How Do I Stop Ruminating?
In this episode, Chris distinguishes intrusive thoughts (also called obsessions) from rumination (mental compulsions, DSM-5). They're both cognitive activities; so telling the difference is often eas...
16 Okt 202021min
You're Not Doing Exposure Therapy If You're Also Doing Compulsions
This is a simple, simple reality. OCD runs on compulsions. In this episode, Chris talks about habituation, and the difference between exposure therapy with compulsions versus that without them. Thanks...
1 Okt 202015min
The Most Important Question in the Treatment of OCD
Chris discusses the most important question in the effective treatment of OCD: What are your compulsions and how do you find them? The skill of finding compulsions and the determination to prevent the...
21 Sep 202016min
Getting Better Matters Less Than Learning How to Get Better
Chris discusses the art of identifying compulsive patterns. Safety behaviors aren't just turning on and off light switches. Compulsive patterns are different for everyone. The question is, What are yo...
10 Sep 202014min
I Feel Better; Therefore I ... Am Better?
Chris discusses the concept of therapeutic progress - how do we define it? If you are to judge the efficacy of your therapeutic work on the degree to which you make progress, then the next logical que...
22 Juli 202017min
How Do I Know When My Therapist Doesn't Know What They're Doing?
Chris answers the question, How do I know when my therapist doesn't really know how to treat an anxiety-related disorder? Bottom line is, if you've been in treatment for a little while and haven't mad...
11 Juli 202019min
Tomato, Tomahto: Is there a Real Difference between Anxiety-Related Disorders
Chris gripes about the treatment-system, and thinks out-loud about the industry-implications of myriad treatment protocols across so many (apparently) different conditions.
9 Juni 202019min
The Big "Why?" Of All This
Chris revisits the reasons and convictions behind the OCD Straight Talk podcast, and bears witness to a distinction between generalists and specialists in the field of psychotherapy.
4 Juni 202018min
