What happens when the thing that feels frightening, unpredictable, or even traumatic is your own brain?

For people living with OCD and anxiety, intrusive thoughts can feel terrifyingly real. You may find yourself questioning your memories, searching for reassurance, or performing rituals because the possibility of something bad happening feels impossible to tolerate. And when these experiences begin to shape your daily life, they can feel traumatic in their own right.

In this episode, I sit down with Jenna Overbaugh, a licensed professional counselor who has specialized in OCD and anxiety since 2008, to talk about the often-misunderstood experience of living with OCD. Drawing on her clinical expertise and lived experience, Jenna helps us understand why intrusive thoughts can feel so convincing, how OCD can interfere with relationships and everyday life, and why exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy can be such an important part of recovery.

Because the goal isn’t to eliminate every uncomfortable thought or guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen. It’s to build the capacity to experience uncertainty, tolerate discomfort, and keep living a meaningful life anyway.

We also explore why effective exposure therapy should be collaborative, gradual, and challenging but manageable; not an exercise in overwhelming someone or forcing them to face their worst fears without preparation. And we discuss how children with OCD can be misunderstood when their behaviors look like defiance, disrespect, or stubbornness, even when they’re trying desperately to prevent something terrible from happening.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Why living with OCD can feel traumatic, even when the threat seems to come from within your own mind
• Intrusive thoughts, false memories, and why frightening thoughts can feel so convincing
• How OCD rituals and compulsions can take over daily life
• How OCD can be mistaken for defiance or disrespect in children

About the Guest:

Jenna Overbaugh is a licensed professional counselor who has specialized in OCD and anxiety since 2008. She is passionate about making mental health concepts practical and accessible, and her work focuses on evidence-based approaches including exposure and response prevention (ERP) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Click here to visit Jenna's website and learn more about her work.

Connect with me:

Want to learn more? You can find me on Instagram @dr.koslowitzpsychology and check out my new book Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be

What happens when a mother knows something is wrong, desperately seeks help, and is repeatedly told she’s fine?

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, I sit down with Aaisha Alvi, author of A Mom Like That: A Memoir of Postpartum Psychosis, to talk about her experience with postpartum psychosis, the devastating impact of being dismissed by medical professionals, and the long road toward getting the care she needed.

Aaisha shares what it was like to experience frightening changes in her thoughts and perceptions after childbirth, while struggling to understand what was happening to her. Even as she reached out for help, her symptoms were repeatedly misunderstood. It wasn’t until she connected with a perinatal psychiatrist that she received the specialized care and understanding she needed.

Together, we explore the difference between intrusive thoughts and psychosis, the stigma surrounding maternal mental illness, and the harmful assumption that a mother experiencing a psychiatric crisis must be a danger to her child; or a bad mother. They also discuss how cultural expectations, shame, and fear can make it even harder for parents to speak openly about what they are experiencing.

This conversation is a reminder that mothers experiencing serious mental health challenges deserve compassion, appropriate treatment, and the chance to be heard without judgment. By sharing her story, Ayesha hopes to help other parents recognize when something is wrong, seek support, and understand that a psychiatric crisis does not define who they are as a parent.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The difference between intrusive thoughts and psychotic symptoms
• What can happen when healthcare providers dismiss or misunderstand a mother’s concerns
• The importance of specialized perinatal mental health care
• How stigma and the fear of being labeled a “bad mother” can prevent parents from seeking help
• The role that culture, religion, and family expectations can play in how mental illness is understood
• Why mothers experiencing psychiatric crises need support rather than shame
• How sharing personal stories can challenge misconceptions and create space for more compassionate care

About the guest:

Aaisha Alvi is the author of A Mom Like That: A Memoir of Postpartum Psychosis. Through her personal story and advocacy, she works to bring greater awareness to postpartum psychosis and challenge the stigma surrounding maternal mental health.

Connect with me:

Want to learn more? You can find me on Instagram @dr.koslowitzpsychology and check out my new book Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be

What if being apart from your child doesn’t mean you’re any less connected?

In this episode, I sit down with actress, author, content creator, and co-host of The Mother Daze podcast, Sarah Wright Olsen, to explore one of the hardest parts of parenting: separation.

Sarah is the author of the beautiful picture book When I Am Not With You, inspired by a simple question she and her children have shared for years: “When I am not with you, where am I?”

The answer? “In my heart. In my head.”

Together, we explore what attachment really looks like when we aren't physically together and why being a securely attached parent doesn't mean being constantly available.

