Therapist Uncensored Podcast

OCD isn’t just about managing symptoms—it’s about understanding the parts beneath them

In the third and final part of our OCD series, expert Melissa Mose explores the complexities of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), discussing evidence-based treatments like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and how Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can complement traditional approaches. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, Melissa shares practical strategies for navigating OCD, while highlighting the roles of self-leadership, compassion, and understanding the different “parts” that influence thoughts, fears, and behaviors.

“ERP has been shown to be the most effective treatment. Exposures help the brain rewire and learn resilience.” – Melissa Mose 

Time Stamps for The Hidden Parts of OCD: ERP, IFS, and Self-Leadership with Melissa Mose (303)

00:12 Introduction to OCD and treatment

02:58 Understanding exposure and response prevention (ERP)

08:13 The role of the therapist in ERP

10:45 Integrating internal family systems (IFS) with ERP

13:30 The impact of shame in OCD

16:09 Differentiating reassurance from compulsions

36:25 Understanding exiled parts in therapy

40:58 Obsessive and compulsive parts: A closer look

43:38 Navigating the helicopter parent dynamic

47:40 Differentiating between anxiety and OCD

55:45 The connection between attachment and OCD

About our Guest – Melissa Mose, LMFT

Melissa Mose is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in Los Angeles since 1995. She has specialized in the treatment of OCD and anxiety since 2011 and currently trains and supervises associates in her group practice. Melissa is also an Internal Family Systems therapist. She is Level 3 trained and Certified and an IFSI-approved clinical consultant. She has served on staff as a PA for multiple Level 1 and Level 2 experiential IFS trainings through the IFS Institute. Melissa’s experience as the parent of a child with OCD led her to specialize in the treatment of individuals with anxiety and OCD as well as their families. She is a graduate of the IOCDF’s general, pediatric and advanced Behavior Therapy Training Institutes (BTTI) as well as the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) program and Cognitive-behavioral Intervention for Tics training (CBIT). Her fifteen years of experience prior to that specialization provided a broad foundation of skills and approaches that infuse her integrative approach. With a background in family systems and mindfulness practices, she became driven to find more compassionate and accessible treatment for OCD. Melissa has developed an integrative approach that utilizes an IFS framework to provide evidence-based exposure therapy for OCD. She is an international speaker and educator on obsessive compulsive disorder and its treatment, and she is currently the president of the board of directors of OCD Southern California, an affiliate of the International OCD Foundation. In her role on the board of OCD SoCal advocates for individuals with OCD, hosts speakers’ series, trainings, and one of largest virtual OCD conferences worldwide. It is her mission to raise awareness, improve early identification and greater treatment accessibility for individuals with OCD and their families.

Resources for The Hidden Parts of OCD: ERP, IFS, and Self-Leadership with Melissa Mose (303)

Melissa’s website – Resources & information

IFS for OCD Clinician’s Guide – Melissa’s book – Internal Family Systems for OCD: A Clinician’s Guide 

www.OCDSoCal.org – Melissa is president of OCD Southern California

Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!  

Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount.

 

 

 

You are invited! 

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A coffee alternative with 4 adaptogenic mushrooms and ayurvedic herbs. With only a fraction of caffeine as a cup of coffee, you get energy without the anxiety, jitters, or crash of coffee

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Patreon/Supercast Special Release –

Bonus – Living Beyond the OCD Loop with Ally Kristan (302)

This is a sneak peek of our episode with Ally Kristan, and part two of our three part series on OCD – available only on our Premium Supercast and Patreon platforms. For as little as $5/month you can have access to special releases like this one, first-to-know about upcoming events and discounts and an ad-free feed.

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What is OCD really like beyond the stereotypes?

In part two of our three part series on deepening the understanding OCD, Marine biologist and author Ally Kristan shares her lifelong experience living with OCD, challenging common misconceptions that reduce the disorder to cleanliness or organization. Ally discusses the intrusive thoughts, compulsions, shame, and relentless search for certainty that characterize OCD, as well as the relief of finally receiving a diagnosis and effective support. Together, Ally and Dr. Ann Kelley explore themes of control, uncertainty, mindfulness, relationships, self-compassion, and how healing can come from understanding—not fighting—the parts of ourselves that struggle. The episode offers an honest, hopeful look at living with OCD and finding ways to transform fear into meaning and connection.

