Podcast
The OCD Stories
Hosted by Stuart Ralph · EN
Welcome to The OCD Stories, hosted by Stuart Ralph. The podcast has been heard over 8million 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.
64episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Dr Jon Hoffman: Rethinking Mental Rituals: A Philosophical Conversation (#529)
Mar 1501:01:39Summary readyIn episode 529 I chatted with Jonathan Hoffman. Jon is a licensed psychologist and Board Certified in Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology. He co-founded the NBI Ranch and the Neurobehavioral Institute (NBI), where he was Chief Clinical Officer, exiting these roles at the end of 2025 after many years of practice. We discuss an update on Jon, what are mental rituals/compulsions, the history of mental rituals/compulsions, are mental rituals/compulsions behaviours, we debate what is good science, how do we study mental rituals/compulsions, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jon-529 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 many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter
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Jeff Bell: Lessons that OCD and its treatment have taught Jeff about navigating Parkinson's (#528)
Mar 800:56:01Summary readyIn episode 528 I chat with Jeff Bell, a past guest of the podcast. Jeff is a long time OCD advocate and is the author of "When in doubt, make belief" and "rewind, replay, repeat". Jeff co-founded adversity to advocacy. We get a recap of his OCD story, the idea of greater good motivation, lessons OCD has taught him that helps him deal with other conditions such as his Parkinson's disease diagnosis, we discuss stoicism, advocacy and service, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jeff-528 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 many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter
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Ethan Tuccienza: Exposure to emotions (#527)
Mar 100:50:47Summary readyIn episode 527 I chat with Ethan Tuccienza. Ethan is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and clinical director of Behavioural Psych Studio's LA office. We discuss his therapy story, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), exposure to emotions, DBT-PTSD as an intervention, trauma, shame, tolerating emotions, he shares a couple DBT skills including willing hands and mindfulness of our emotions. We also discuss guilt, shutting down during exposures and what to do, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/ethan-527 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 many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter
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Story: Mike (sexual orientation OCD, existential OCD, somatic OCD, harm OCD) (#526)
Feb 2200:51:23Summary readyIn episode 526 I chat with Mike who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. We discuss sexual orientation themed OCD, existential themed OCD, somatic themed OCD, harm themed OCD, compulsing around the recovery process, getting therapy, working with Dr Steven Phillipson and Dr Michael Alcee, words of hope and much more. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/mike-526 (Episode includes explicit language) 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 many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter
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Story: Charlotte (harm and suicidal themed OCD, journaling, therapy) (#525)
Feb 1500:38:00Summary readyIn episode 525 I chat with Charlotte who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. We discuss her story, worrying she was pregnant as a kid, realising it's OCD, experiencing theme switches, harm themed OCD, mental health health anxiety, suicidal themed OCD, getting therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), acceptance, her joy journal, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/charlotte-525 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 many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter
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Ray Kolke: Rumination by the Numbers (RBTN) as a tool for dealing with rumination (#524)
Feb 800:52:36Summary readyIn episode 524 I chat with Ray Kolke. Ray is a licensed mental health counsellor (LMHC) who works with people affected by OCD and anxiety. We discuss his therapist background, why he doesn't ask his clients how they are feeling at the start of the session, he discusses not focusing on feelings in more detail, rumination, his tool of rumination by the numbers (RBTN), he breaks down this tool, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/ray-524 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 many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter
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Story: Angie (Health anxiety, contamination OCD, suicidal OCD) (#523)
Feb 100:49:01Summary readyIn episode 523 I chat with Angie who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. We discuss health anxiety, contamination themed OCD, and suicidal themed OCD. Doubting whether it's OCD or not, compulsions, uncertainty, getting therapy including exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), relationships, exercise, having a dog in relation to OCD, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/angie-523 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 many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter
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The OCD Camp 2026 - Applications close 31st Jan
Jan 2600:03:11Summary readyEscape the everyday and join The OCD Camp – an empowering 3-day outdoor experience in Surrey designed for adults with OCD to connect, grow and thrive together in nature. Since 2018, this unique camp has brought people living with OCD out of isolation, offering shared adventures, group challenges, reflective moments, and opportunities to build resilience alongside others who truly understand the journey. With all meals, activities and supportive staff included in the price, The OCD Camp blends fun, connection and meaningful community in a beautiful natural setting – giving you space to share stories, build friendships and rediscover strength beyond compulsions. Applications for 12–14 June 2026 are now open; don't miss your chance to be part of something transformative. Applications close on 31st Jan: https://www.integrativecentreforocd.co.uk/the-ocd-camp Open to adults 18 and over globally.
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Lauren Rosen: Mental Compulsions in OCD (#522)
Jan 2500:53:28Summary readyIn episode 522 I chat with Lauren Rosen, LMFT. Lauren is a therapist and founded the Center for the Obsessive Mind, an outpatient clinic serving individuals in California, Florida, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania and select other states and countries. Lauren is the author of The Mental Compulsions Workbook for OCD. Lauren also hosts the Purely OCD Podcast. We discuss her Mental compulsion workbook for OCD, what are mental compulsions, rumination, noticing mental compulsions, some skills for addressing mental compulsions, mindfulness, attention, mindfulness meditation, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/lauren-522 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 many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter
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Story: Regan (Harm and contamination OCD, panic attacks) (#521)
Jan 1800:42:28Summary readyIn episode 521 I chat with Regan who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. We discuss her OCD story, the journey to getting an OCD diagnosis, moving countries in adolescence, panic attacks, harm themed OCD, contamination themed OCD, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), nightmares, childhood experiences of OCD, her cat in the context of OCD, her partner, the grounding techniques Regan uses, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/regan-521 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 many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter
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