For post-traumatic parents, separation can bring up enormous amounts of fear and guilt. If you grew up with experiences of abandonment, inconsistency, or loss, saying goodbye to your own child can feel much bigger than the moment itself.

This episode is a must-listen if you've ever thought:

“Am I hurting my child by being away from them?”

“How can I stay connected to my child when I can't always be there?”

“What if my own childhood makes separation harder for me?”

Topics covered in this episode:

• Why attachment doesn't require constant physical presence
• The importance of mental presence and helping children carry us with them
• Creating goodbye rituals that help children feel secure
• Why separation can actually be part of healthy attachment
• Parenting through daycare, work, school, and other separations
• The guilt many working parents experience
• Why we don't need to “awfulize” separation or daycare

About the Guest:

Sarah Wright Olsen is an actress, author, content creator, entrepreneur, mom, and co-host of The Mother Daze podcast. She is the author of When I Am Not With You, a picture book inspired by her family's own experiences with separation, connection, and the many goodbyes that happened throughout childhood.

Sarah's work is deeply informed by her own experiences as a mother, including postpartum anxiety, working motherhood, and her desire to build community and share the things she has learned along the way.

Connect with Sarah:

Instagram: @swrightolsen

Book: When I Am Not With You

Podcast: The Mother Daze with Sarah Wright Olsen and Teresa Palmer

Connect with me:

Want to learn more? You can find me on Instagram @dr.koslowitzpsychology and check out my new book Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be

Why do so many couples feel like they’re talking but not actually understanding each other?

In this episode, I sit down with therapist, author, and podcast host Eli Weinstein, LCSW (aka The Dude Therapist) to talk about the missing pieces in modern relationships; especially when it comes to emotional communication and understanding.

Eli shares what inspired his new book From I Do to We Do, including his own struggles with writing, ADHD, and the deeper motivation behind wanting to bring a stronger male voice into the relationship space.

Because the truth is that many men were never taught how to express emotions, and many partners are left feeling confused, disconnected, or alone because of it.

Together, we explore how couples can move beyond surface-level communication and start truly understanding each other’s internal worlds.

We also talk about why analogies, stories, and even movies (yes, Inside Out 2 makes an appearance) can sometimes explain emotions better than words ever could.

If you’ve ever felt like:

• “Why don’t they get it?”
• “Why is this so hard to explain?”

This episode will help you make sense of it, and give you a new way forward.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Why emotional communication feels so difficult in relationships
• The lack of male representation in emotional and relationship conversations
• How ADHD and overwhelm can impact communication and expression
• Why traditional advice like “just communicate” often falls flat
• The power of storytelling, metaphors, and media in understanding emotions
• The difference between hearing your partner and truly getting them

About the Guest:

Eli Weinstein, LCSW is a therapist, speaker, and podcast host focused on relationships, emotional health, and bringing a relatable, male perspective into the mental health space. He is the author of From I Do to We Do, a practical and engaging guide to building stronger, more connected relationships. To learn more about Eli, visit his website here.

Connect with me:

Want to learn more? Connect with me! You can find me on Instagram @dr.koslowitzpsychology and check out my new book Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be

What happens when the life you imagined for your child suddenly changes?

In this deeply moving episode, I speak with author and advocate Jodi Michele Cutler to explore her journey into post-traumatic parenting after her son was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at just 11 months old.

What began as a dream, moving to Italy with her newborn and starting a new chapter, quickly shifted into a moment that would change everything.

Jodi shares the emotional impact of receiving her son’s diagnosis in a foreign country, navigating language barriers, and processing the shock, grief, and uncertainty that followed.

Together, we explore what it means to parent through the unexpected, and how even the most overwhelming experiences can become pathways to connection, advocacy, and growth.

Topics covered in this episode:

• What it feels like to receive a life-changing diagnosis as a parent
• Parenting in a foreign country during a crisis
• How trauma shows up in parenting experiences
• The process of adapting to a new reality as a family
• Advocacy for deaf and hard-of-hearing children
• How identity shifts for both parent and child after diagnosis

About the Guest:

Jodi Michele Cutler is the author of Sofa Bed Island and Rally Cap, which has been adapted into a feature film. She is also an advocate for parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing children, drawing from her own lived experience raising a child with profound hearing loss.

Through her work, Jodi shares stories that highlight resilience, family, and the power of navigating life’s unexpected turns. To connect with Jodi, you can visit her website here.

Connect with me:

Want to learn more? Connect with me! You can find me on Instagram @dr.koslowitzpsychology and check out my new book Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be

What if the way your family functions wasn’t something you had to figure out as you go… but something you could actually design?

