Explore every episode of the podcast Just Checking
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental compulsions, real-event OCD, and Laura has to keep buffering. | 10 Mar 2026 | 01:00:55 | |
Join us, Laura Mole and Jessica Hayes, to really pick apart an OCD subtype that isn't talked about much. False memories and real-event OCD gets explored in this episode, you'll get to understand mental and invisible compulsions, and you even get a look into Jess' dog frustrations and Laura's big brain fails to get to know us more. We hope you have as much fun with it as we did. Time stamps: 00:30 Jess talks Dobby the house elf 02:30 Introduction to real-event OCD 02:58 Exposure feedback from our self-care 09:10 Using our support systems 10:00 Spoon theory 12:30 How we felt releasing the podcast 13:50 Brain spam 19:00 Real event OCD and false memories, how it works 19:50 Why memory is unreliable, despite what your OCD says 24:00 Sexual shame memories 25:30 Mental compulsions and what they do 26:40 Laura starts buffering 30:45 Cancel culture and real-event OCD 32:40 Why is guilt there? 35:00 Perfect morals and values 37:00 Over-apologising and OCD 39:00 Mental compulsions vs just thinking 44:20 What is pure O? 44:58 Can ERP work for mental compulsions? 46:20 The mental load of OCD 48:10 What we aim for in therapy for OCD 49:15 Dropping anchor to help with rumination 53:47 OCD wins of the week 55:00 Exposure lab 100:00 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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 self-care, compassion, and how we try to k*ll off family members with our minds. | 03 Mar 2026 | 00:55:24 | |
In this episode, we go through some of the wider factors that can make someone more susceptible to OCD, and some things that might have made previous therapy unsuccessful. Laura Mole talks through a way to build some self-compassion and Jessica Hayes shares some tips for those who are neurodivergent too. As always, we talk things through with a bit of humour and a whole lot of validation. So grab a brew, settle in, and listen to some friends get passionate about OCD. Time Stamps 00:40 Introduction and hello 01:20 Exposure lab feedback 05:30 Brain spam- our intrusive thoughts feature 13:40 Jess' book for children to protect people from OCD 15:55 Coping skills to tolerate exposures 18:04 Laura gets lost 18:35 Window of tolerance and why ERP is sometimes too hard 20:25 How self-care fits into OCD therapy 22:32 Responsive self-care vs self-care compulsions 30:00 A list for when your amygdala is driving the bus and how loved ones can help 32:40 Self-esteem and how this plays into OCD 35:00 Neurodivergent self-regulation and sensory needs 41:20 Building self-compassion to help OCD 44:20 Laura's self-compassion exercise 49:40 OCD Wins of the Week 52 :00 Exposure Lab 54:30 Goodbyes For the book referenced in the episode, you can find it at www.reimaginetherapy.co.uk Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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 Myths, pranks, and a thousand chamber gun | 24 Feb 2026 | 00:53:29 | |
Join us, Laura Mole and Jessica Hayes, as we start to challenge myths around OCD and share some tips around what help can look like. Just two friends having a chat about something we are passionate about, hopefully in a way that makes you feel heard. You can listen to Laura pranking Jess and come along for the ride while we firm up some new features, and give you some food for thought around OCD too. Time Stamps 00:00 Intro and Laura's prank 03:26 Our training and approaches 07:12 Things our d*ckead brains have said this week 11:28 Resources for you 12:00 Exposure feedback 13:30 Therapist competencies and OCD help 17:35 You have to be tidy to have OCD, right? And other myths 24:35 OCD and the thousand chamber gun 27:50 OCD risk assessing, trust and personality traits 36:00 What if, just in case 37:20 Useful questionnaires 40:25 Helpful places to start challenging OCD 41:00 When things can be helpful vs reinforce the OCD 47:20 Exposures for the week 52:00 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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. | |||
| Visualising, Sourdough and Tank Tops: An Introduction to our OCD Podcast | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:45:40 | |
An episode where you get to know us, Jess Hayes and Laura Mole, and our wonderful guest host, Jess Marriner. Grab a coffee and listen to three friends and therapists talk all things OCD and let us share some interesting insights you might not have considered. Prepare for some swearing, tangents, and genuinely useful knowledge too. Time Stamps: 00:00 Intro and theme 03:00 Things our d*ckhead brains said this week 09:30 Visualising differences in OCD 15:00 Dreams in OCD, important? 16:30 Manifestation and other social media trends 19:10 Life as an OCD therapist 23:15 OCD search for certainty 24:00 How to know if it is OCD 34:30 What compulsions do we see? 36:15 What we want to hear from you 39:50 Taboo topics and Jess H's inappropriate surveys 42:30 Exposures from us 45:00 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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. | |||
