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What does sexual orientation OCD (SO-OCD) actually look like, and how do we treat it? In this shorter vignette episode, Jess and Laura walk through the story of Lola, a heterosexual cis woman whose OCD has latched onto her sexual identity. We unpack what the fear is really about (spoiler: it's not homophobia), the compulsions that keep SO-OCD going, including checking for a "groinal response" (or as we call it, the sexy tingle), and why the line between psychoeducation and reassurance matters so much in therapy. We also cover where we'd start with Lola, worst-case-scenario experiments and the challenges of exposure work, how OCD shrinks your life, neurodivergent adaptations, and what we're actually aiming for in treatment. Plus, Jess breaks into song and there's a listener competition. Whether you're living with OCD, supporting someone who is, or you're a clinician wanting to feel more confident working with sexual orientation OCD, this one's for you. Topics: sexual orientation OCD, SO-OCD, relationship OCD, moral OCD, OCD and sexuality, intrusive thoughts, groinal response, OCD compulsions, ERP, CBT for OCD, reassurance seeking, neurodivergent OCD. Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson Time Stamps: 01:00 Introduction and hello 03:20 What is a vignette 03:50 Why we picked a heterosexual cis woman 04:40 Overview of Lola' sexual orientation OCD 07:40 Homophobia fear 12:35 Jess breaks into song 13:40 The world is scary for trans people 14:25 Where would we start with Lola? 18:15 What compulsions we can see 20:00 What is a groinal response, or sexy tingle? 23:45 Psychoeducation vs reassurance  25:50 Listener competition  27:15 Worst case scenario experiment 30:00 General experiment challenges 34:20 OCD shrinks your life 37:10 We lose sight of things in therapy goals 43:10 Neurodivergent adaptions 45:00 General overview of working with SO OCD 48:20 What are we aiming for in therapy? 50:45 Feedback request 51:30 Thank you and goodbye    Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.

Ever felt "dirty" after a memory, a thought, or being around a certain person, even though you haven't touched anything? That's mental contamination, and it's one of the most commonly missed presentations of contamination OCD. In the third episode of our contamination OCD series (following physical and disgust-based contamination), Jess and Laura unpack what mental contamination is, how it can show up, and why it so often goes unrecognised - by sufferers and clinicians alike.  We explore the subtypes, the link with trauma, the central role of guilt and shame, and how treatment differs from standard ERP, including how combining therapeutic approaches can help.  We also look at the measurement scales used to assess mental contamination. Plus: Laura shares some very embarrassing Brain Spam, a Listener Question, this week's Weekly Win, and a new Exposure Lab challenge. Has mental contamination affected you? We'd love to hear your experience - get in touch. Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson Time Stamps: 00:40 Episode overview 01:20 Hello and introduction 07:30 Mental contamination plan 08:25 We are winging it 10:50 Brain Spam 14:04 What is mental contamination 16:40 Subtypes of mental contamination 18:00 Trauma link with mental contamination 19:50 Mental contamination is often missed 20:30 How can mental contamination look? 25:35 How treatment differs from ERP 31:10 Mental contamination measurement scales 37:25 Guilt and shame 47:00 Combining types of therapy 48:40 Mental contamination subtypes described 55:00 Call out for experience-sharing 56:25 Listener Question 58:15 Weekly Win 59:29 Exposure Lab 1:01:10 Goodbyes   Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.