In this episode, I sit down with Nancy Shapiro Rapport, co-founder of Our Family Culture, to explore what it really means to parent with intention and how to create a family culture that reflects your deepest values. Because the truth is, every family has a culture but most of us are living in one by default, not by design.

For post-traumatic parents, this can feel especially overwhelming. If you didn’t grow up with a clear model of healthy family life, how are you supposed to build one for your own children?

Nancy shares how her decades of experience as a school counselor (and her work with thousands of families) led her to one powerful realization: Children don’t just grow up in a home. They grow up inside a culture.

Together, we break down how to define your values, align with your parenting partner, and translate abstract ideals into everyday behaviors your children can actually live and learn.

Topics covered in this episode:

• What “family culture” actually means (and why every family already has one)
• How your family becomes your child’s “emotional home base”
• The challenge of aligning values with a parenting partner
• Why you can’t prioritize every value at once (and how to choose what matters most)
• How unresolved experiences from your own childhood shape your parenting instincts
• How small, consistent actions shape long-term identity and resilience

About the Guest:

Nancy Shapiro Rapport is a former middle school counselor with over three decades of experience working with children and families. She is the co-founder of Our Family Culture, an app and framework designed to help parents intentionally build family values and translate them into everyday practices. Her work focuses on helping families move from reactive parenting to thoughtful, values-driven connection. To learn more about Nancy and her work, you can visit her website here.

Connect with me:

Want to learn more? Connect with me! You can find me on Instagram @dr.koslowitzpsychology and check out my new book Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be

What is the cost of families and specifically children growing up online?

In this conversation, I speak with journalist and author Fortesa Latifi, M.A. to talk about the rise of momfluencers and kidfluencers, and why this topic resonates so deeply with post-traumatic parents.

What used to be limited to a small group of highly visible families (i.e. reality TV households) has now expanded into thousands of children growing up online, their lives documented and shared in real time.We explore what it means to be raised in the digital spotlight, how social media has shifted the boundaries between public and private childhood, and why this issue is more complex than it first appears.

While many of us instinctively react with concern, this conversation invites a more nuanced perspective. In our conversation we discuss not just the risks, but also the realities and pressures families face in today’s online world.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The rapid rise of momfluencers and kidfluencers
• How growing up online differs from past generations of “famous families”
• The shift from structured media (TV) to constant, personal content creation
• Why this topic resonates so strongly with cycle-breaking and post-traumatic parents
• The tension between exploitation vs. opportunity
• Why nuance matters when discussing parents who share their children online
• The role of audience curiosity and internet culture in fueling this trend
• What it might feel like for children to grow up with their lives publicly documented

About the Guest:

Fortesa Latifi, M.A. is a journalist who has extensively covered internet culture, including the world of momfluencers and kidfluencers. She is the author of Like, Follow, Subscribe, a book that explores what it means for families, and especially children, to grow up online in an era of constant visibility. To learn more and connect with Fortesa, you can visit her website here!

Connect with me:

Want to learn more? Connect with me! You can find me on Instagram @dr.koslowitzpsychology and check out my new book Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be

What if the hardest parts of your parenting journey are actually pointing you toward your greatest growth?

In this deeply honest and powerful conversation, I sit down with psychologist and parenting educator Anna Seewald, host of the Authentic Parenting Podcast, to explore how trauma, loss, and early life experiences shape the way we show up as parents.

Anna shares her personal story of losing her mother at a young age and how that profound loss resurfaced when she became a parent herself, bringing unexpected grief, loneliness, and emotional challenges. Together, we unpack the reality of early parenthood: the isolation, the overwhelm, and the way parenting can activate “silent volcanoes” of past trauma.

You’ll walk away with a powerful reframe: parenting isn’t just raising a child, it’s a transformative process that reveals both your deepest wounds and your greatest capacity for healing.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The hidden loneliness and isolation of early motherhood
• How parenting acts as a stress test for unresolved trauma
• The impact of early parental loss on identity and parenting
• “Trauma superpowers” and the concept of post-traumatic growth
• The fine line between growth and toxic positivity
• Hypervigilance vs. presence: two sides of trauma awareness
• How gratitude and perspective can emerge from hardship
• The importance of creating the support you didn’t receive

About the Guest:

Anna Seewald is an internationally recognized psychologist, parenting educator, keynote speaker, and host of the Authentic Parenting Podcast. With over 25 years of experience, she is passionate about helping parents heal their own trauma so they can raise emotionally healthy children. Her mission is to end violence against children by transforming the way we approach parenting. To learn more, visit authenticparenting.com

Connect with me on Instagram @dr.koslowitzpsychology and check out my new book Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be