“We’re not out of touch with reality. We know that what we’re doing doesn’t make sense, but we just can’t help doing it anyway.” – Ally Kristan

Time Stamps for Bonus – Living Beyond the OCD Loop with Ally Kristan (302)

06:34 Personal journey: Discovering my OCD

11:34 Therapeutic insights: The role of specialists

16:19 The OCD loop: Understanding the cycle

23:01 Transforming OCD: Finding positive outlets

31:03 Radical acceptance and its challenges

35:10 Finding Authenticity in Confrontation

42:23 Transforming compulsions into positive rituals

52:28 The balance of reassurance in relationships

55:59 The intersection of OCD and career choices

58:00 Lessons from penguins: Resilience and love

01:00:54 Conservation concerns: The krill catastrophe

01:07:28 Coping tools and resources for OCD

About our Guest – Ally Kristan 

Ally Kristan is a marine conservation biologist, Antarctic expert and OCD advocate originally from Raleigh, North Carolina. She holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from UNC Wilmington and an M.S. in Oceanography & Coastal Sciences from Louisiana State University. A salient voice for wildlife protection, Ally has appeared in National Public Radio (NPR), National Audubon Society and Hakai Magazine. Her work has brought her from a sea turtle hospital in North Carolina to whale watch boats in Maui to raucous seabird colonies in Florida, then from the U.S. National Science Foundation in Washington D.C. to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Ally now resides on the North Carolina coast where, when not working in the lab, she can be found amongst animals.

 

Resources for Living Beyond the OCD Loop with Ally Kristan (302)

Ally Kristan’s website – Additional resources & information

Get your copy of her book, “Braving the Waves” here!!

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Our Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!

Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others.

Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout

Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s

You can’t think your way out of OCD

In part one of our three-part series on Anxiety and OCD, Dr. Jon Abramowitz helps us understand why intrusive thoughts are normal, how OCD turns them into a source of distress, and what keeps the cycle going. We explore uncertainty, reassurance-seeking, relationship dynamics, and the research-backed treatments that help people reclaim their lives from OCD.In this conversation, we unpack the surprising truth about intrusive thoughts, why reassurance often backfires, and how learning to tolerate uncertainty can be a powerful path toward recovery.

“There is no such thing as absolute certainty.” – Dr. Jon Abramowitz

Time Stamps for Why Certainty Isn’t the Answer: OCD, Intrusive Thoughts & Recovery with Dr. Jon Abramowitz (301)

02:40 Understanding anxiety and its disorders

05:46 Distinguishing normal anxiety from OCD

08:21 The nature of obsessional thoughts

14:09 The cycle of OCD and compulsions

16:53 The role of exposure and response prevention

19:44 Understanding scrupulosity in OCD

25:25 Treatment approaches for OCD

33:34 Managing distress in OCD therapy

36:55 Understanding control and uncertainty in OCD

40:41 Distinguishing OCD from Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

50:02 Supporting loved ones with OCD

About our Guest – Dr. Jon Abramowitz (301)

Jonathan (Jon) Abramowitz, Ph.D., is Professor and Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research and clinical work focuses on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders, including fears and phobias, health anxiety, and panic attacks. He has authored over 350 scientific publications and 20 books, which have been translated into several languages. He served as President of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and as Editor or Associate Editor of several academic journals. Dr. Abramowitz has received wide recognition for his scholarly work and contributions.

 

Resources for Why Certainty Isn’t the Answer: OCD, Intrusive Thoughts & Recovery with Dr. Jon Abramowitz (301)

Dr. Abramowitz website – Resources and information

OCD resources for clinicians and consumers 

Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!  

Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount.

 

 

 

You are invited! 

Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!! 

 

Get your copy of Secure Relating here!!

Celebrating 300 episodes with one of the hardest relationship skills: feedback.

Sue and Ann reflect on a decade of podcasting and dive into one of the the most challenging parts of any relationship: giving and receiving feedback. Through candid personal stories, humor, and clinical insight, they explore how attachment history, defensiveness, trauma, and vulnerability shape the way we handle conflict and communication. This conversation explains why feedback can feel so threatening, how couples get stuck arguing facts instead of feelings, and why repair—not perfection—is the foundation of healthy relationships.