What happens when your intrusive thoughts end up on the page? This week we're joined by author Louis Urbanowski to talk about his experience of "Pure O" OCD, what actually helped him, and how he now uses his obsessive brain in his writing. His books feature characters with OCD. We talk about why the "Pure O" label can be misleading, the hidden mental load of OCD, and the overlap between OCD, neurodivergence and shame. Louis also explains how writing became a place to put intrusive thoughts, why "good enough" is okay, and how a partner can support someone with OCD. We also cover sensory differences, getting diagnosed, the jobs that suit an OCD brain, and Louis' honest reflections on wishing he'd been braver. As always, we finish with a listener question, this week's win and the Exposure Lab. ⚠️ Content note: this episode includes discussion of suicidal thoughts (46:45). If you're struggling, contact Samaritans on 116 123 (UK, free, 24/7). Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson Featuring Louis Urbanowski, author To Follow Louis: https://linktr.ee/Urbwrites?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAb21jcAU5vXVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAnNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzU2NzA2NzM0MzM1MjQyNwABpxl_cisqLbDburKiLFcODOMPd1QqiUkPQpAUprJOTGqViB2vS09X4CrH6UnD_aem_ByThqUt8ymBZtrRI85wGEg https://www.instagram.com/urbwrites?cplk=aDBidHUzYm0zZWs1 Time Stamps: 00:39 Introduction to the episode 01:42 Louis introduction to himself 04:54 Brain Spam 10:40 Writing as a place to put intrusive thoughts 13:07 Louis' OCD story 15:12 Good enough is okay 16:45 Writing and OCD 18:45 We all have different needs 22:10 The mental load of OCD 23:20 Misleading Pure O name 25:10 Spinning OCD to be useful 26:25 Neurodivergence cost 29:00 OCD, neurodivergence and shame 34:00 Using an obsessive brain 35:10 Louis changed how he wrote 37:30 Jobs for an OCD brain 39:10 Being yourself and sensory differences 40:00 Diagnoses 43:00 How a partner can support OCD 46:45 Suicidal thoughts 49:40 Louis wishes he was braver 52:07 Louis book descriptions and where to find 52:54 Listener Question 56:20 Weekly Win 58:15 Exposure Lab 1:01:20 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.

Contamination OCD is so much more than liking things clean. In this episode of Just Checking, OCD specialists Jess and Laura unpack what contamination OCD really is, how it differs from everyday cleanliness, and why it can leave people feeling like nowhere is ever truly safe. We explore the different types of contamination fear, the lasting impact of the pandemic, the role of shame, and the hidden secondary consequences that affect daily life and relationships. We also tackle the big worry for many people: what does therapy actually look like? From where ERP (exposure and response prevention) starts to how family accommodation can keep OCD going, we walk through recovery step by step. Plus, Jess shares how she used ERP with her seven-year-old, Laura makes an admission, and we discuss neurodivergence and chronic illness in contamination OCD. Brain Spam brings Laura's spicy intrusive thought and Jess' unfortunate mum fail. We finish with a listener question, our Weekly Win and this week's Exposure Lab challenge. Whether you live with OCD, love someone who does, or support clients as a clinician, this episode will help you understand contamination OCD with warmth, honesty and a bit of humour. Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson Resource from the Show: Asbestos fear blog: Asbestos OCD: Understanding the Challenges and Rewards of Treatment – Southampton CBT Therapy Services Time Stamps: 00:37 Episode overview 02:30 Why contamination OCD now 06:40 Brain Spam 14:20 Contamination OCD vs wanting to be clean 20:20 The impact of the pandemic 27:00 Anxiety equation impact on fear 29:05 Types of contamination fear 32:35 Never feeling safe 34:05 Contributory factors to this theme 35:50 The practical impact of this OCD theme 37:40 Shame and contamination fears 38:20 Secondary consequences 41:20 Fears of what therapy can look like 45:50 Where does therapy start? 48:00 How do things look through therapy? 52:28 Family accommodation  56:05 Why OCD therapists love this 58:00 Jess used ERP with her 7 year old 58:55 Laura's admission  1:00:00 Over-correcting 1:02:00 Did you get ill? 1:03:40 Neurodivergence and chronic illness in contamination OCD 1:07:18 Listener Question 1:09:20 Weekly Win 1:10:40 Exposure Lab 1:11:10 Goodbyes  Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.

