166. Therapist Explains: The Subtle Signs of Childhood OCD Parents Overlook

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Is your child’s OCD hiding behind good behavior and perfectionism?

In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Katherine Schooland, LMFT, founder and director of Raising Brave Kids, a multi-state practice specializing in child and teen anxiety and OCD. Together, they explore how childhood OCD can quietly hide in high-functioning, compliant, and “well-behaved” kids — and why it’s so often missed.

Katherine shares deep clinical insight into how OCD actually shows up in children, especially when it doesn’t look anxious, disruptive, or obvious.

Katherine breaks down:

• How childhood OCD can hide behind reassurance-seeking, perfectionism, and compliance

• Why mental compulsions and rumination are so hard for parents to spot

• The difference between normal developmental worries and OCD “stickiness”

• How ERP-informed parenting can interrupt the OCD cycle early

• What happens when childhood OCD goes unrecognized into adolescence and adulthood

Whether you’re parenting a child with OCD, suspect something deeper than “just anxiety,” or supporting a family navigating uncertainty, this episode offers clarity, hope, and concrete tools to help kids — and parents — move forward.

📲 About Katherine (guest):

• LMFT, founder and director of Raising Brave Kids

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisingbrave.kids

• Raising Brave Kids: https://www.raisingbravekids.com/

✂️ TIMESTAMPS:

[00:00] – When OCD Hides in “Good Kids” [01:36] – The Reassurance Trap Parents Don’t Realize They’re In [04:10] – When Perfectionism Isn’t a Strength Anymore [06:02] – Avoidance That Doesn’t Look Like Avoidance [07:01] – The Mental Rituals No One Sees [09:17] – How Loving Parents Accidentally Feed OCD [10:47] – Supporting Your Child Without Becoming the Anxiety Regulator [13:23] – Why Parents Must Regulate Themselves First [14:16] – What Happens When Childhood OCD Is Missed [16:49] – Why Early Skills Change Everything [17:40] – The Biggest Gaps in OCD Treatment Today [20:09] – You’re Not Failing—There Is a Way Forward

✅ Free Resources & Links

• 🎁 Free OCD Survival Kit & Classes → www.shorturl.at/KcTxM
• 📖 OCD CBT Journal → www.shorturl.at/7pUxB
• 🌐 Website → www.korresults.com/
• ✍️ OCD Academy→ www.ocdacademy.thinkific.com/

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✅ About OCD Whisperer

Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

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