OCD in Children & Young People: A Guide for Parents, Families & the Young People Themselves
Just CheckingShow Notes
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 [email protected] 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
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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.
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