⚠️ Trigger warning: this episode discusses suicide and suicidal thoughts. Depression and OCD show up together far more often than people realise, and when they do, everything can feel heavier. In this episode of Just Checking, Jess and Laura look at why OCD and depression so often co-occur, how depression symptoms interact with obsessions and compulsions, and how neurodivergence can shape the picture. We talk honestly about suicide risk and what good safety planning looks like. Then we answer the big clinical question: should you treat depression or OCD first? We cover setting realistic goals for therapy, taking recovery bit by bit, adapting sessions when motivation and energy are low, and why compassionate approaches matter so much when you're living with both. You'll also get Brain Spam, a Weekly Win, a listener question, and a new Exposure Lab challenge. This episode is for anyone living with OCD and depression, their loved ones, and therapists who want to feel more confident working with comorbid presentations. If you're struggling, please reach out. In the UK you can call Samaritans free on 116 123, any time. If you're in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E. You can also access emergency mental health support by selecting option 2 after calling NHS111 in the UK.  Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson Time Stamps: 00:40 Introduction and trigger warning 01:48 Brain Spam 10:38 Depression and OCD comorbidity 13:00 Why does it co-occur? 16:00 Depression symptoms and OCD 19:00 Neurodivergence impact 20:02 How OCD and depression presents together 25:10 Suicide and risk 28:10 Safety planning 34:30 What does treatment look like? 34:50 Goals for therapy 38:20 Treatment order for depression and OCD 40:10 Bit by bit 43:40 Adaptions to sessions 45:00 Compassionate approaches 49:50 Laura's message to your voice 52:00 Plans for future episodes 54:40 Weekly Win 55:10 Listener Question 57:30 Exposure Lab 1:02:15 Laura's message to her mum 1:03:00 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Resources: Depression video: https://youtu.be/XiCrniLQGYc?si=Z0kS2IYsGJOKhjnT Body doubling app: dubbii | dubbiiSuicide safety plan: Email [email protected] Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.

Sensorimotor OCD; where you get stuck noticing your breathing, blinking, thinking, or other automatic bodily processes. It can feel relentless and impossible to switch off.  In this episode of Just Checking, we're joined by Andy and Ferne from the Anxious Academy to explore what sensorimotor OCD is, why it can feel like the "worst" OCD theme, and how to treat it. We cover common sensorimotor compulsions, when reassurance becomes a compulsion, and why loss of certainty and control drives the cycle. Andy and Ferne share their lived experience, and we look at why response prevention often matters more than exposure with this theme. We also discuss compassion work, dropping perfectionism, metacognitive therapy for OCD, exposures for metacognitive beliefs, and experiments for mental compulsions. We also cover green and red flags in OCD programmes, neurodivergent considerations, what recovery really looks like, the biggest recovery roadblocks, and a common mistake therapists make with this presentation. If you're living with OCD, supporting someone who is, or you're a therapist wanting to understand this theme better, this one's for you. Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson Featuring Andrew Mellish and Ferne Manniex from Anxious Academy  Anxious Academy Website: https://theanxiousacademy.co.uk/  Time Stamps: 00:00 Anxious Academy introduction 02:45 Introduction to the episode 05:40 Brain Spam 11:10 What is sensorimotor OCD? 17:00 Losing a sense of certainty and control 18:05 Common sensorimotor compulsions  21:00 When validation and assurance changes to reassurance  23:45 Why Ferne struggled with sensorimotor themes 24:35 How sensorimotor OCD impacted Andy 25:25 Is this the 'worst' OCD theme? 28:05 Focusing more on response prevention than exposure  29:00 Compassion work  34:35 Dropping the perfectionism 36:20 Metacognitive therapy for OCD 39:30 Metacognitive awareness 40:25 Exposures for metacognitive beliefs  43:40 Experiments for mental compulsions 44:35 Metacognitive Training  45:55 Red flags in OCD programmes 47:40 OCD compulsions involving OCD research 48:35 Summary of what OCD therapy green flags are 49:50 Neurodivergent considerations 58:20 What does recovery look like? 1:01:25 Biggest recovery roadblocks  1:05:30 Jess Donald Trump toddler analogy  1:06:45 Common therapist mistake with this 1:12:26 Weekly Win 1:18:58 Exposure Lab 1:24:21 Goodbyes Resources: Andy's recommended Youtube attention videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx0h9GH33gV0ItzP_nOuJPVIXLzh3vDBo&si=YWLWilOUbGtx4VZX Anxious Academy social media: @theanxiousacademy Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.