| Checking, Vampires, and the OCD Cycle | 17 Mar 2026 | 00:59:18 | |
Come with us, Laura Mole and Jess Hayes, as we explore the 'checking' in 'Just Checking'. You get to hear about a day in the life of Shenrique, as we talk all about how they check to make sure that they aren't a bad person, then take a lesson from vampire superstitions to break the OCD loop. As always, you also get a look into our brain spam, and get to shout out your weekly OCD wins too. Time Stamps: 01:30: Dramas through our week 07:00: What OCD Doris has been up to 10:30: Interoceptive differences in neurodivergence and health anxiety 13:15: Brain spam 18:48: Our story telling about checking clients 23:00: Epstein files, me too and OCD 23:20: Shenrique's checking compulsions in case they are a bad person 27:50: What checking actually does 28:40: Shout out to Elyse Myers 30:00: The OCD cycle and what keeps it going 31:25: Vampires and OCD to show what to aim for 37:49: Hierarchies and values-based erp lists 40:40: Do we have to do an exposure to everything on the list? 43:55: How do we help Shenrique? 45:40: More tolerance, not more certainty 46:40: OCD wins of the week 51:00: Questions from the listeners: OCD diagnosis 53:00: Exposure lab feedback from imaginal exposure 54:50: Exposure lab for checking 56:40: OCD being a big anxiety diverter 58:00: Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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. | |||
| ERP, do's and dont's, and practical therapy tips | 24 Mar 2026 | 00:57:57 | |
Convinced you'll be the one person who does Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) wrong? This one's for you. Jess Hayes and Laura Mole walk through how ERP actually works — who picks the exposures, how scary they need to be, and why you genuinely cannot fail — plus what happens when therapy ends. Exposure and Response Prevention is all about exposing yourself to your OCD fears (exposure) and then making active choices in not engaging in compulsions and avoidance (response prevention) to challenge the OCD, and it is often referred to as the 'gold standard' of OCD treatment. This episode explores why it can be a helpful approach, and future episodes will discuss some alternatives. Podcast by Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist and Christian Nickson, editor Time stamps: 02:00 Brain spam 05:20 OCD brains need to obsess 07:20 Compassionate other voices 09:20 ERP as the gold standard, what is it? 10:45 Amygdala, the brain, and the threat response 15:44 How ERP fits into cognitive behavioural therapy 18:40 Which CBT treatments are unhelpful for OCD 21:45 Brody and their contamination OCD 24:20 How might ERP look like for Brody? 26:30 What we don't do with ERP 27:10 Do you have to immediately do exposures? 27:30 Who picks the exposures? 28:30 You are in control and what to do if you aren't ready? 29:28 You can't fail your ERP 31:15 How scary should exposures be? How Brody tackles ERP 34:29 What to do to make ERP work? 36:00 How family and other support can help 41:10 What comes after therapy? 43:00 When does ERP not work? 46:34 ERP is imperfect 49:05 Questions from the listeners: ERP and medication 51:20 Key takeaways for ERP for OCD 51:55 OCD Weekly Wins 52:56 Exposure Lab feedback 55:20 Exposure Lab for contamination OCD 56:20 Thank you and goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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. | |||
| Relationship OCD: the shame, the doubt and the rumination loops | 07 Apr 2026 | 01:06:21 | |
Do you love your partner? Are you sure? What about now? Still sure? If your brain won't stop cross-examining your own feelings, this one's for you. In this episode, Jess and Laura dig into relationship OCD (rOCD) — the subtype that turns love into a courtroom and your own mind into the world's most annoying prosecutor. We cover what rOCD actually looks like, why it's so easy to mistake for genuine doubt, and how it gets you stuck in a loop of checking, reassurance-seeking, and mental reviewing that makes everything worse (classic OCD, honestly). We also get into retroactive jealousy, false memories (yes, including the "did I actually kiss someone at that party in 2009?" variety), where our weirdly perfectionist ideas about relationships come from, and how different treatment approaches can help you stop taking your brain spam quite so literally. Plus: The rOCD trap, some extra considerations for this subtype, and a surprise cameo in the Exposure Lab. 