Alex Habens: A Therapist's journey with OCD and Compassion Focused Therapy (#540)
Release Date: 05/31/2026
Chrissie Hodges: The OCD Relapse Roadmap (#550)
The OCD Stories
In episode 550 I chat with Chrissie Hodges. Chrissie is a Peer Support specialist, founder of OCD Gamechangers, and Author of ‘Pure OCD: The Invisible Side of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder’ and ‘The OCD Relapse Roadmap’. Chrissie was awarded the hero award at the 24th IOCDF conference in San Fran. We discuss what’s new with her, her new book The OCD Relapse Roadmap, relapses in OCD, relapse prevention, the aspects and features of a relapse, having a plan for potential relapses, acceptance, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD...
info_outline
Justin Hughes and Dr Ted Witzig, Jr.: The Christian’s Guide to Overcoming OCD (#549)
The OCD Stories
In episode 549 I chat with Justin Hughes and Ted Witzig, Jr. PhD. Justin, MA, LPC, is a therapist and author specializing in OCD and anxiety. A CBT practitioner trained in psychology and theology (Dallas Theological Seminary), he bridges mental health and faith. Ted, PhD is a clinical psychologist and pastor. His roles give him a special desire to help those whose OCD has become entwined in religious and moral matters. We discuss their therapy backgrounds, Justin’s book The Christian’s Guide to Overcoming OCD, the integration of faith and therapy, parental accommodation, and...
info_outline
Rebecca and Dr Jeremy Rowe: Rebecca shares her OCD story and how her work with Jeremy helped (Relationship OCD, RF-ERP) (#548)
The OCD Stories
In episode 548 I chat with Rebecca and Dr Jeremy Rowe. Rebecca kindly agreed to share her OCD story and her therapy work with Dr Jeremy Rowe with us. Jeremy is a chartered psychologist and clinical director of Ark Psychology, a UK-based independent practice providing specialist OCD treatment, ADHD and autism assessments, psychological therapy, and coaching. With over 25 years’ experience across the NHS, private practice, and the criminal justice system, Jeremy has a particular interest in Rumination-Focused ERP for OCD and integrating evidence-based approaches with a deeper understanding of...
info_outline
Story: Nathaniel Wood (Intrusive thoughts, UFC) (#547)
The OCD Stories
In episode 547 I chat with Nathaniel Wood. Nathaniel is an English professional mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC. He has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. We discuss his OCD story, hit and run themed OCD, intrusive thoughts, health anxiety, religious themed OCD, medication, fighting in the UFC, having things to focus on, therapy, what helps Nathaniel, words of hope and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: 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...
info_outline
Dr Peter Aston: Treating OCD in professional athletes (#546)
The OCD Stories
In episode 546 I chat with Dr Peter Aston. Dr. Pete Aston is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he specialises in the treatment of OCD, health anxiety, and related conditions using exposure and response prevention (ERP). He is also the co-founder of California Psychology Center, a Bay Area group practice focused on OCD and anxiety disorders. In addition, Pete serves as the team psychologist for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, where he works with professional athletes on performance, resilience, and mental...
info_outline
Duke Al shares his OCD poems (#545)
The OCD Stories
In episode 545 I chat with Duke Al. Duke is a spoken word artist and OCD advocate. In this episode Duke reads some of his poems about OCD and explains the meanings behind them, including a new one partially inspired by a bit of my own story, he talks the power of poetry, and how he used poetry as a self-therapy, and much more. Hope it helps. Poems read: Poetry and rhyme A Letter to myself about letters Dear Chris I wish Little Duke Numbers, prayers, checks A couple brand new poems currently untitled Show notes: The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers...
info_outline
Story: Nicole Sophia (Suicidal, Sexual Orientation, and Relationship themes of OCD, self-compassion and her music) (#544)
The OCD Stories
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 themed 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: 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...
info_outline
Jonny Say: Self-compassion in OCD recovery (#543)
The OCD Stories
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: 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,...
info_outline
Blakely Hunze-Austin: OCD and Sex (#542)
The OCD Stories
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,...
info_outline
Story: Brad Stulberg (Self-harm-themed OCD, writing, and his book The Way of Excellence) (#541)
The OCD Stories
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: The podcast is made possible by...
info_outlineIn 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