When Your Child Won’t Tell You What Their OCD Is About

When Your Child Won’t Tell You What Their OCD Is About

August 24, 2026 · 46 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the challenges of understanding a child's hidden OCD and offers strategies for building trust and communication.

One of the hardest parts of parenting a child with OCD is not knowing what’s actually going on. Your child insists they’re “fine,” avoids your questions, or simply can’t explain what they’re experiencing. It can leave you feeling confused, shut out, and unsure of how to help. In this episode, I talk about why so many kids keep their OCD hidden, even from the people they trust most. You’ll learn why silence is often part of OCD itself and why pushing for answers can unintentionally make it harder for your child to open up. We’ll also discuss practical ways to build trust, strengthen communication, and support your child, even when you don’t fully understand what their OCD is about. Because you don’t need to know every intrusive thought to begin helping your child make progress. Mentioned in this episode: Download the free companion handout: www.natashadaniels.com/handouts 🎙️ Listen to my related episode, The First Steps to Progress: Trust and Communication : https://childocdtherapist.com/trust-and-communication/ 🧡 Join the AT Parenting Community for weekly classes, parent support, kid and teen groups, and a growing library of courses: www.atparentingcommunity.com *** This…

People in this episode

Host: Natasha Daniels

Topics covered

Keywords

Sponsors

NOCD

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The First Steps to Progress: Trust and Communication

Places: US, UK, Australia, Canada

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