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 Relationship OCD Google searches 02:47 Intro and hello 04:40 Brain Spam 07:20 Why relationship OCD? 07:42 What is rOCD and what does it look like? 12:45 What might someone with rOCD do? 15:00 Where we get perfectionist views of relationships 19:49 The relationship OCD trap 23:20 Retroactive jealousy 24:00 Did I just kiss that person? And other false memories 27:20 Is this OCD or normal doubt? 36:19 How do we work with rOCD? 40:00 How different approaches can work for OCD 47:30 Extra considerations for this subtype of OCD 1:02:34 Exposure Lab and Peter's cameo 1:05:55 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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. | |||
| Supporting the person, not the OCD: A guide for loved ones of those with OCD | 30 Mar 2026 | 01:06:51 | |
Ever watched someone you love spiral and had no idea what to do — so you just… answered the question? Yeah. This week we're talking directly to the OCD support squad: partners, parents, siblings, and anyone else who's been accidentally colluding with OCD while trying to be a good human. We cover why OCD feels the way it does (brain spam, basically), the sneaky reassurance traps even the most well-meaning loved ones fall into, what to actually say instead, and how to look after yourself in all of this. Warm, honest, occasionally chaotic, and featuring Laura's chunky rims and some words that made Jess blush. 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 Introductions and chunky rims 02:30 What we are covering and upcoming episodes 03:50 Brain spam 07:20 Recap of the OCD cycle 10:15 How OCD feels to someone with it 13:46 An example of what OCD is like for the person 18:00 Example of the impact of OCD on their loved one 20:02 Family accommodation and reinforcing the OCD 22:15 Reducing reassurance in a gradual and supportive way 26:42 Expectations and time frames for dropping reassurance 27:45 The reassurance trap and sneaky reassurance 30:30 Phrases to use instead of reassurance 31:15 The reassurance book 33:42 Validating the emotion, not the thoughts 34:30 Reassuring the person, not the OCD phrases 35:45 Managing the shame of a 'failed' exposure 36:40 Balancing care vs colliding with OCD when you need to manage your own emotions 39:07 Attending a therapy session 41:19 How to support exposures or behavioural experiments 47:18 Helping to advocate for a loved one with OCD 49:50 Neurodivergent considerations 52:10 Support for the supporter 54:00 What if the loved one doesn't want help? 57:18 What people with OCD want you to know 1:00:15 Do's and dont's 1:02:48 OCD Wins of the Week 1:04:13 Exposure Lab 1:06:15 Goodbye! Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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 Questions from the Listeners: How to Get Diagnosed, OCD and ADHD, False Attraction & More | 12 May 2026 | 01:03:54 | |
Got OCD questions? Same. This week Jess and Laura tackle the listener mailbag from Laura's Tiktok live— covering how to get tested for OCD, accessing treatment, the serotonin myth, the OCD-ADHD connection, contamination OCD, and false attraction. Laura shares an insight into her feelings around her own OCD journey. There's also a free children's resource on neurodivergence, a children's book on intrusive thoughts, and Jess' entirely predictable over-preparation for an OCD research conference. 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
00:00 Hello chat 01:29 Introductions 07:30 Children's book for intrusive thoughts 09:30 A free resource for children to understand neurodivergence 12:30 OCD research conference and Jess' over-preparation 14:33 Brain Spam 18:18 Laura's Tiktok live for questions 19:52 How do you get tested for OCD 24:44 How do I get help for OCD? 32:44 Is OCD just a lack of serotonin? 37:56 Can OCD and ADHD correlate? 46:40 I can't touch anything my family have touched because I know it will kill them- how do I stop that? 47:55 I feel like myself intrusive thoughts reflect real feelings, they feel so real 51:20 Can you explain false attraction and false urges? 54:35 Exposure Lab 1:01:00 Teaser for next week and goodbyes For the book mentioned in the episode today, you can find it at www.reimaginetherapy.co.uk Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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 Deep Dive into POCD: The Shame, Fear, and Hope of Recovery | 05 May 2026 | 01:02:57 | |
This week Jess and Laura tackle one of the most stigmatised “taboo” OCD subtypes around — POCD, - and because we don’t want to get shadow banned, we will refer to it as “PDF File” – but we are not using this term as avoidance, or to avoid triggering anyone - just so you know! It shows up most as intrusive, unwanted sexual thoughts, images, doubts, words about children.
