Breaking the Rules: A Clinician's Guide to Treating OCD

Eating Disorders, OCD & The Problem With Traditional Treatment | Dr Alissa KnightFor the Season Premiere of Breaking the Rules, Dr Celine Gelgec and Dr Tori Miller are joined by eating disorder specialist Dr Alissa Knight from Calming Suite Psychology Clinic in Adelaide for a powerful and thought-provoking conversation about eating disorders, trauma, OCD, and why traditional treatment approaches may be failing many young people.After seeing Dr Alissa present at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference, Celine and Tori knew they had to bring her onto the podcast. What follows is an honest discussion about the realities of eating disorder treatment, the fear-based messages many clinicians receive, and why genuine connection, trust, and understanding a person's full story may be far more important than rigid treatment manuals.Together, they explore the complex relationship between eating disorders and OCD, the role of trauma and attachment, why relapse rates remain so high, and how a more collaborative and compassionate approach can help people move towards true wellness rather than simply chasing "recovery."In this episode, you'll learn:• Why eating disorders are far more than food and weight• The hidden links between OCD, trauma, anxiety and eating disorders• How traditional treatment approaches can unintentionally damage trust• Why rapport and connection are often the most important therapeutic tools• The dangers of fear-based treatment and clinician burnout• How trauma-informed care can change outcomes for young people• Why wellness may be a more helpful goal than "recovery"• The challenges clinicians face when balancing medical risk and compassionThis conversation challenges long-held assumptions about eating disorder treatment and offers a hopeful, human-centred perspective for clinicians, families, and anyone supporting a loved one through recovery.If you're a clinician, parent, educator, or someone living with OCD or an eating disorder, this is an episode you won't want to miss.To learn more about Dr Alissa Knight follow this link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful episode, we explore the concept of parental accommodation — the well-intentioned ways family members and loved ones may unknowingly reinforce OCD behaviours. Drawing from the research of Professor Eli Liebowitz (Yale) and real-world clinical experience, the hosts unpack how accommodation develops, why it’s so hard to stop, and how families can begin to make meaningful change.From checking, reassuring, or adapting routines “just to keep the peace,” to facing meltdowns, fear, or guilt when setting limits — this conversation goes deep into what it means to hold boundaries with compassion. You’ll hear about ERP therapy, the SPACE model, and practical ways clinicians and parents can work together to reduce accommodation and empower recovery.💬 Key themes:• What “parental accommodation” means and how it maintains OCD• Why well-meaning reassurance can make symptoms stronger• The difference between anxiety disorders and OCD• Supporting children, teens, and adults through distress safely• Helping parents tolerate their own emotions and model resilience• How reducing accommodation can rebuild connection and trust in families• Managing clinician fears around self-harm threats and safety planning🔖 Chapters00:00 Introducing the topic: Parental Accommodation and OCD02:00 What it means to accommodate and why we do it05:00 How everyday reassurance turns into OCD reinforcement08:00 Fear, meltdowns, and why it’s hard for families to stop accommodating11:00 Emotions, modelling, and learning to tolerate discomfort14:00 The SPACE model and clinician guidance17:00 Working with parental fear and client safety21:00 Reducing accommodation step-by-step25:00 Supporting families when clients resist change26:40 Why it works — even if the client isn’t in therapy#OCD #ERP #ParentalAccommodation #MentalHealthPodcast #TherapyTalk #FamilyTherapy #SPACEModel #OCDRecovery #ClinicianSupport #ParentingAndMentalHealth #EmotionalRegulation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This honest and reflective episode takes listeners inside the therapy room—where clinical learnings, vulnerability, and growth unfold in real time. Ms Catherine McGrath (Clinical Team Lead and Senior Psychologist) sharea hard-earned lessons from working with OCD clients using ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), and open up about the emotional toll, missed opportunities, and the courage it takes to keep learning.From the power of self-compassion to the importance of holding space and involving parents in the therapeutic process, this conversation is a valuable reminder that clinicians don’t need to be perfect to be effective—they just need to keep showing up.💬 You’ll hear about:The real struggles clinicians face in ERP therapyWhy reflecting on mistakes leads to better outcomesHow client emotions are best met with presence, not perfectionThe impact of including parents in treatment plansWhy being kind to yourself is not optional—it's essential 🔖 Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Clinical Learnings 02:59 The Courage to Learn ERP 05:57 Missed Opportunities in Therapy 08:57 The Importance of Holding Space 11:47 Navigating Client Emotions 15:12 Involving Parents in Therapy 17:42 Reflecting on Hard Lessons 21:01 Self-Compassion in Clinical Practice 23:47 Summary and Closing Thoughts #ClinicalPractice #TherapyTalk #MentalHealthMatters #OCDTherapy #ERP #SelfCompassion #TherapistReflections #ClientEmotions #InvolvingParents #TherapyPodcast #MentalHealthProfessionals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful episode, we explore the tangled web of health anxiety, OCD, and death anxiety, unpacking how these psychological disorders often overlap and feed into each other. From obsessive thought patterns and compulsions to the deep-rooted fear of mortality, our speakers dive deep into the inner workings of anxiety disorders and what makes treatment so complex—and so crucial.