The OCD Stories

Stuart Ralph
The OCD Stories
Latest episode

556 episodes

  • The OCD Stories

    Story: Nicole Sophia (Suicidal, Sexual Orientation, and Relationship themes of OCD, self-compassion and her music) (#544)

    28/06/2026 | 42 mins.
    In episode 544 I chat with Nicole Sophia who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. 
    We discuss suicidal themed OCD, getting diagnosed young, meeting Dan Siegel, sexual orientation theme OCD, relationship themed OCD, her music, mental compulsions, feeling her feelings, self-compassion, making friends with her OCD, expressing through being a singer song writer, using humour, and much more. Hope it helps.
    Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/nicole-sophia-544 
    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
  • The OCD Stories

    Jonny Say: Self-compassion in OCD recovery (#543)

    21/06/2026 | 43 mins.
    In episode 543 I chat with Jonny Say. Jonny is a UK based therapist and co-director at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy. 
    We discuss self-compassion, integrating self-compassion into exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), some benefits of self-compassion, the inner critical voice, shame, real event themed OCD, Jonny guides us through an exercise in self-compassion to the past, and much more. Hope it helps. 
    Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jonny-543
    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
    Alex and Jonny's CFT for OCD (Integrating Compassion Focused Therapy for OCD) training for therapists: https://www.icocdtraining.co.uk/  
    Join many other listeners getting our weekly emails. Never miss a podcast episode or update: https://theocdstories.com/newsletter
  • The OCD Stories

    Blakely Hunze-Austin: OCD and Sex (#542)

    14/06/2026 | 40 mins.
    In episode 542 I chat with Blakely Hunze-Austin. Blakely is a licensed professional counselor in the states of Colorado and Tennessee. She obtained her master's degree in clinical mental health counseling with a concentration in addictions. She's a nationally certified counselor who specializes in sex therapy, eating disorders, trauma, and OCD. She enjoys working with LGBTQIA, kink, and poly/ENM communities. She is completing hours to become a certified sex therapist and is trained in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
    We discuss her therapy story, OCD and sex, anxiety around sex and intimacy, redefining the meaning of sex, vaginismus, some particular OCD worries around sex, sensate focus sex therapy, disgust around sex, neurodiversity and sex, and much more. Hope it helps.
    Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/blakely-542
    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
  • The OCD Stories

    Story: Brad Stulberg (Self-harm-themed OCD, writing, and his book The Way of Excellence) (#541)

    07/06/2026 | 1h 4 mins.
    In episode 541 I chat with Brad Stulberg who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. Brad is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who writes about mastery, meaning, and excellence.
    We discuss his OCD story, beginnings of his OCD, health obsessions, self-harm themed OCD, finding a therapist for his OCD, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), writing about his OCD, OCD support groups, values, mindfulness, his new book The Way of Excellence, and much more. Hope it helps. 
    Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/brad-541
    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
  • The OCD Stories

    Alex Habens: A Therapist's journey with OCD and Compassion Focused Therapy (#540)

    31/05/2026 | 46 mins.
    In episode 540 I interview Alex Habens. Alex is a BABCP Accredited CBT Therapist, Clinical Supervisor and OCD Specialist. He also works with myself at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy.
    We discuss why he became a therapist and his own OCD experiences, what is compassion focused therapy (CFT), compassion more generally, integrating CFT into OCD treatment, shame, connecting with compassion, fears blocks and resistances to compassion, compassion during exposures, his CFT therapy group, and his CFT therapist training he is running, and much more. Hope it helps.
    Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/alex-540
    His CFT for OCD (Integrating Compassion Focused Therapy for OCD) training for therapists: https://www.icocdtraining.co.uk/ 
    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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About The OCD Stories
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.
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