This is the one that sends people spiralling in shame and silence instead of reaching out for help. They break down what it actually is (and crucially, what it isn't), why groinal responses happen, what recovery looks like, and why the fact that these thoughts horrify you matters more than you think. This is an episode that will not only help you to feel less alone, but it will highlight exactly how to ask for help, and where to get it. Plus, Jess finally gets Laura crying on the podcast. 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 01:39 Hellos and introductions 02:59 Brain Spam 07:00 Peadophilia vs POCD 10:45 A message for people supporting those with POCD 17:58 How can pOCD look? And a little note on incest thoughts 28:37 What is a groinal response and why does it happen? 35:10 Shame in POCD 41:54 Recommended help and resources 46:20 When POCD pairs up with other themes 49:10 What does recovery look like? 51:10 Statistics about types of thoughts 53:23 Final tips 55:40 Weekly Win 58:52 Exposure Lab 1:02:00 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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. | |||
| Molly Lambert on pOCD, Shame, and Finding Acceptance: The OCD Theme No One Talks About | 28 Apr 2026 | 01:24:41 | |
Description: ⚠️ Content warning: this episode contains discussion of suicidal ideation and themes that some listeners might find distressing. pOCD — pedophilia-themed OCD — is one of the most misunderstood and stigmatised subtypes out there, and Molly Lambert has lived it. In this episode, Molly shares what her intrusive thoughts actually looked and felt like: from existential anxiety to fears about being a paedophile, magical thinking, emotional checking, and the spiral that nearly broke her. She talks honestly about suicidal ideation, how TikTok helped her find her way, what it took to finally share her thoughts with others — and what acceptance can actually look like on the other side. Laura, Jess and Molly also dig into how common pOCD really is, why it tends to hit the people it does, how therapy helped, and why Molly now advocates publicly for OCD awareness (including how she handles the inevitable backlash). Plus: postpartum mums and pOCD, the role of drinking and distraction, and Molly gets involved in the Brain Spam feature 🧠 Podcast by Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Featuring Molly Lambert, OCD and mental illness advocate Edited by Christian Nickson Timestamps: 01:00 Hellos 01:30 Introducing Molly Lambert 02:57 What were Molly's thoughts like? From existential anxiety to paedophile fears 05:20 Magical thinking and checking emotions 09:20 When the pOCD started to spiral 14:40 How common is pOCD and why does it happen? 16:45 Thinking about suicide 17:30 What helped Molly realise it was OCD? 19:30 How drinking and distractions fit in 20:50 How TikTok helped 23:45 Other themes sneaking in 25:30 Starting to share the thoughts with others 28:30 Sharing with family 30:10 Advice for sharing — and Molly's experience of others' reactions 31:20 Therapy for Molly's OCD 35:47 Pursuing an OCD diagnosis 41:15 What acceptance can look like 45:00 Laura's OCD Doris 46:00 OCD help needs to be personalised 47:15 Molly's advocacy work for OCD 53:12 How Molly deals with negative feedback online 58:00 Postpartum mums and pOCD 1:04:50 How do Molly's friends and family help? 1:07:00 Where to find information and support 1:12:12 What did 15-year-old Molly need to hear? 1:14:33 Brain Spam 1:18:50 Wins of the Week 1:20:00 Avoidance in pOCD 1:20:25 Exposure Lab 1:22:30 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD Instagram and Tiktok pages: @jess_helps_your_ocd and @ocdtherapylaura 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. | |||
| Moral Scrupulosity OCD — When Your Brain Decides You're a Bad Person | 21 Apr 2026 | 01:04:03 | |
Are you a terrible person, or does your brain just really, really want you to think so? This week Jess and Laura get into moral scrupulosity OCD — the subtype where intrusive thoughts aren't about harm or contamination, but about your fundamental character, your values, and whether you've done something unforgivable. Laura gets personal about her own moral OCD compulsions (yes, really), and they unpack why this subtype hits so differently — the shame, the thought-action fusion, and why reassurance-seeking feels almost morally necessary in itself. Plus: a detour into horse willies, a neurodivergent shout-out, and an unexpectedly deep dive into manifesting. 🧠 Brain Spam, an Exposure Lab, and a listener question about supporting a loved one with moral OCD round things out nicely. Podcast by Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Laura Mole Time stamps 00:43 Stuff you might Google with Moral scrupulosity OCD 02:50 Introduction and catch up 09:00 Brain 🧠 Spam 14:30 Horse willies 15:30 What moral OCD is 18:00 Laura's moral OCD compulsions 26:30 Why does it feel so bad? 28:11 What if i have actually done something bad? 31:35 Differences in therapy to help moral OCD; tolerating uncertainty, compassion, and thought-action-fusion. 40:46 Autistic shout-out 42:00 OCD irony 44:25 Manifesting and OCD 50:22 Question from a listener: Supporting a loved one 59:02 Exposure Lab 1:02:45 Upcoming episode themes 1:03:23 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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. | |||
| Ask a Therapist: The Stuff We Don't Usually Talk About | 14 Apr 2026 | 01:09:57 | |