“Feedback is a bid for connection.” – Sue Marriott, LCSW CGP

Time Stamps for 300 Episodes In: Why Feedback Is So Hard (300)

01:56 The challenge of feedback: Giving and receiving

07:29 Understanding the difficulty of giving feedback

11:06 The fear of feedback: Avoidance and anticipation

16:15 The overestimation of awareness: Why we hold back

26:32 Navigating the receiving end of feedback

32:34 Impact over intent: The key to effective communication

34:54 Navigating feedback and racial sensitivity

41:08 Defensiveness in relationships

52:09 The role of trauma in relationships

Please support our sponsors – they keep our podcast free and accessible to all! 

A coffee alternative with 4 adaptogenic mushrooms and ayurvedic herbs. With only a fraction of caffeine as a cup of coffee, you get energy without the anxiety, jitters, or crash of coffee

Go to mudwtr.com/tu to support the show and use code TU for 15% off

 

Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!  

Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount.

 

 

You are invited! 

Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!! 

 

Get your copy of Secure Relating here!!

Sex can feel complicated when our parts get involved

Patricia Rich introduces the concept of self-led sexuality — approaching sexuality from curiosity, compassion, and connection rather than fear or conditioning. She explains how understanding our internal “parts” can help individuals navigate conflicting desires, deepen consent, and create greater safety within themselves and their relationships. Explore the complexities of sexuality, emphasizing the importance of self-led sexuality and the integration of Internal Family Systems (IFS) in sexual therapy. The conversation also examines the broader cultural forces that influence sexuality, including capitalism, gender expectations, and the silence many therapists themselves experience around sexual topics. Grounded in both clinical insight and humanity, this episode offers a refreshing framework for understanding sexuality as a space for healing, embodiment, and authentic connection.

“Listening to our desires doesn’t mean we have to act on them all. Simply acknowledging the parts of ourselves who hold those desires and validating their longings can bring inner connection and vitality.” – Patricia Rich, LCSW CST-S

Time Stamps for Bonus – Self-Led Sexuality: Reclaiming Intimacy Through IFS with Patricia Rich, LCSW CST-S (299)

01:51 The challenges of discussing sexuality

07:53 Integrating IFS into sexual therapy

13:39 The positive intentions of our parts

22:17 Self-led sexuality: Leading from within

28:01 Therapists’ relationship with sexuality

35:51 The six S’s of sexual self-energy

40:28 Creating Safety in Sexual Conversations

45:03 Exploring sensuality and its barriers

01:01:10 Exploring exiled parts and performance pressure

01:05:07 The concept of internal consent

01:11:36 Cultural influences on sexuality and self-perception

About our Guest – Patricia Rich, LCSW, CST-S (She/Her)

Patricia Rich, LCSW, CST-S (she/her) is an IFS Institute Certified Level 3 IFS Therapist and Approved Consultant and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Supervisor. She has developed a unique integrative model for Self-Led Sexuality to help people findmore ease, joy, and confidence in the bedroom and beyond. She has originated IFS- informed concepts such as Internal Consent and The Six S’s of Sexual Self-Energy. Patty has presented at the IFS Annual Conference, taught a module for the IFS Institute Online Continuity program, led workshops internationally, and authored a chapter in Altogether Us: Integrating the IFS Model with Key Modalities, Communities and Trends. She offers training and consultation to professionals and loves helping people to BeHold and Lead their Internal Sexual Systems (BLISS)TM. She hosts “Self-Led in Bed: An IFS & Sexuality Podcast” and lives in the Philadelphia area where she also has a private practice. You can get her free guide to The Six S’s and learn more about her offerings at www.patriciarich.com or follow her on Instagram @patriciarichconsulting.

Resources for Bonus – Self-Led Sexuality: Reclaiming Intimacy Through IFS with Patricia Rich, LCSW CST-S (299)

Self-Led in Bed: An IFS & Sexuality Podcast – Patricia’s podcast

Patricia’s website – Information & resources

IFS Integration: A Comprehensive Guide to Applying Internal Family Systems Across Modalities, Populations, and Clinical Presentations – Check out Patricia’s chapter in this book

Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!  

Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount.