If you've found yourself Googling "does my child have OCD?" at 11pm, this episode is for you.

This week, Laura takes the lead whilst her and Jess take a dive deep into OCD in children and young people — what it looks like, how it hides, and what actually helps. Whether you're a parent trying to make sense of what you're seeing, a young person wondering if what you're experiencing has a name, or a teacher noticing something feels off — this one's for you.

They cover the signs parents and teachers often spot first (including one you really might not expect), the most common OCD themes in younger people, and how to have those early, important conversations without making things worse. There's also a genuinely hopeful message for young people who are in the thick of it right now.

On the practical side: how to find a good therapist (and the questions to ask to make sure they actually know their stuff), what to expect from therapy sessions, how ERP works with younger clients, what to do if your young person refuses help, family accommodations, and co-regulation — because OCD is a whole-family thing.

Plus: listener questions, the Exposure Lab, a brilliant book recommendation for the trickiest of situations, and Laura's reassurance game which is exactly as chaotic as it sounds.

Podcast by:

Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist

and

Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist

Edited by Christian Nickson

Timestamps:

01:35 – Hello and Greg's Anatomy facts

04:13 – Introduction to OCD in children and young people

07:05 – Just Checking merch

07:47 – Brain Spam 🧠

12:44 – Signs a parent might notice in their young person

18:22 – Key OCD themes in children and young people

22:49 – What early signs can a teacher spot?

26:50 – Jess's message of hope

28:05 – Laura's tip for young people who think they have OCD

31:50 – How to talk to your child about OCD concerns

36:40 – Family accommodations

39:18 – Co-regulation and modelling for your young person

40:40 – What if your young person doesn't want help?

43:38 – An amazing book for parents in this situation

46:00 – Tips for finding the right therapist

47:00 – What to expect in therapy and what gets shared with parents

49:00 – How ERP works with young people

52:00 – What if someone isn't ready for ERP?

55:48 – OCD onset and how to access help

1:00:30 – Tips on what you can request

1:02:14 – Medication for OCD

1:02:44 – Advocating as a parent and key resources

1:04:45 – Questions to scope out a good therapist

1:06:30 – Listener questions

1:08:52 – Exposure Lab

1:12:40 – Weekly Wins

1:13:26 – Goodbyes

📚 Resources mentioned:

Because We Are Bad – Lily Bailey

Natasha Daniels' videos

How Josh Defeated the Worry Villain- www.reimaginetherapy.co.uk

Can I Tell You About OCD? – Amita Jassi

OCD Tools to Help You Fight Back – CBT workbook for young people

Break Free from Childhood Anxiety and OCD – Eli Lebowitz

The SPACE Programme

Laura's website: Counselling Service North London | Laura Mole Counselling | England

OCD-UK: ocduk.org

OCD Action: ocdaction.org.uk

Get in Touch:

Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us:

Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod

For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd

Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing

Content Warnings:

We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.

Disclaimer

This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.