Episodes

  • Helping Kids with Just Right OCD

    Helping Kids with Just Right OCD
    May 12 2026
    “Just right” OCD can be one of the most confusing forms of OCD for parents, because it doesn’t look like fear.In this episode, we’re unpacking what it means when OCD is driven by a feeling instead of a specific fear. That internal sense that something is off, incomplete, or not quite right can keep kids stuck in loops that are hard to explain and even harder to stop.You’ll learn how “just right” OCD can show up across daily life, from words and writing to clothes, shoes, grooming, and even how they move through their environment. We’ll also clarify common misconceptions, including why this isn’t perfectionism, how it differs from sensory processing challenges, and where Tourettic OCD fits into the picture.Most importantly, we’ll walk through how to start helping your child break free from these patterns using evidence-based approaches like ERP, including practicing things “not just right,” delaying compulsions, and resisting the urge to complete the loop for them. We’ll also touch on how parents can use a SPACE-informed approach to reduce accommodation and support their child more effectively.If your child gets stuck needing things to feel right before they can move on, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on and how to begin supporting them in a way that builds long-term resilience.Resources for this Episode:Get the PDF Handout for this episode: www.natashadaniels.com/handoutsYoutube video: How to Handle Just Right OCD Youtube video: Just Right OCD and Clothes Youtube video: Just Right OCD and Your Words Youtube video: When OCD Isn’t About a Fear, But a FeelingPodcast on Tourettic 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 tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis 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.comJoin the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):https://atparentingcommunity.comTake one of my FREE webinars:www.Natashadaniels.com/webinarsCheck out my books: www.Natashadaniels.com/books🌸 Other social places I hang out:http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    39 mins
  • Why Trying to “Reason” With Your Child’s OCD Backfires

    Why Trying to “Reason” With Your Child’s OCD Backfires
    May 5 2026

    It feels so natural to explain, reassure, and try to calm your child down when OCD is loud. After all, that’s how we solve problems in real life. But OCD doesn’t play by those rules.


    When we try to reason with OCD, we often get pulled deeper into its loop, answering more questions, giving more explanations, and still watching our child struggle.

    In this episode, I talk about why reasoning and reassurance can quietly fuel OCD, what’s actually happening in your child’s brain in those moments, and how to start shifting your role from “problem solver” to “anchor.”


    If you are a parent who finds yourself repeating the same answers over and over, or watching your child feel better for a moment only to spiral again, this episode will help you understand why and what to do instead.


    Links mentioned in episode:

    PDF handout

    SPACE Study Course

    Video on Reassurance as an OCD Compulsion

    Video on Confessing as an OCD 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:

    www.Natashadaniels.com/webinars


    Check out my books:

    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 acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    40 mins
  • The 3 Stages Parents Go Through When Learning to Handle OCD (and Where You Might Be Stuck)

    The 3 Stages Parents Go Through When Learning to Handle OCD (and Where You Might Be Stuck)
    Apr 28 2026

    Most parents think the hardest part of raising a child with anxiety or OCD is figuring out what to do.

    But the truth is, learning the skills is just the beginning.

    In this episode, I walk you through the three stages parents naturally move through when learning to handle OCD, from that first moment of awareness, to the messy middle of trying to implement strategies, to the point where things start to feel more integrated and sustainable.

    Because knowing what to do and being able to actually do it consistently are two very different things.

    If you’ve ever found yourself second-guessing your responses, feeling stuck in patterns you know aren’t helping, or wondering why this feels so much harder than it “should,” you are not alone.


    This episode will help you understand where you are in the process and why that middle stage can feel so overwhelming, even when you’re doing everything “right.”

    And more importantly, it will help you see what kind of support actually makes a difference as you move forward.

    If you are a parent who knows what to do but struggles to follow through consistently, or you feel stuck in that in-between stage where nothing quite clicks yet, this episode is for you.

    ❤️ For more in-depth support join the AT Parenting Community where we walk this journey with you.


    Resources:

    IOCDF Treatment Guideline

    Podcast episode: The Power of the Pause


    ***

    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:

    www.Natashadaniels.com/webinars


    Check out my books:

    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 acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    48 mins
  • Why Adjusting Expectations Matters When Parenting a Child with Anxiety or OCD

    Why Adjusting Expectations Matters When Parenting a Child with Anxiety or OCD
    Apr 21 2026

    When you’re parenting a child with anxiety or OCD, it’s easy to get caught in a constant push to fix, improve, and move things forward. But when our expectations don’t match where our child actually is, it can quietly create more frustration, more pressure, and more disconnection for everyone involved.


    In this episode, we explore how to recognize when expectations are starting to do more harm than good, why they develop in the first place, and how to gently adjust them without losing hope or momentum. You’ll learn how to shift from pushing for outcomes to supporting capacity, so your child can build skills in a way that actually sticks, and you can find more peace in the process.


    If you are a parent who feels stuck between wanting more for your child and feeling discouraged by where things are, this episode will help you reset your expectations in a way that supports both growth and connection.


    ❤️Join my free series at www.atparentingsurvivalseries.com

    Get the handout for this episode at 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:

    www.Natashadaniels.com/webinars


    Check out my books:

    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 acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • What Good Communication Actually Looks Like with Anxiety and OCD

    What Good Communication Actually Looks Like with Anxiety and OCD
    Apr 14 2026

    Good communication can feel like the missing piece when you’re raising a child with anxiety or OCD. You’re talking, explaining, reassuring, and trying to help, but somehow the conversations still feel stuck, tense, or like they’re going nowhere.


    In this episode, I unpack what good communication actually looks like, and why it’s not about saying the perfect thing or fixing the problem in the moment.

    We’ll talk about how communication builds trust, how to recognize what might be shutting it down, and why slowing down and focusing on connection can often move things forward more than pushing for change.


    If you are a parent who feels like every conversation turns into a struggle, or your child shuts down, gets defensive, or won’t open up, this episode will help you rethink where to start and how to create the kind of communication that actually supports progress.


    📍 Join my FREE series: Survival Tools for Parents Raising Kids 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:

    www.Natashadaniels.com/webinars


    Check out my books:

    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 acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    54 mins
  • The Power of the Pause in Your Child’s Anxiety and OCD

    The Power of the Pause in Your Child’s Anxiety and OCD
    Apr 7 2026

    When our child is anxious or stuck in OCD, everything can feel urgent. The questions, the reassurance seeking, the distress, the pressure to fix it right away. As parents, our instinct is often to respond quickly so we can calm things down. But sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is pause.

    In this episode, I talk about the power of the pause and why slowing down our response can actually help our kids build resilience and break the anxiety and OCD cycle. A pause gives us space to respond intentionally instead of reacting out of stress, fear, or urgency. It also models for our kids that discomfort doesn’t have to be solved immediately.

    If you are a parent who feels pulled to jump in quickly when your child is anxious, asks for reassurance, or gets stuck in OCD loops, this episode will help you see how a small pause can create big shifts in how you support your child.

    🧡 Register for my free series Survival Tools for Parents Raising Kids with Anxiety or OCD

    Links mentioned in podcast:


    OCD Reassurance video

    Podcast: How to Use Reassurance Cards

    Podcast: How to Create an Effective Incentive Plan

    Podcast: How to Help Kids with Perfectionism



    ***

    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:

    www.Natashadaniels.com/webinars


    Check out my books:

    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 acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • An Important Difference Between Anxiety vs OCD Reassurance

    An Important Difference Between Anxiety vs OCD Reassurance
    Mar 31 2026

    Parents often hear the same questions from their child again and again, and it can be hard to know if answering is helping or making things worse. In this episode, I break down the important difference between anxiety reassurance and OCD reassurance.

    While they can look similar on the surface, they serve very different purposes. Anxiety reassurance often comes from a child not trusting their ability to cope, while OCD reassurance acts as a compulsion that keeps the OCD cycle going. Knowing the difference can change how you respond.

    If you are a parent who feels stuck answering the same worries, fears, or “what if” questions, this episode will help you understand when reassurance supports your child and when it unintentionally grows anxiety and OCD.


    Links discussed during episode:

    Get the PDF handout for this episode here

    Free series: Survival Tools for Parents Raising Kids with Anxiety or OCD

    The SPACE Study Guide Course

    Video: How Reassurance is a Compulsion

    Podcast: How to Use Reassurance Cards

    Podcast: 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:

    www.Natashadaniels.com/webinars


    Check out my books:

    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 acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • ARFID: Is It OCD, Anxiety, or an Eating Disorder?

    ARFID: Is It OCD, Anxiety, or an Eating Disorder?
    Mar 24 2026
    ARFID can look like OCD, anxiety, extreme picky eating, or even a traditional eating disorder, which is why so many parents feel confused about what they are actually dealing with. In this episode, I break down the five types of ARFID, avoidant, aversive, restrictive, mixed, and ARFID plus, and explain how each one presents differently.We also talk about how ARFID overlaps with OCD and anxiety, when exposure and response prevention is the right fit, and when a feeding therapist or occupational therapist may be the better route. Understanding what is driving your child’s food restriction is the key to getting the right help.If you are a parent trying to figure out whether your child’s eating struggles are fear based, sensory based, or something else entirely, this episode will give you clarity and direction.Resources mentioned in episode:PANDAS NetworkAspireAnxiety Specialists of Atlanta - Dr. Megan FayePsypact mapEquip ARFID ProgramThe Emily ProgramKate Farm’s Protein ShakesBoost Very high Calorie Drink Free upcoming series: Survival Tools for Parents Raising Kids 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 tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis 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.comJoin the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):https://atparentingcommunity.comTake one of my FREE webinars:www.Natashadaniels.com/webinarsCheck out my books: www.Natashadaniels.com/books🌸 Other social places I hang out:http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    59 mins