Ever wondered what goes on behind the therapy room door? This week Jess and Laura answer your questions about therapist life — from why therapy costs what it does to whether we actually have our own therapy (spoiler: yes). It's honest, a little unfiltered, and probably not what you'd expect. Dive in and get to know us better, and listen to what we worry about in OCD therapy too. 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 Introductions and hellos 04:30 Today's themes 05:14 Brain Spam 13:00 Question for a therapist: what are you writing? 18:18 Therapy costs and the ick 27:26 People selling OCD dreams 32:20 What if you don't like your therapist? 39:55 Do therapists have therapy? 43:50 How we juggle work and look after ourselves 48:00 EMDR therapy for OCD 50:57 How does your therapist feel? 57:00 What your therapist finds hard when working with OCD 1:00:40 Therapist Weekly Wins 1:03:15 Exposure Lab 1:08:40 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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. | |||
| When OCD Meets ADHD: Adapting Therapy, ACT, and ERP with Joshua Munn | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:58:00 | |
This week Jess is joined by Joshua Munn, a therapist specialising in OCD and ADHD, for a conversation that's long overdue on this podcast. They get into how to tell OCD and ADHD apart (spoiler: it's not always straightforward), why adapting ERP for ADHD brains actually makes therapy better for everyone, and how ACT and compassion-focused approaches fit into the picture. Expect honest chat about rejection sensitivity, executive functioning, hyperfixation shame, and why the goal was never a neurotypical brain anyway. 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 Special guest Joshua Munn, OCD and ADHD specialist therapist Website: www.therapywithjosh.co.uk Social media: @therapywith_josh on Instagram and @therapywithjosh on Tiktok Time stamps: 00:00 What to expect this episode 01:44 Introduction to Josh 02:50 Why Josh started working with OCD and ADHD 03:40 How to differentiate OCD and ADHD 05:50 Not aiming for a neurotypical brain 06:20 Rejection sensitivity and OCD 09:00 Imposter syndrome in ADHD and OCD 10:30 What executive functioning difficulties people may notice 12:40 ADHD adaptions for OCD therapy 17:00 What ACT therapy is and how it works with OCD and ADHD 22:00 Neurodivergence and parenting 25:33 Making ERP more ADHD friendly 27:30 Visualising characters for OCD 29:20 OCD leading to low mood in ADHD 31:00 ADHD and boredom 34:33 Neurodivergence and OCD Venn diagrams 36:56 Attention training and music 39:10 Hyperfixations and shame 39:35 Healthy guilt vs OCD guilt 42:52 Josh's favourite tips for OCD and ADHD 45:20 Session adaptions for people with ADHD 48:00 Being mindful of how much OCD content you consume 50:36 Considerations for medication 53:49 Question from the listeners 56:22 Exposure Lab 58:00 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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 in Children & Young People: A Guide for Parents, Families & the Young People Themselves | 26 May 2026 | 01:15:23 | |
If you've found yourself Googling "does my child have OCD?" at 11pm, this episode is for you. This week, Laura takes the lead whilst her and Jess take a dive deep into OCD in children and young people — what it looks like, how it hides, and what actually helps. Whether you're a parent trying to make sense of what you're seeing, a young person wondering if what you're experiencing has a name, or a teacher noticing something feels off — this one's for you. They cover the signs parents and teachers often spot first (including one you really might not expect), the most common OCD themes in younger people, and how to have those early, important conversations without making things worse. There's also a genuinely hopeful message for young people who are in the thick of it right now. On the practical side: how to find a good therapist (and the questions to ask to make sure they actually know their stuff), what to expect from therapy sessions, how ERP works with younger clients, what to do if your young person refuses help, family accommodations, and co-regulation — because OCD is a whole-family thing. Plus: listener questions, the Exposure Lab, a brilliant book recommendation for the trickiest of situations, and Laura's reassurance game which is exactly as chaotic as it sounds. 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 Timestamps: 01:35 – Hello and Greg's Anatomy facts 04:13 – Introduction to OCD in children and young people 07:05 – Just Checking merch 07:47 – Brain Spam 🧠 12:44 – Signs a parent might notice in their young person 18:22 – Key OCD themes in children and young people 22:49 – What early signs can a teacher spot? 26:50 – Jess's message of hope 28:05 – Laura's tip for young people who think they have OCD 31:50 – How to talk to your child about OCD concerns 36:40 – Family accommodations 39:18 – Co-regulation and modelling for your young person 40:40 – What if your young person doesn't want help? 43:38 – An amazing book for parents in this situation 46:00 – Tips for finding the right therapist 47:00 – What to expect in therapy and what gets shared with parents 49:00 – How ERP works with young people 52:00 – What if someone isn't ready for ERP? 55:48 – OCD onset and how to access help 1:00:30 – Tips on what you can request 1:02:14 – Medication for OCD 1:02:44 – Advocating as a parent and key resources 1:04:45 – Questions to scope out a good therapist 1:06:30 – Listener questions 1:08:52 – Exposure Lab 1:12:40 – Weekly Wins 1:13:26 – Goodbyes 📚 Resources mentioned: Because We Are Bad – Lily Bailey Natasha Daniels' videos How Josh Defeated the Worry Villain- www.reimaginetherapy.co.uk Can I Tell You About OCD? – Amita Jassi OCD Tools to Help You Fight Back – CBT workbook for young people Break Free from Childhood Anxiety and OCD – Eli Lebowitz The SPACE Programme Laura's website: Counselling Service North London | Laura Mole Counselling | England OCD-UK: ocduk.org OCD Action: ocdaction.org.uk Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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. | |||
