AT Parenting Survival | Raising Kids with OCD & Anxiety

When our kids start struggling with OCD it is normal to want to get them into therapy as soon as possible, especially Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, the first line treatment for OCD.

But going into therapy when a child isn’t ready can be a costly mistake and can sabotage the success of future therapy sessions.

In this episode I outline four key components needed to make therapy a success. Often therapy is a middle step, not the first step.

Want to know exactly where YOU should start? In my free series, Survival Tools for Parents Raising Kids with OCD, I teach you how to assess your particular situation and learn where to focus your energy to get the most long term success.

🧡 Register for FREE at http://www.atparentingsurvivalseries.com/

Podcasts discussed during episode:

How to Build Trust and Communication

How to Create an Effective Incentive Plan

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a child with moral OCD keeps confessing, even small or uncertain things can start to feel like evidence that they’ve done something wrong. They may feel driven to tell a parent every detail, ask whether they’re a good person, or keep revisiting something they said or did until it feels settled. To a parent, it can be difficult to tell where a child’s conscience ends and OCD’s demand for certainty begins.

The urge to confess can bring brief relief, but it often leaves the child needing to confess again the next time doubt shows up. Parents can feel caught between wanting to comfort their child and not wanting to strengthen that cycle. This episode explores how to meet that challenge with compassion while helping a child make room for uncertainty and move forward without waiting to feel completely sure.

Resources discussed in episode:

Free series: Survival Tools for Parents Raising Kids with OCD

Course: How to Teach Kids to Crush OCD

Course: Crushing OCD Class for Kids and Teens

Book: OCD Sucks: A Survival Guide

Therapy options:

NOCD

IOCDF Directory

Podcast episodes:

How to Create an Effective Incentive Plan

How to Use Reassurance Cards

Videos for Kids on Moral OCD:

What is Moral OCD

How Confessing is a Compulsion

How Reassurance Seeking is a Compulsion

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parenting kids with OCD can be tough. Especially since much of how to navigate OCD is counterintuitive.

After over two decades supporting parents raising kids, teens and young adults with OCD, I have consistently seen a pattern in what parents get wrong about OCD.

In this episode I break down the six most common things parents get wrong, that delay long-term progress and keep families stuck.

Resources Discussed:

My parent course, How to Teach Kids to Crush OCD

My kids course, Crushing OCD Class for Kids

My books

My new book OCD Sucks: A Survival Guide

SPACE Study Course

Find a SPACE provider

Find an OCD therapist at NOCD

Find an OCD therapist from this directory

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parenting a child with OCD can feel lonely in ways people don’t always understand. Even when you know what OCD is, know what you’re supposed to do, and are doing everything you can to help, there are parts of this experience that can feel overwhelming, confusing, and incredibly hard to talk about.

In this episode, I’m getting into some of the parenting struggles that often happen behind closed doors when your child has OCD — the parts that don’t always make it into books, treatment plans, or conversations with other parents. If raising a child with OCD has ever left you thinking, “Surely I’m not the only parent dealing with this,” this episode will help you feel a lot less alone.

Resources discussed in episode:

My new book OCD Sucks: A Survival Guide

SPACE Study Course

AT Parenting Community

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes doing the right thing for your child’s OCD can feel completely wrong.

When you start pulling back accommodations, your child may actually become more distressed, irritable, or angry. That can leave you wondering: Am I helping, or am I making this worse?

In this week’s episode, I talk about why things can get harder when you stop participating in OCD, what that increased distress actually means, and how to support your child without accidentally getting pulled right back into the OCD cycle.

Resources discussed:

http://www.natashadaniels.com/space

http://www.atparentingcommunity.com/

http://www.atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maybe they can go to school, visit friends, or function fairly well outside the house, but the second they get home, OCD seems to take over. That can leave parents wondering why the rules, avoidance, contamination fears, or compulsions seem so much stronger in one environment than another.

In this episode, I explain some of the reasons OCD can look different at home, including why home may become a “safer” place for compulsions, how contamination chains can build up over time, and why certain family members or spaces can become incorporated into OCD’s rules. I also talk about what can happen when families start believing that changing locations will solve the problem—and why OCD often finds a way to come along for the ride.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why is their OCD so much worse here?” this episode will help you understand what may be going on beneath the surface and what to do about it.

Start building skills at home! Get my new book: OCD Sucks: A Survival Guide

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

If your child seems to have big reactions to sounds, textures, clothing, food, transitions, or everyday experiences, sensory processing may be playing a bigger role than you realize.

In this episode, I’m joined by occupational therapist Laura Petix, from The OT Butterfly and author of The Sensory Code.