Ever wondered what OCD therapy actually looks like from the inside? In this mini vignette, we build a fake client, Jamie, presenting with magical thinking OCD, and walk through the whole clinical journey: assessment, formulation, and treatment, step by step.  We cover thought-action fusion, excessive responsibility, "just right" challenges, memory manipulation, and how to bring family into the support system- all with the warmth and compassion Theory A/Theory B deserves.  Whether you're a clinician wanting a practical walkthrough or someone with OCD wanting to understand what therapy might involve, this one's for you. Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction chat 03:18 What is magical thinking? 05:30 Laura's button analogy 07:00 Jamie's story 14:15 Controversial start to therapy 15:00 What the assessment will look into 18:45 Thought Action Fusion 19:08 Laura's practical exercise 22:00 Challenging the concepts first, not the OCD 25:00 Challenging excessive responsibility 27:50 Just right challenges 31:30 Memory manipulation 32:20 How Jamie's family can get involved 35:00 Phrases for OCD support 40:25 Theory A, Theory B with compassion 41:35 Acceptance for the thoughts 43:25 Psychosis fears 45:30 Getting involved and extra episodes 48:17 Papyrus shout out 49:00 Goodbyes    Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.

Mental compulsions can be invisible, exhausting, and easy to miss- even for clinicians. In this episode, Jess and Laura sit down with Jess Marriner (creator of Breaking the Loop) to unpack what mental compulsions and rumination actually look like, how they differ from ordinary thinking, and why "just doing the exposure" doesn't always shift underlying beliefs. They cover Pure O, whether OCD can exist without the "O," how to spot invisible compulsions in the therapy room, and what ERP and CBT look like when the compulsions are all happening inside someone's head.  Plus: attention training, planned vs unplanned exposure, stress management and OCD, and a Jess M discount code you won't want to miss. Perfect for anyone with OCD, clinicians working with OCD clients, or anyone who's ever wondered "is this rumination or just... thinking?” Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Featuring Jess Marriner, BABCP Accred OCD and anxiety specialist therapist Follow Jess Marriner at @jessmarrinertherapy and access her Break the Loop at: Break The Loop Use the discount code: justchecking20 at checkout for 20% discount Time Stamps: 00:38 Episode overview 01:50 Introductions and catch up 06:50 Brain Spam 10:20 Overview of Jess M and Break the Loop 15:40 What do mental compulsions look like? 18:42 What rumination looks like 21:00 Thoughts vs thinking  25:50 Why doing the thing doesn't change beliefs sometimes  28:40 How can clinicians ask about mental compulsions  31:10 What is pure O?  32:40 Can we have OCD without the 'O'? 36:40 Jess H book sidebar 41:05 How does ERP or CBT look for invisible compulsions? 45:00 Attention training first 46:30 Unplanned and deliberate ERP 53:00 Stress management and OCD 57:35 The OCD game  58:00 Jess M discount code 1:00:00 Weekly Win 1:01:04 Exposure Lab 1:05:20 Goodbyes   Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.