💬 We discuss:The blurred lines between health anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorderHow death anxiety often lies beneath our fear of illnessWhy reassurance-seeking can trap us in cycles of fearCoping strategies and evidence-based treatment approachesHow therapists can help clients rediscover meaning beyond their mental health challengesWhether you’re a clinician, someone living with anxiety, or simply curious about the human mind—this conversation will challenge your understanding and offer a fresh perspective on mental wellness.🔖 Chapters00:00 Understanding Health Anxiety and OCD06:01 The Intersection of Health Anxiety and Death Anxiety12:03 The Complexity of Health Anxiety and OCD18:43 Treatment Approaches for Health Anxiety and OCD24:22 Living Beyond Anxiety: Finding Meaning in Life#HealthAnxiety #OCD #MentalHealthMatters #TherapyTalk #AnxietyTreatment #DeathAnxiety #CopingWithAnxiety #IntrusiveThoughts #MentalWellness #PsychologicalDisorders #AnxietyAwareness #MeaningBeyondAnxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With suicide remaining a leading cause of death for people aged between 15-44 in Australia, clinicians in the OCD space need to ask the question: How do we differentiate between suicidal ideation and obsessive intrusive suicidal thoughts? In this episode, we discuss how to work with a client when they come to you with suicidal thoughts, why it is critical to take all mentions of suicide seriously, and how to determine whether a person with OCD is presenting with suicidal ideation consistent with wishes to die or whether it's intrusive suicidal OCD. This episode contains discussions about suicide. If you find this episode distressing and would like more support, please seek help from your local healthcare provider. If you're in Australia, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 at any time.   Resources and links: Lifeline website Webinars, books, and training by Melbourne Wellbeing Group OCD training workshops by Dr Celin Gelgec OCD focused supervision for healthcare professionals with Dr Celin Gelgec   Connect: https://www.melbournewellbeinggroup.com This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's normal to have doubts and questions about our relationships sometimes. Am I in love with my partner? Am I spending enough time with my parents? Are my friends mad at me? But what happens when those normal, passing concerns turn into an obsession? In this episode, we explain the difference between ordinary relationship concerns and relationship OCD (ROCD), how to identify when ROCD is showing up, and what the next steps are for helping clients manage it.   Resources and links: Webinars, books, and training by Melbourne Wellbeing Group OCD training workshops by Dr Celin Gelgec OCD focused supervision for healthcare professionals with Dr Celin Gelgec   Connect: https://www.melbournewellbeinggroup.com.au/ http://www.drcelingelgec.com.au/ This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Bianca Mastromanno is a Clinical Psychologist who works extensively in the perinatal space. Bianca uses a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach to support parents and children living with mental health concerns. In this episode, Bianca explains how she works with parents with OCD or other mental health challenges to explore and process their own childhood experiences to help them navigate the emotional challenges of parenthood. She also reflects on what she's learnt from the parents she works with and from her own experiences as a parent. This episode is part one of our two-part chat with Bianca. Keep an eye out for part two, where Bianca digs into how to better support parents with OCD through their pre and post-natal periods.   Resources and links: Dr Bianca Mastromanno's website Dr Bianca Mastromanno on Instagram Dr Bianca Mastromanno on LinkedIn Webinars, books, and training by Melbourne Wellbeing Group OCD training workshops by Dr Celin Gelgec OCD focused supervision for healthcare professionals with Dr Celin Gelgec   Connect: https://www.melbournewellbeinggroup.com.au/ http://www.drcelingelgec.com.au/ This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lindsay and Emily Stetzer are sisters living with OCD and the Founders of Presently Bracelets. Presently Bracelets offer a range of bracelets to help you navigate intrusive thoughts and embrace the present moment.  In this episode, Lindsay and Emily share their individual experiences with OCD and treatment, what helps them between sessions, and what they think therapists need to know from the perspective of someone with OCD. They also share how the phrase “my thoughts are passing clouds” led to the creation of Presently.   Resources and links: Presently Bracelets website Webinars, books, and training by Melbourne Wellbeing Group OCD training workshops by Dr Celin Gelgec OCD focused supervision for healthcare professionals with Dr Celin Gelgec   Connect: https://www.melbournewellbeinggroup.com.au/ http://www.drcelingelgec.com.au/ This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.