media influencer and therapist-in-training, shares her journey from lived experience to professional advocacy.
Highlights the importance of professional community and mentorship, and organic growth of advocacy.

Quote:
"That's insane to me that, like, two years ago we didn't know each other and, like, just a simple message led to so much connection for me as a lived experience person..." — Madison (54:27)

e. Jessica Hood: Training Indiana Providers (58:33–64:06)

Recounts becoming an OCD clinician out of necessity, then organizing training for Indiana therapists to improve access to effective care.
Her mission: ensuring children and families receive timely evidence-based treatment, reducing the decade-plus wait many experience.

Quote:
"If it takes on average people [so long to get help], that means kids aren't getting the right help when they're kids... people shouldn't have to suffer for a decade before they get therapy that helps them." — Jessica Hood (61:03)

6. Family Voices & Conclusions

a. A Family’s Experience (65:16–67:36)

Interview with Joelle (age 6), her mom Alyssa, and family, who attended the walk together, modeling the vital role of family support.
Both parents express gratitude for the community and the uplifting experience of not feeling alone.

Quote:
"It's all so empowering when we know we're not alone." — Alyssa (66:29)

b. Final Reflections on Community

Nicole wraps by urging listeners to reflect on the importance of community and shared experiences in fighting OCD.

Quote:
"We expect experience everything in the family and we're like the biggest cheerleaders for each other. So thanks for being here. Thanks for helping everybody know we're not alone..." — Nicole (67:17)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

| Speaker | Quote | Timestamp | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Nicole | "You can't make the techie things do techie things that you don't know how to resolve..." | 04:20 | | Dr. Ward | "The goal of our nonprofit is really just to encourage conversations about mental wellness..." | 06:51 | | Amber Young| "Let's not reinvent the wheel. We don't need to do these things alone." | 16:20 | | Aditi | "Learning how to not...fan the flame of OCD...takes a lot of practicing, learning not to do that."| 20:29 | | Bronwyn | "Adding in another tool is always a good thing in my mind, especially with that evidence base growing..." | 31:38| | Angie | "We can do better. So this is a way that at least in Hoosierland...we did our job in helping raise information..." | 38:03| | Ellie | "I just get a rejuvenation of compassion, passion for our community, and such a really great sense of hope." | 44:05| | Madison | "That's insane to me that, like, two years ago we didn't know each other and, like, just a simple message led to so much connection..." | 54:27| | Jessica | "People shouldn't have to suffer for a decade before they get therapy that helps them..." | 61:03 | | Alyssa | "It's all so empowering when we know we're not alone." | 66:29 | | Nicole | "We expect experience everything in the family and we're like the biggest cheerleaders for each other..." | 67:17|

Additional Highlights & Memorable Moments

The creative methods of fundraising and awareness (Aditi’s thrift rack; face painting as ERP exposure).
Partner stories illuminate day-to-day logistics and emotional impacts of supporting someone with OCD.
The walk’s success is measured in turnout, funds raised, and connection—surpassing fundraising goals thanks to donations and local support.
The inaugural Indiana walk is set to inspire ongoing advocacy and growth within the state (including the announcement of the 2027 International OCD Conference in Indianapolis!).
The repeated theme: No one has to do this alone. The OCD community is here, ever-growing, and stronger together.

Key Timestamps

00:00–05:00: Nicole’s absence, tech issues, season preview
06:31–09:13: Dr. Courtney Ward talks Zamwell and "Unmasked" podcast
10:17–16:48: Interview with Amber Young (advocacy, consultation)
18:30–25:07: Partner stories - Aditi and Cameron
28:56–34:05: Bronwyn Schroyer (ICBT, OCD Training School)
35:31–40:44: Angie Henry (walk organization, state advocacy)
42:03–47:55: Ellie Skelton (Midwest outreach, walk reflections)
48:47–55:25: Madison/"Obsessively Strong" (advocacy, lived experience)
58:33–64:06: Jessica Hood (training clinicians, child/family perspective)
65:16–67:36: Joelle’s family (multi-generational participation)

Tone and Language

The episode and summary maintain Nicole’s warm, authentic, and occasionally humorous tone—balancing clinical insight, real-world obstacles, and hope. The language is supportive, encouraging, and filled with gratitude for both professionals and families.

For Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

This episode is a masterclass in grassroots advocacy and family support. It demonstrates how local efforts can inspire statewide and even national change, celebrates multiple modalities for OCD treatment, and showcases the essential role of every stakeholder: providers, partners, parents, and children. Whether you’re navigating OCD in your family, treating it as a clinician, or just learning, this episode offers hope, direction, and practical resources.

For more information, resources, and connections, visit ocdfamilypodcast.com.