It's not always fear driving OCD; sometimes it's disgust. In this episode, Jess and Laura unpack disgust-based OCD: what makes it different from anxiety-based presentations, why there's often no obvious "core fear" to find, and how disgust sensitivity and propensity shape the way it shows up.  They cover mental contamination, self-regulation, shame beliefs (including LGBTQ+-specific shame), and why some safety seeking behaviours might need to stay for now.  Expect personal anecdotes, an apocalypse tangent, and a full toolkit of practical experiments, from metacognitive imagery work to ACT and CFT-informed approaches, for building tolerance to the intolerable.  Plus: Listener Question, a Weekly Win, and an Exposure Lab challenge. Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson Time Stamps: 01:00 Overview 02:00 Why disgust-based OCD 03:05 Brain Spam 08:40 What is disgust? 11:55 Personal disgust examples 17:40 Disgust reacts differently to anxiety 19:00 Expectations for treatment 19:45 No core fear 26:00 Disgust sensitivity and disgust propensity 27:30 Self-regulation's role 31:55 How therapy can look 36:00 People can be disgusting 36:50 Shame beliefs and origins 39:05 Metacognitive therapy imagery descripting 41:50 Disgust associations 45:15 Allowing safety behaviours 46:20 A focus on values 49:55 Apocalypse tangent 53:44 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) approaches 55:20 Laura's summary of disgust approaches 58:00 Disgust aims and reminders 1:01:15 Listener Question 1:03:50 Weekly Win 1:05:27 Exposure Lab 1:10:00 Goodbyes Disgust Behavioural Experiments: **1. "Opposite action" for disgust** Pick something mildly disgusting (not your worst trigger). Physically approach it, let yourself really look at it rather than looking away, and notice the urge to tense up or recoil- then deliberately soften your shoulders/hands. The exercise is about closing the gap between "disgusted" and "recoiling," not making the disgust disappear. **2. The reappraisal game** Take a disgust-trigger object and describe it out loud using only neutral, clinical, or absurdly technical language-no evaluative words allowed. E.g. a used tissue becomes "cellulose fibres holding condensed nasal secretions." This is changing the *meaning* attached to a stimulus rather than the stimulus itself. **3. Rewrite the ending** Take a recurring "gross" intrusive image and, eyes closed, deliberately continue the scene past where it normally stops- give it a different, even ridiculous ending. This is a small version of imagery rescripting, which works by changing the affective meaning of the image rather than trying to suppress or avoid it. **4. Pairing test** Since disgust is often *learned* through association rather than reasoned belief, try repeatedly pairing a low-stakes disgust trigger with something genuinely pleasant (a favourite song, a square of chocolate) over several short exposures, and notice whether the association shifts. Resources: Disgust Scale-revised: Disgust Scale, DS-R  Feelings Wheel: Feelings Wheel | Worksheet | Therapist Aid  Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.

A lovely guest, Jess, opens up about her postnatal OCD journey; from the sexual and harm intrusive thoughts she was terrified to admit, to the health visitor and GP visits that Jess courageously opened up in, to finally getting the right help from a perinatal team.  We talk about what OCD looks like after recovery, the grief that can come with a postpartum OCD diagnosis, and the exposure work that actually helped.  If you're a new parent having intrusive thoughts you're scared to say out loud, or a professional who wants to understand postnatal OCD better, this one's for you. Content warning; please be aware that we discuss specific intrusive harm and taboo thoughts in this episode, listen with caution. Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson Featuring Jess @rosejess91 Useful Links: Mind: Perinatal OCD | Types of mental health problems | Mind  Maternal OCD: Welcome to Maternal OCD  OCDUK: OCD during a prenatal or postnatal period | OCD-UK   Time Stamps: 00:45 Extra content trigger disclaimer 01:25 Introduction to Jess 02:20 Brain Spam, postnatal OCD edition 07:20 What Jess' OCD journey was like 14:00 What Jess first thought of her thoughts 16:45 How the visit with the health visitor went 19:50 What Jess feared with her first confession 22:40 What would it have helped for the doctor to say? 25:20 The phone call with the perinatal team 30:05 Big OCD achievements 35:20 Grief around the OCD postpartum 38:20 Sneaky compulsions 39:10 What this OCD looks like after recovery 44:00 Routines that can help 45:55 What would Jess tell herself if she were to go back? 49:00 What do professionals need to know? 52:00 Recovery expectations and tips 55:00 What combination of things helped Jess 57:02 An example exposure task that helped 59:10 Exposure Lab 1:03:10 Weekly Win 1:05:30 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd and @Jess_the_therapy_mum Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.

