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Just Checking

Just Checking

Written by: OCD Collective
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OCD therapists talk intrusive thoughts, scary themes, and why your brain can be a dick. If you are looking for reputable information that comes from some good friends then come and join us; Laura Mole and Jessica Hayes. Get involved by emailing ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com and following us on Instagram @justcheckingpod to contribute towards features and to request that we cover what you want to hear. Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational information only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support.OCD Collective Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • OCD in Children & Young People: A Guide for Parents, Families & the Young People Themselves

    OCD in Children & Young People: A Guide for Parents, Families & the Young People Themselves
    May 26 2026

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Perinatal OCD — The Intrusive Thoughts No One Warned You About

    Perinatal OCD — The Intrusive Thoughts No One Warned You About
    May 19 2026
    If you Googled something terrifying about your baby and ended up here, you're in the right place. This week Jess and Laura are talking about one of the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed presentations of OCD — perinatal OCD. Whether you're pregnant, postpartum, or supporting someone who is, this one's for you.We get into why OCD loves to latch onto the thing you love most, what's actually happening in your brain and body during the perinatal period, and why so many people suffer in silence.We talk about that fear directly, and what advocating for you actually looks like.From the most common perinatal presentations to what therapy actually looks like in this season of life — including why regulation comes before challenging OCD — this episode covers the full picture. We also talk maternity leave grief, secure attachment, parenting values, and we close with a note from someone who has been where you might be right now, and come out the other side.You are not a bad parent. Your thoughts are not your character. And you are not alone in this.Podcast by Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapistandJessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapistEdited by Christian NicksonTime stamps00:36 Shout out to followers01:10 Things you might have Googled with perinatal OCD02:26 Introductions and shout out to Josh Fletcher09:48 Introduction to perinatal OCD10:44 Brain Spam13:30 Prioproceptive input15:50 Matrescence and mental health20:00 Increased responsibility and vulnerability to OCD22:05 Hormone shifts and OCD23:52 Why OCD latches to the baby24:30 Traumatic births and what you expect to feel26:50 Birth planning and expectations29:40 Preparing for pregnancy with OCD31:30 Perinatal mental health team involvement23:45 Building a village36:07 Main OCD presentations in OCD38:30 How common these intrusive thoughts are39:20 What makes it OCD42:30 Why we need more awareness of this44:00 What if they report things to social services?46:00 How we can advocate for you48:00 What risk do we check more?49:33 Options for support50:55 Therapy for perinatal OCD; how it looks52:00 Regulation before challenging OCD54:00 Grieving maternity leave ideas and living like you value58:21 Secure attachments and OCD1:01:50 Prioritising parenting values1:04:03 Responsive self-care lists1:04:40 A note from someone who is recovered from perinatal OCD1:05:23 Questions from the listeners1:08:25 Key takeaways for perinatal OCD1:09:00 Helpful resources and support websites1:10:24 Exposure Lab1:12:48 Weekly WinsGet in Touch:Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us:Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpodFor our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd and her perinatal page @jess_the_therapy_mumPlease 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.Resources mentioned:Jess’ perinatal mental health Instagram: @jess_the_therapy_mumBirth Rights: Birthrights - your human rights during pregnancy and maternity care OCDUK: OCD-UK | A national OCD charity, run by, and for people with lived experience of OCD IOCDF Perinatal OCD Resource Centre: Perinatal OCD Resource Center To Help People Find Relief Maternal OCD UK: Welcome to Maternal OCD Postpartum Support International: Postpartum Support International - PSI The Breastfeeding Network (medication guidance): Drugs in Breastmilk factsheets - The Breastfeeding Network
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 14 mins
  • OCD Questions from the Listeners: How to Get Diagnosed, OCD and ADHD, False Attraction & More

    OCD Questions from the Listeners: How to Get Diagnosed, OCD and ADHD, False Attraction & More
    May 12 2026

    Got OCD questions? Same. This week Jess and Laura tackle the listener mailbag from Laura's Tiktok live— covering how to get tested for OCD, accessing treatment, the serotonin myth, the OCD-ADHD connection, contamination OCD, and false attraction. Laura shares an insight into her feelings around her own OCD journey. There's also a free children's resource on neurodivergence, a children's book on intrusive thoughts, and Jess' entirely predictable over-preparation for an OCD research conference.


    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


    Time stamps

    00:00 Hello chat

    01:29 Introductions

    07:30 Children's book for intrusive thoughts

    09:30 A free resource for children to understand neurodivergence

    12:30 OCD research conference and Jess' over-preparation

    14:33 Brain Spam

    18:18 Laura's Tiktok live for questions

    19:52 How do you get tested for OCD

    24:44 How do I get help for OCD?

    32:44 Is OCD just a lack of serotonin?

    37:56 Can OCD and ADHD correlate?

    46:40 I can't touch anything my family have touched because I know it will kill them- how do I stop that?

    47:55 I feel like myself intrusive thoughts reflect real feelings, they feel so real

    51:20 Can you explain false attraction and false urges?

    54:35 Exposure Lab

    1:01:00 Teaser for next week and goodbyes


    For the book mentioned in the episode today, you can find it at www.reimaginetherapy.co.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.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 4 mins
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