We talk about how parents can better understand their child’s unique sensory needs, recognize what may be happening underneath challenging behavior and big emotions, and respond with more empathy and less frustration.

Laura also shares practical ways we as parents can help accommodate our child’s sensory issues while empowering them to help themselves.

Pre-order Laura’s new book, The Sensory Code

When you pre-order, you’ll also receive three special bonuses from Laura.

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you’re raising a child with anxiety or OCD, so much of your energy can go toward helping them cope that it’s easy to forget that you need coping skills too.

In this episode, I’m joined by Janine Halloran, author of Coping Skills for Everyone: A Workbook to Get Unstressed, Recharge, and Stay Calm in a Chaotic World, to talk about coping skills for adults.

We talk about what it looks like to take care of yourself when parenting feels stressful, overwhelming, or emotionally exhausting, and why the coping strategies that work for one person may not work for another.

If you spend a lot of time thinking about what your child needs but rarely stop to think about what helps you regulate, recharge, and keep going, this conversation is for you.

Learn more about Janine and her new book:

Coping Skills for Everyone: A Workbook to Get Unstressed, Recharge, and Stay Calm in a Chaotic World

Check out Janine’s website here.

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

If I could sit down with every person who has OCD and teach them just three skills, these are the ones I would choose.

In this episode, I’m sharing the three skills I come back to again and again when helping people change their relationship with OCD. They’re simple concepts, but learning how to actually use them when OCD is loud, convincing, and demanding is another story.

I’ll talk about why these skills matter, how they work together, and why you don’t have to feel confident or ready before you start practicing them.

These ideas are also at the heart of my new book, where I break down OCD recovery in a practical, easy-to-understand way without getting lost in clinical jargon.

Learn more about my new book, OCD Sucks: A Survival Guide:

http://www.ocdsucks.net/

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

When your child has OCD, treatment doesn’t happen in a vacuum. OCD comes home with them. It impacts routines, relationships, school, behavior, and often the way the entire family functions.

So why are parents sometimes left on the sidelines of OCD treatment?

Parents can be one of the most powerful resources in a child’s OCD recovery. You see what happens between therapy sessions, you’re often the one navigating accommodations and difficult behaviors, and you’re in a unique position to help your child practice the skills they’re learning.

In this week’s episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast, I talk about what healthy parent involvement in OCD treatment can look like, what information you should have, when it makes sense for a therapist to protect your child’s privacy, and some red flags that may indicate you’re being left out more than you should be.

I also talk about how this changes once your child turns 18 and how parents can continue to be a valuable source of support while respecting their adult child’s privacy and autonomy.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re too involved, not involved enough, or whether you should be advocating for a bigger role in your child’s treatment, this episode is for you.

🎓 Learn more about my online courses for parents and kids with anxiety and OCD:

http://www.atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

⭐ Join the waitlist for the AT Parenting Community:

http://www.atparentingcommunity.com/

Get the free PDF handout for this episode at: http://www.natashadaniels.com/handouts

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the hardest parts of parenting a child with OCD is not knowing what’s actually going on. Your child insists they’re “fine,” avoids your questions, or simply can’t explain what they’re experiencing. It can leave you feeling confused, shut out, and unsure of how to help.

In this episode, I talk about why so many kids keep their OCD hidden, even from the people they trust most. You’ll learn why silence is often part of OCD itself and why pushing for answers can unintentionally make it harder for your child to open up.

We’ll also discuss practical ways to build trust, strengthen communication, and support your child, even when you don’t fully understand what their OCD is about. Because you don’t need to know every intrusive thought to begin helping your child make progress.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download the free companion handout:

http://www.natashadaniels.com/handouts

🎙️ Listen to my related episode, The First Steps to Progress: Trust and Communication:

https://childocdtherapist.com/trust-and-communication/

🧡 Join the AT Parenting Community for weekly classes, parent support, kid and teen groups, and a growing library of courses:

http://www.atparentingcommunity.com/

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most people think contamination OCD is about germs, chemicals, or bodily fluids. But what happens when your child feels like a thought, memory, word, person, or experience has become contaminated?

In this episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast, Natasha Daniels explores mental contamination OCD—a lesser-known but surprisingly common form of OCD that can leave children feeling like something is dirty, ruined, tainted, or unsafe, even though nothing has physically changed.

You’ll learn how OCD can convince kids that contamination spreads through intrusive thoughts, memories, emotions, people, places, and even words, leading them to avoid objects, throw things away, mentally “erase” thoughts, or start over in an attempt to feel clean again.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• What mental contamination OCD is and why it differs from traditional contamination fears
• Common ways thoughts, memories, people, and experiences become “contaminated”
• Why neutral objects, places, and activities can suddenly feel unsafe
• The compulsions kids use to try to get rid of the contamination
• Why reassurance and logic often backfire
• How Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) helps children break free from the cycle

If your child suddenly refuses to wear certain clothes, avoids places that “feel wrong,” throws away perfectly good belongings, or believes a thought has somehow contaminated an object, this episode will help you understand what’s happening, and what actually helps.

Want more support?

Learn practical, evidence-based strategies to help your child overcome OCD inside my online courses athttp://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/.

Free Podcast Handout

Download the companion handout for this episode at:

http://natashadaniels.com/handouts

Videos on Contamination OCD

How to Handle Your Contamination OCD

Trying to Beat Contamination? OCD Doesn’t Play Fair.

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

***

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATp

Understanding Your Ground Zero in Contamination OCD

***

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I talk with Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Chyllia Dixon about the emotional impact of growing up with a chronic illness and the unique mental health challenges children and families can face along the way.

Drawing from both her professional experience and her own childhood experience with Juvenile Myositis, Chyllia shares insight into what chronically ill kids may be carrying emotionally, the importance of helping children stay connected to the present moment, and ways parents can support their child’s mental health while navigating an ongoing medical condition.

We also talk about Chyllia’s children’s book, Ellie and the Oh (Ellie the Elephant), which encourages children to slow down and be present in the moment. All profits from the book are donated to the CureJM Foundation to help fund research and bring hope to children living with Juvenile Myositis.

Learn more about Chyllia at Hazelwood Mental Health and learn more about the CureJM Foundation at http://curejm.org/.

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

It can be hard to tell whether OCD treatment is helping, especially when compulsions haven’t noticeably decreased, distress seems higher, or new themes suddenly appear.

But progress is not always measured by how quiet OCD looks on the outside. Sometimes treatment is preventing OCD from getting worse.

Sometimes a therapist is building trust and readiness before beginning ERP. And sometimes increased distress is a sign that your child is learning to face discomfort instead of immediately escaping it.

In this episode, I’ll walk through the common ways parents misjudge treatment progress and the less obvious signs that therapy may be working, from greater openness and willingness to attend, to applying skills across themes, doing more of what OCD once blocked, and beginning to feel more hopeful.

Download the free episode handout at http://www.natashadaniels.com/handouts and explore my OCD courses for parents, kids, and teens athttp://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/.

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

If your child has OCD, you’ve probably spent countless hours trying to make their intrusive thoughts go away. It’s an understandable instinct, but it’s also one of the biggest misconceptions about OCD.

In this episode, I’ll unpack the common misunderstandings parents have about OCD intrusive thoughts and explain why many well-intentioned responses can accidentally keep OCD going. We’ll talk about why recovery isn’t about eliminating intrusive thoughts, why logic and reassurance rarely work, how OCD follows predictable themes and core fears, and what ERP is actually designed to do.

When you understand how intrusive thoughts really work, you’ll stop chasing the content of OCD and start helping your child build the skills that lead to lasting recovery.

Whether your child struggles with harm OCD, contamination OCD, moral OCD, relationship OCD, or another theme entirely, this episode will help you respond with more confidence and less fear.

🧡 To get today’s PDF handout go to http://www.natashadaniels.com/handouts

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

As parents, we naturally want to comfort, protect, and help our children. But when OCD enters the picture, some of our most loving instincts can unintentionally keep the OCD cycle going.

In this episode, I walk through seven common parenting traps that quietly strengthen OCD, not because you’re doing anything wrong, but because OCD is incredibly good at recruiting parents into its game.

These are subtle shifts, but they can dramatically change how you respond to OCD, and how your child learns to respond to it too.

Download the free PDF handout for this episode:

www.natashadaniels.com/handouts⁠

🧡 Want more support?

If you’re ready to stop feeling like you’re figuring this out alone, I’d love to welcome you into the AT Parenting Community.

Inside, you’ll get access to my main courses, weekly live classes, a private parent community, monthly calls for parents, kids, and teens, practical tools you can use right away, and ongoing guidance to help you confidently navigate OCD and anxiety.

Learn more and join us at:

www.atparentingcommunity.com⁠ doors close on July 23, 2026.

***

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing up with OCD isn’t easy, especially when it tries to convince you to give up the things you love.

In this episode, I sit down with Izzy, a child in The AT Parenting Community kids support group, as she shares her personal journey with OCD. She opens up about when her symptoms began, what it has been like navigating treatment, and how she has learned to keep pursuing the activities she’s passionate about, even when OCD tells her not to.

Izzy’s story is an honest and inspiring reminder that courage isn’t about feeling fearless. It’s about continuing to move toward what matters, even when OCD is loud.

Whether you’re raising a child with OCD or your child is struggling to believe recovery is possible, I hope Izzy’s story offers hope and encouragement.

Sometimes the most powerful encouragement comes from hearing another child’s story. I know Izzy’s willingness to share hers will inspire so many families.

Links Mentioned in Episode:

Join the AT Parenting Community. Doors close July 23, 2026.

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every parent begins their journey with hopes and expectations. We imagine what family life will look like, what milestones our children will reach, and the experiences we’ll share together. But when anxiety, OCD, autism, ADHD, chronic illness, or other challenges change that picture, many parents find themselves quietly grieving the life they thought they’d have.

In this episode, we talk about the difference between grieving and getting stuck in grief. You’ll learn why it’s okay to mourn the expectations you once held, how societal pressures and comparisons can make parenting even harder, and why clinging to artificial timelines often creates unnecessary stress for both you and your child.

We’ll also explore what it means to truly parent the child in front of you, not the child you imagined. Every child needs something different, and learning when to gently push, when to pause, and how to adjust your approach can transform your relationship and help your child thrive.

Ultimately, our goal isn’t to raise children who check every box or meet every milestone on someone else’s schedule. It’s to raise children who feel empowered, heard, loved, and willing to keep trying, even when life doesn’t go as planned.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re doing enough, worried your child is falling behind, or found yourself grieving the parenting journey you expected, this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned:

Get the free PDF handout of this episode

Register here for the FREE parenting series: How to Be an Anchor for Your Child with Anxiety or OCD

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even the most dedicated parents can unintentionally miss what OCD is really doing.

If you’ve ever wondered why your child’s OCD keeps changing, why the same strategies don’t seem to work anymore, or why treatment feels like it’s not getting to the root of the problem, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through eight common signs that you may be viewing your child’s OCD through a lens that keeps you focused on the surface instead of what’s driving it underneath. When you begin to understand how OCD actually operates, you’ll know what to pay attention to, what to stop chasing, and how to respond in ways that support lasting recovery.

This episode will help you shift from reacting to OCD’s content to understanding its patterns—so you can parent with more confidence and help your child make meaningful progress.

Resources Mentioned:

• Get the free podcast PDF Handout of this episode

• Parent Course: How to Teach Kids to Crush OCD

• Video: How OCD is Like an Octopus

• Podcast: When Reassurance Becomes an OCD Compulsion: How to Respond Differently

• Podcast: When OCD Recovery Feels Worse Before It Feels Better

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Starting treatment for OCD can be one of the most hopeful steps a family takes, but it can also be one of the most confusing. Many parents expect that once their child begins therapy, exposures, or a new approach at home, things should immediately improve. Instead, they are often surprised when anxiety spikes, meltdowns increase, or OCD seems louder than ever.

In this episode, I explore why OCD recovery can initially feel worse before it feels better. OCD thrives on avoidance, distraction, reassurance, and other coping strategies that provide short term relief. When children begin treatment, they often stop relying on those unhealthy coping mechanisms and start facing their fears directly. While this is an important part of recovery, it can temporarily make anxiety and distress feel more intense.

I explain how OCD is not a passive disorder. It actively fights back when challenged. It may convince children that therapy is making them worse, tell them not to talk about their fears, flood them with more intrusive thoughts, or create intense distress during ERP and other evidence based approaches. Parents using strategies like SPACE may also notice an increase in emotional reactions as OCD loses its grip.

Parents will learn why these early bumps in the road are often a normal part of the recovery process and how to prepare for them. I share practical ways to set expectations, build coping skills, develop a plan for tolerating distress, communicate effectively with therapists, and support children without pushing them too far too fast.

If you have ever wondered whether treatment is working because things seem harder than before, this episode will help you understand what may really be happening and how to stay the course with confidence.

Resources Mentioned in Episode:

Free Anchor Series for parents

Click here to get your PDF Handout for this episode

YouTube video on how OCD sabotages therapy

YouTube video on how OCD shuts down communication

My Books

My Kids and Teen OCD Course

***

This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to

https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Parents, do you need more support?

🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️

Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:

https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com/

Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):

https://atparentingcommunity.com/

Take one of my FREE webinars:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/webinars

Check out my books:

https://www.natashadaniels.com/books

🌸 Other social places I hang out:

http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival

http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.