Send us a text

In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Dr. Elizabeth “Liz” McIngvale — OCD expert, director of the OCD Institute of Texas, former national spokesperson for the International OCD Foundation, and someone who has also live with OCD herself.

Liz shares what it was like to be diagnosed with OCD at a young age, her stay in residential treatment, how severe compulsions and intrusive thoughts took over her life, and how Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) helped her regain control. We talk about the realities of living with OCD, the stigma around intrusive thoughts, and how her personal journey led her to become one of the most respected clinicians and advocates in the OCD community.

We also discuss:

• What OCD really looks like beyond stereotypes
• Why ERP is the gold-standard treatment
• How clinicians can better understand lived experience
• What gives her hope about the future of OCD care

This is a powerful conversation that blends science, empathy, and honesty — for anyone living with OCD, loving someone who does, or working in mental health.

Support the show

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live.
📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional
📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ

Supported by NOCD
If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable.

➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist.

🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter).

Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Send us a text

In this powerful and deeply human episode of The OCD Confessional, we sit down with Chrissie Hodges — writer, advocate, and founder of OCD Gamechangers — to talk about some of the most misunderstood parts of living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Chrissie has been candid about experiencing taboo intrusive thoughts, the kind of thoughts many people with OCD are afraid to speak aloud. In this conversation, we explore:

• Religious scrupulosity
• How OCD takes normal fears and hijacks them
• The impact of silence and stigma around taboo thoughts
• Chrissie's candid conversation about a suicide attempt
• The mission and community of OCD Gamechangers

Whether you’re living with OCD, supporting someone who is, or simply want to understand more, Chrissie’s story is honest, relatable, and full of compassion.

🔗 Connect with Chrissie Hodges:
Website: https://chrissiehodges.com

Blog: https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/breaking-the-silence-on-taboo-intrusive-thoughts-a-conversation-with-chrissie-hodges

🔗 Learn more about OCD Gamechangers:
https://ocdgamechangers.com

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live.
📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional
📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ

Supported by NOCD
If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable.

➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist.

🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter).

Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Send us a text

In this important episode of The OCD Confessional, we sit down with Becky Deusser and Dr. Sanjaya Saxena of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) to discuss their newly released white paper on America’s OCD care crisis.

The report highlights a sobering reality: millions of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are unable to access timely, evidence-based treatment — even though effective therapies like ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) exist.

We talk about:

• Why access to proper OCD treatment remains so limited
• The systemic barriers facing patients and families
• How misdiagnosis and lack of provider training worsen outcomes
• What parents, clinicians, advocates, and policymakers can do next
• Why awareness alone isn’t enough — and what real change looks like

This conversation is essential listening for anyone living with OCD, supporting someone who does, or working in mental health care.

📄 Read the full IOCDF report:
https://iocdf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Full-Report-Americas-OCD-Care-Crisis-12-9-2025.pdf

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live.
📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional
📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ

Supported by NOCD
If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable.

➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist.

🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter).

Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.