| Perinatal OCD — The Intrusive Thoughts No One Warned You About | 19 May 2026 | 01:14:16 | |
If you Googled something terrifying about your baby and ended up here, you're in the right place. This week Jess and Laura are talking about one of the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed presentations of OCD — perinatal OCD. Whether you're pregnant, postpartum, or supporting someone who is, this one's for you. We get into why OCD loves to latch onto the thing you love most, what's actually happening in your brain and body during the perinatal period, and why so many people suffer in silence. We talk about that fear directly, and what advocating for you actually looks like. From the most common perinatal presentations to what therapy actually looks like in this season of life — including why regulation comes before challenging OCD — this episode covers the full picture. We also talk maternity leave grief, secure attachment, parenting values, and we close with a note from someone who has been where you might be right now, and come out the other side. You are not a bad parent. Your thoughts are not your character. And you are not alone in this. 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 00:36 Shout out to followers 01:10 Things you might have Googled with perinatal OCD 02:26 Introductions and shout out to Josh Fletcher 09:48 Introduction to perinatal OCD 10:44 Brain Spam 13:30 Prioproceptive input 15:50 Matrescence and mental health 20:00 Increased responsibility and vulnerability to OCD 22:05 Hormone shifts and OCD 23:52 Why OCD latches to the baby 24:30 Traumatic births and what you expect to feel 26:50 Birth planning and expectations 29:40 Preparing for pregnancy with OCD 31:30 Perinatal mental health team involvement 23:45 Building a village 36:07 Main OCD presentations in OCD 38:30 How common these intrusive thoughts are 39:20 What makes it OCD 42:30 Why we need more awareness of this 44:00 What if they report things to social services? 46:00 How we can advocate for you 48:00 What risk do we check more? 49:33 Options for support 50:55 Therapy for perinatal OCD; how it looks 52:00 Regulation before challenging OCD 54:00 Grieving maternity leave ideas and living like you value 58:21 Secure attachments and OCD 1:01:50 Prioritising parenting values 1:04:03 Responsive self-care lists 1:04:40 A note from someone who is recovered from perinatal OCD 1:05:23 Questions from the listeners 1:08:25 Key takeaways for perinatal OCD 1:09:00 Helpful resources and support websites 1:10:24 Exposure Lab 1:12:48 Weekly Wins
Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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 her perinatal page @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. Resources mentioned: Jess’ perinatal mental health Instagram: @jess_the_therapy_mum Birth Rights: Birthrights - your human rights during pregnancy and maternity care OCDUK: OCD-UK | A national OCD charity, run by, and for people with lived experience of OCD IOCDF Perinatal OCD Resource Centre: Perinatal OCD Resource Center To Help People Find Relief Maternal OCD UK: Welcome to Maternal OCD Postpartum Support International: Postpartum Support International - PSI The Breastfeeding Network (medication guidance): Drugs in Breastmilk factsheets - The Breastfeeding Network | |||
| "Is It All In My Head?" Health Anxiety, OCD & Somatic Symptom Disorder | 28 Jul 2026 | 01:00:48 | |
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 ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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 Explained: What People With OCD Want You to Know | 21 Jul 2026 | 00:44:27 | |
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 ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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. | |||
| Harm OCD Case Studies & Exposure Therapy Ideas - Minipod Episode | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:32:07 | |
Harm OCD explained: two vignette case studies on intrusive thoughts of hurting other people or yourself Ever had a sudden, terrifying thought about hurting someone you love — or yourself? You're not alone, and it's more common than you think. In this Just Checking mini pod, OCD therapists Laura and Jess break down Harm OCD through two illustrative vignettes (fictional case studies, not real clients): a mum experiencing intrusive thoughts about harming her children, and a young person struggling with unwanted intrusive thoughts of harming themselves. Laura and Jess walk through how they'd approach exposure therapy and behavioral experiments for each vignette — covering psychoeducation, reassurance-seeking, family accommodation, thought-action fusion, distress tolerance, and interoceptive exposures. If you've ever wondered "is this OCD or am I actually dangerous?" — this episode is for you. In this episode:
