Sex & OCD: The Theme No One Wants to Talk About
Breaking the Rules: A Clinician's Guide to Treating OCDShow Notes
Sex & OCD: The Theme No One Wants to Talk About
Sex is one of the most misunderstood and least talked about themes in OCD - but it's also one of the most common. In this episode of Breaking the Rules, Dr Tori Miller and Dr Celin Gelgec explore how OCD can latch onto sex, relationships, identity and intimacy, creating overwhelming shame, fear and uncertainty for people of all ages. From sexual orientation OCD, relationship OCD and contamination fears around intimacy, to intrusive thoughts about loved ones, children or animals, they explain why these thoughts say nothing about who you are—and everything about how OCD operates. This episode is also a practical conversation for clinicians. Dr Tori and Dr Celine discuss how to ask the difficult questions, build enough trust for clients to disclose taboo themes, and create a therapy space where shame no longer has to be carried alone. They also explore how trauma can intersect with sexual-themed OCD, why careful assessment matters, and how Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) can be adapted to support recovery. Whether you're living with OCD, supporting someone who is, or working as a mental health professional, this episode offers reassurance, practical guidance and a powerful reminder: intrusive thoughts are not intentions, and you are not defined by the content of your mind.
In this episode you'll learn:
Why sexual-themed OCD is far more common than most people realise. How shame keeps people trapped in silence and delays treatment. How clinicians can confidently assess and treat taboo OCD themes using evidence-based approaches.
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