This week we're bringing a fictional case study. Meet "Dan"; a composite character who helps us walk through what pOCD (paedophilia-themed OCD) can actually look like in the room, and how CBT treatment unfolds session by session. We cover the pOCD loop, what it's like to help someone start their first gentle exposure, and the honest answer to the question so many people ask: "what if exposures just give me more intrusions?"  We also talk openly about suicide risk in this population, the self-compassion work that has to sit alongside exposure, and why the answer is never "it's 50:50 whether you're a paedophile or not." It's not always a comfortable listen- but if you've ever had these thoughts, or you're a clinician working with someone who has, this one's for you. Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson Time Stamps: 00:41 Introduction to the episode 01:50 Overview of 'Dan' 05:30 What to ask Dan 07:25 Helping Dan to understand pOCD 08:55 Explaining the pOCD loop 14:23 A gentle exposure jump 16:30 Suicide risk discussion 19:20 Self-compassion and care that helps 21:00 Early experiments and challenges 24:24 pOCD-specific exposures 28:00 What if you get more intrusions? 31:10 Fun pOCD behavioural experiments 34:10 Take back your life from OCD 36:00 It's a bit shit but how do you get through it? 39:00 It isn't 50:50 on whether you are a p£dophile or not 40:42 What the next vignette is going to be 41:30 Get involved and goodbyes   Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.

Autism and OCD overlap far more than most clinicians realise- but where does one end and the other begin? In this episode, Jess and Laura unpack the complex relationship between autism and OCD, exploring how to deliver truly neuroaffirming therapy without inadvertently encouraging masking. We break down the difference between autistic rumination and OCD rumination, explore sensory sensitivities through an OCD lens, and ask the hard question: can CBT actually harm neurodivergent clients if it's not adapted properly? We also talk shame, medical gaslighting, and what realistic therapy goals look like when autism and OCD co-occur. Whether you're autistic, OCD, both, or a clinician working with neurodivergent clients, this episode offers practical, validating guidance — plus your Weekly Wins, a listener question, and this week's Exposure Lab. Topics covered: neuroaffirming therapy, autism and OCD overlap, masking, autistic rumination vs OCD rumination, sensory processing and OCD, CBT adaptations for neurodivergence, medical gaslighting, therapy goal-setting Mentioned in this episode: Challenging OCD in Young People with ASD: A CBT Manual for Therapists, by Amita Jassi: https://amzn.eu/d/05SAWcc4 Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson Time Stamps: 00:50 Overview of the episode 02:27 Hello and catch up 10:40 Why this episode is focusing on autism 13:26 Brain Spam 17:50 Neurodivergence coocurrence with OCD 19:00 What is neuroaffirming therapy? 21:35 How common is the autism and OCD overlap? 25:15 What OCD and autism have in common 26:28 How OCD and autism differ 30:27 The Venn diagram of OCD and autism to plan therapy 33:24 Shame and low self-esteem around your brain 36:10 How hard it can be to get therapy for neurodivergence and mental health combined 39:30 Autistic experience with mental health is distinct 42:15 Can CBT harm neurodivergent people? 44:20 Autistic rumination and OCD 47:38 When is it helping you to feel safe, and when it makes OCD worse? 49:20 Validating autistic fears 52:00 Needing to be careful around masking 56:30 Sensory needs in OCD 58:00 Autistic health problems and medical gaslighting impact 59:30 There is hope 1:01:10 It has to be their goals 1:01:50 Logic to help 1:02:35 Practical guidelines for therapy 1:05:35 The 'dont's' for therapy 1:06:30 Look back at other episodes 1:07:00 Weekly Wins 1:08:50 Listener Question 1:13:40 Exposure Lab 1:18:40 We want to hear from you 1:19:10 Goodbyes    Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.