🎧 New episodes weekly. Follow, rate, and subscribe so you never miss one. 📩 Got a topic you want us to cover? Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com or find us on Instagram & TikTok @justcheckingpod Disclaimer: Laura and Jess are OCD therapists, but not your OCD therapist. The cases discussed are fictional vignettes for illustrative purposes only and do not represent real clients. This podcast is for information and entertainment purposes only and doesn't replace individual professional support. If you're struggling, please speak to your GP or a qualified mental health professional. 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 Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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. | |||
| Does Trauma Cause OCD? EMDR, PTSD & Treatment Explained | 07 Jul 2026 | 01:00:08 | |
Does trauma cause OCD? We're answering the question everyone's been asking. This week Laura compares OCD to herpes (you'll have to listen to find out why), and we dig into the real relationship between trauma and OCD- including why OCD and PTSD get mixed up, what complex PTSD looks like alongside OCD, and how EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) fits into treatment. We also tackle whether therapy itself can traumatise people, what recovery timelines actually look like, and answer your listener questions. 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 01:30 Introduction and hello 03:00 EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) Therapy 04:15 Brain Spam 07:40 What is trauma? 11:19 Trauma and OCD links 17:00 Does trauma cause OCD? 19:20 Why OCD and PTSD get mixed up sometimes 23:50 Complex PTSD and OCD 28:20 How treatment looks for OCD and trauma combined 35:42 Why we might use the trauma to understand the OCD 39:45 Can you do EMDR online? 44:00 Can we traumatise people in therapy? 48:30 Treatment length and recovery expectations 50:25 Question from the Listeners 57:00 Weekly Wins 57:46 Exposure Lab 59:30 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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. | |||
| Sex & OCD: Intrusive Thoughts, Compulsions & Taboo Fears Explained | 30 Jun 2026 | 00:58:05 | |
Sex and OCD; the topic everyone's thinking about but nobody wants to bring up in session. Jess and Laura get into how sex shows up across intrusive thoughts and compulsions, the impact on relationships and intimacy, and the trickier corners like groinal responses, kink fears, and bestiality-themed intrusions. They also talk SSRIs, communication, and why therapists need to get comfortable bringing sex into the room. 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 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. Please be aware that this episode contains sexual themes, listener discretion advised. 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. Time Stamps: 00:40 What today covers 01:50 Hello and catch up 03:10 Brain Spam 06:34 How sex shows up in intrusive thoughts 09:50 Sex in compulsions 15:20 How common these thoughts can be 21:10 Communication around sex 26:03 The impact of OCD on relationships and intimacy 28:20 Casual relationships and dating 28:50 Bestiality fears 29:44 Groinal response 32:18 SSRIs, sex, and OCD 39:12 Fears around kink 42:00 How we bring sex into the therapy room 47:19 Trauma and sex with OCD 48:00 Culture, religion and values on sex and OCD 51:20 Question from the listeners 54:11 Weekly Win 54:50 Exposure Lab 56:36 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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 | |||
| Harm OCD: When Your Brain Screams "Monster" (You're Not One), Loss of Control, and/or Bad Things Happening to Loved Ones | 23 Jun 2026 | 00:53:38 | |
If your intrusive thoughts have ever convinced you that you're secretly dangerous- welcome to Harm OCD. This is the subtype that makes loving, gentle people terrified of their own minds. This week Jess and Laura dig into one of the most misunderstood and shame-soaked corners of OCD- where caring deeply about not hurting anyone gets twisted into "proof" that you might. Harm OCD can include a fear of harming others, yourself, or a fear that harm will/has come to others because of you- this episode explores it all. We talk about what these thoughts actually sound like, why "possible" doesn't mean "probable," and why your brain treats a passing thought like a five-alarm fire. We also get into the messier stuff- anger, allergy and poisoning fears, and the compulsions that quietly creep in when you're trying to "just be sure." Plus: what real exposure work looks like for harm OCD, how to rebuild trust in yourself, and why badly-pitched exposures can do more harm than good. As always, there's Brain Spam, an Exposure Lab, a listener question, and a bit of social media chaos courtesy of Laura. Trigger warning: Please note that this episode contains discussions around harm and suicide, so please 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 Time Stamps: 00:34 What we cover today 01:26 Hellos and introductions 02:42 Brain Spam 07:02 What harm OCD thoughts sound like 08:06 Compulsions in harm OCD 08:57 Harm OCD misunderstandings 10:00 What if you experience anger with harm OCD? 11:14 Common harm OCD themes 12:29 Possible vs probable 13:56 The meaning of harm OCD themes 16:10 Why does it feel so real? 18:10 How do we know you won't hurt someone? 19:45 OCD vs actual risk of harm 24:15 Common compulsions for harm OCD 28:44 Allergy and poisoning fears 29:39 What does therapy look like for harm OCD? 33:31 Harm exposures or behavioural experiments 35:07 Trusting yourself again 37:00 How exposures can be pitched wrong 39:00 Building up exposures and behavioural experiments 41:55 Harm OCD summary 43:15 Laura's social media backlash 44:30 Next episode teaser 45:40 Compassionate work and rebuilding your life 47:28 Question from the listeners 49:15 Exposure Lab 53:20 Goodbyes
Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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 the Research Actually Says: OCD Science from the Orchard Conference | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:58:27 | |
What does the latest OCD research actually tell us, and what does it mean for the people living with it and treating it? This week Jess and Laura dig into the key findings from the recent Orchard OCD International Conference, translating the science into something genuinely useful. They cover a lot of ground: the economic cost of OCD, which brain areas are involved and what that means for treatment, early signs in children, the genetics of OCD, body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs), and what mental health medications are actually targeting (and what questions you should be asking). Plus: mouse models, psychedelic research, PANDAS, secondary OCD, and what healthy lifestyle factors like sleep, diet, and exercise actually do for OCD symptoms. Jess also shares her pet peeves from the research (you'll want to hear those), and they round things off with listener questions, Weekly Wins, 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: 00:00 Overview of the episode 01:00 Introduction and hellos 02:30 Brain Spam 05:30 Superstitions and OCD 08:10 Disclaimer 08:30 OCD's cost on the economy 09:20 Brain areas involved in OCD 10:57 Early detection, OCD signs in children 15:42 Body Focused Repetitive Behaviours: skin picking and hair pulling 19:57 How much OCD runs in families 21:30 What are mental health medications targeting and what types should we ask about? 25:33 Mouse research and implications 29:30 Psychedelic research and an OCD holiday 33:20 Onset ages of OCD and OCD genes 32:20 Secondary OCD and PANDAS 38:40 Healthy living and OCD; sleep, diet and exercise 39:45 How therapy can use this information 48:20 Sleep disorders in OCD 49:11 Neuroplasticity to help OCD 51:00 Jess' pet peeves from the research 53:00 Question from the listeners 53:48 Weekly Wins 54:42 Exposure Lab 55:33 Goodbyes Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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. | |||
| The First International Guidelines for OCD Treatment: What You Need to Know (Orchard OCD Conference, Part 1) | 09 Jun 2026 | 00:58:14 | |
For the first time ever, there are international guidelines for how OCD should be treated — and in this episode, we break them down. Fresh from the Orchard OCD International Conference, Jess and Laura unpack what these landmark guidelines actually say: which treatments are recommended, in what order, and what this means for people with OCD and the clinicians supporting them. From ERP and medication through to TMS and DBS, the guidelines bring global consensus to questions that have long been answered differently depending on where you live or who you see. Before they get there, they cover what the conference revealed about OCD neuroscience — brain imaging showing OCD as a network problem, gene mapping progress, biomarkers, and what the research says about how psychological treatments work on a neurological level. There's also a section on OCD in childhood, apps and neuroimaging, and Body Focused Repetitive Behaviours. This is Part 1 of a series covering the conference — and it's a good one to start with. As always: Brain Spam, Weekly Wins, and a look at what's coming next. 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 Caveat Before we get started, a quick disclaimer. This episode is intended for educational and informational purposes only. We discuss a range of medical and therapeutic interventions used in OCD treatment, including medication and neuromodulation approaches such as TMS, DBS and tDCS. However, we are not medical doctors or prescribing professionals, and nothing in this episode should be taken as medical advice or a recommendation to pursue any particular treatment. We also mention some commercially available products and technologies. These references are provided for information only and should not be interpreted as an endorsement or recommendation to purchase or use them. If you are considering any medical treatment, medication, or intervention discussed in this episode, please consult a suitably qualified healthcare professional who can advise you based on your individual circumstances. Timestamps: 00:34 Extra disclaimer 02:26 Catch up 02:48 Introduction to the episode 04:00 Brain Spam 08:33 Who are Orchard OCD? 13:25 Takeaways about OCD treatment choice 16:00 OCD treatment and costs 18:34 OCD in childhood and brain changes 20:00 Apps and neuroimaging 20:49 OCD as a brain network problem 22:26 Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) and cognitive therapy work 24:00 Metacognitive Training 24:40 Biomarkers and precision psychiatry 25:30 Body Focused Repetitive Behaviours 27:39 The International Guidelines for OCD Treatment 46:30 How the guidelines can help people with OCD 49:25 How we plan to use the guidelines 52:40 What next? 54:06 Possible next episode themes 56:01 Weekly Wins 58:00 Goodbyes Links: Orchard OCD: https://www.orchardocd.org/ Orchard OCD Registry: https://orchardocdregistry.org/ CANMAT/ICOCS International Guidelines for OCD: https://icocs.org/2025-canmat-icocs-international-guidelines-for-the-management-of-patients-with-ocd/ Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com 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. | |||