Laura sits down with filmmaker Tamara Orlova to talk about her upcoming film Purely Obsessional; a project shining a light on Pure O OCD, one of the most misunderstood and under-represented forms of the disorder. Tamara shares her journey from journalism into screenwriting, why she chose film as the medium to tell this story, and how a fox became the unexpected symbol for OCD intrusive thoughts. The conversation gets personal as Tamara opens up about caregiver burnout, and how exhaustion from caregiving became the tipping point that triggered her own Pure O symptoms, long before she understood what OCD really was. She reflects on media misrepresentations of OCD, what she wants people to know about living with Pure O, and how making this film has helped her, and others, feel less alone. A must-listen for anyone touched by Pure O, caregivers navigating burnout, or anyone curious about how OCD really gets portrayed on screen. If you want to find out more about Tamara's work, follow her at https://www.instagram.com/tamaraoaikon/ or go to her website https://purelyobsessional.com/ Topics covered: Pure O OCD, caregiver burnout, filmmaking and mental health storytelling, OCD symbolism in film, media representation of OCD, journey to OCD diagnosis Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson Time Stamps: 01:25 Hello and introduction to Tamara 02:09 Brain Spam 03:25 Who Tamara is and her journey to film writing  06:30 Journalism vs Screenplay  08:26 Purely Obsessional, where it came from 11:42 Representing Pure O on film 13:21 Using a fox to symbolise OCD 14:45 Finding others with OCD 16:30 Helping people with OCD to feel less alone 17:12 What Tamara wants people to know about Pure O 19:09 Orchard OCD observations from Tamara 22:30 Media representations of OCD 25:10 How Tamara realised it was OCD 28:00 Advice for anyone with OCD 28:42 When the film is happening and where to follow to support the project 30:20 Goodbyes Tamara's Website: www.purelyobsessional.com Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.

Ever googled a symptom at 2am and spiralled into full-blown catastrophe mode? This week we're unpacking health anxiety; what it actually is, how it overlaps (and doesn't) with OCD, and where somatic symptom disorder fits into the picture. We get into the key fears driving health anxiety, the sneaky compulsions that keep it going, and why "it's all in your head" is the worst possible thing to say to someone struggling with it. Plus: what happens when you have a genuine health condition on top of the anxiety, why neurodivergent folks are especially prone to health anxiety, and practical tips you can use today. As always, a Brain Spam, your Listener Question, a Win of the Week, and an Exposure Lab to send you off. In this episode: Health anxiety vs OCD: the similarities and the differences Somatic symptom disorder and how it shows up Treatment options that actually help Neurodivergence and health anxiety Practical tips and hints for managing it right now  Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson Time Stamps: 01:00 What today's episode is about 02:30 Brain Spam 04:55 What health anxiety is and how to recognise it 08:55 Health anxiety and OCD differences and overlaps 12:35 Key themes and fears 13:20 Mistrust in medical professionals 15:45 Key fears and meaning of health anxiety 18:00 Common health anxiety compulsions 21:50 hypervigilance to vigilant 24:30 Rules you can make for health anxiety 28:15 Does therapy mean it is all in your head? 32:00 What if you have an actual health condition? 34:10 Stressed about the stress 35:20 What we are looking to reduce 41:15 Neurodivergence and health anxiety 45:20 What helps with health anxiety? 50:30 What are the goals of health anxiety therapy? 51:45 Tips for now 54:40 Listener Question 57:15 Win of the Week 57:48 Exposure Lab 59:55 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.

OCD isn't about being neat and tidy, and it's not "just anxiety." In this episode, we break down what obsessive compulsive disorder actually is: what intrusive thoughts really are, what compulsions can look like, and why OCD themes can be so misunderstood. If you've ever wondered what to say (or not say) to someone with OCD, this one's for you. This is the episode to send to family, friends, colleagues — anyone who wants to understand OCD without googling their way into misinformation. Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson Time Stamps: 00:58 Introduction to the episode 02:52 What obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) really is 04:28 Everybody gets intrusive thoughts 06:00 What compulsions can be 07:17 What do the OCD themes mean? 10:00 Don't ask what the thoughts are 12:25 OCD or anxiety? What is the difference? 19:00 Why this episode? 22:05 You don't need to understand their OCD 25:05 What someone with OCD wants you to know 26:20 What therapy for OCD does 27:09 They haven't picked this 29:30 A message for loved ones of those with OCD 32:25 Common OCD themes 38:10 Contamination and just right OCD 42:30 Which episode themes you can check out  43:15 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing  Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.  Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.