What does it feel like when your mind gets stuck on a loop, telling you again and again that you’re a bad person? That’s the reality of Pure OCD. In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova sits down with Sah D’Simone, spiritual teacher, humanitarian, and creator of the Somatic Activated Healing method, for an open and heartfelt conversation.

Sah shares his journey with intrusive thoughts that made him question his worth, how growing up in a Buddhist culture shaped his experience, and how the loss of his mother made everything even more intense. Instead of letting OCD take over, he’s leaned into Buddhist wisdom, somatic healing, and service to others as powerful ways to heal.

Together, Kristina and Sah unpack how OCD fuels cycles of self-obsession and why real healing often begins with learning to slow down, relax, and be present. They talk about the role of evidence-based treatments like ERP and ACT, while also highlighting holistic practices that calm the nervous system and nurture recovery.

If you’ve ever felt trapped by your own thoughts, this conversation offers hope, practical tools, and a fresh perspective on what healing can truly look like.

The 3 things you’ll learn in today’s episode:

• Why relaxation and not constant productivity is crucial for calming an OCD brain.
• How Pure OCD manifests and why labels can be both freeing and limiting.
• Practical ways to balance evidence-based OCD treatments with Buddhist-inspired mindfulness and self-compassion.

In This Episode

• [00:01] Introduction and guest welcome
• [58] Sah’s background and work
• [03:09] OCD and self-obsession
• [04:03] Sah’s personal OCD story
• [04:54] Pure OCD and identity
• [07:16] Cultural and religious influences
• [09:04] OCD manifestations and coping
• [09:53] Kristina’s OCD experience
• [10:45] The internal experience of OCD
• [12:51] Relaxation and cultural challenges
• [15:21] The importance of true relaxation
• [16:18] Blending Buddhist wisdom with evidence-based OCD therapies
• [17:57] Mind wandering and savoring the moment
• [18:57] Closing and farewell

Our Guest

Sah D’Simone is a spiritual teacher, grief educator, humanitarian, and creator of the Somatic Activated Healing Method, which blends Buddhist teachings, dance, and social justice. With a mission to bring love where love is not, Sah has dedicated his life to both personal transformation and global humanitarian service, supporting communities from Los Angeles to Nepal and India.

Resources & Links

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

• Instagram
• YouTube
• OCD CBT Journal Tracker and Planner
• Website

Sah D’Simone

• Website
• Instagram
• Somatic Activated Healing Online Membership, which comes with a 7-day free trial

Please note, while our host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

Stay tuned for weekly episodes filled with valuable insights and tips for managing OCD and anxiety. And remember, keep going in the meantime. See you in the next episode!

Is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) the only way to treat OCD? What if there’s another evidence-based approach that works differently and might even feel more intuitive to some?

In this episode of the OCD Whisperer Podcast, host Kristina Orlova brings together a panel of seasoned OCD clinicians: Mike Heady, Christina Ennabe, Mike Parker, Carl Robbins, and Bronwyn Shroyer. Together, they unpack the essentials of Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT) and how it compares to ERP.

They bust common myths like whether ICBT is just arguing with your thoughts and explain how it helps people move out of imagined fears and back into reality. They also dive into when ERP might still be helpful, how ICBT handles doubt differently, and what the research says about its effectiveness.

Whether you're new to ICBT or trying to figure out which approach fits you best, this conversation brings depth, clarity, and a refreshing perspective on OCD treatment.

The 4 things you’ll learn in today’s episode:

• Why mixing ICBT and ERP can be confusing if you don’t fully understand both
• How ICBT focuses on obsessional doubt rather than just intrusive thoughts
• What “reality sensing” really means and why it’s not the same as doing exposures
• What the research says about ICBT’s effectiveness and how it compares to ERP

In This Episode

• [00:31] Meet the panelists
• [03:56] Can CBT and IBT/ICT be used together?
• [07:29] Is CBT arguing with OCD?
• [11:09] Doubt vs. intrusion in OCD
• [17:49] Reality sensing vs. exposure
• [20:40] Normal vs. obsessional doubt
• [24:30] Reassurance in therapy
• [26:22] Research and evidence for IBT/ICT
• [36:07] Core fears and feared possible self
• [37:34] Closing remarks and resources

Guests Featured

• Mike Heady, Co-owner and co-director of the Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute (ASDI), co- chair for ICBT SIG at IOCDF
• Carl Robbins, Director of Training at ASDI and veteran OCD clinician
• Christina Ennabe, Licensed therapist specializing in OCD and trauma, Board Member OCD New Hampshire
• Mike Parker, Private practice owner focused on OCD using ICBT, ERP, and ACT. Host of the YouTube channel, OCD Space
• Bronwyn Shroyer, LCSW, ICBT trainer, and co-founder of OCD Training School, co- chair for ICBT SIG at IOCDF

Resources & Links

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

• Instagram
• YouTube
• OCD CBT Journal Tracker and Planner
• Website

Christina Ennabe

• Website
• LinkedIn
• https://www.christinaennabe.com/icbt-course-ocd-escaping-rabbit-hole

Mike Heady

• Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute
• LinkedIn

Mike Parker

• Website
• LinkedIn
• https://www.icbttrainingonline.com

Carl Robbins

• Website
• LinkedIn

Bronwyn Shroyer

• Website
• LinkedIn
• OCD Training School

Please note, while our host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

Stay tuned for weekly episodes filled with valuable insights and tips for managing OCD and anxiety. And remember, keep going in the meantime. See you in the next episode!

What if the most powerful way to help your anxious child isn’t to fix them—but to change you? In this episode of the OCD Whisperer podcast, host Kristina Orlova welcomes licensed therapist and anxiety expert Robyn Isman to discuss the SPACE protocol (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions). Robyn, certified in SPACE, explains how this evidence-based approach helps reduce childhood anxiety by focusing solely on parents' behaviors rather than direct child intervention. She breaks down the SPACE framework, emphasizing how parental accommodations—such as avoiding triggers or providing excessive reassurance—unintentionally reinforce anxiety cycles.

Robyn highlights key steps in SPACE, including educating parents about anxiety as an interpersonal dynamic, identifying accommodations, and creating targeted plans to reduce them. She stresses the importance of "supportive language," which validates a child's fears while expressing confidence in their ability to cope. The conversation also tackles common challenges, such as managing meltdowns during the process and reframing accommodation reduction as an act of love. Robyn shares inspiring success stories and teases her upcoming membership program for parents seeking guidance.

Listeners will gain practical insights into fostering resilience in anxious children by stepping back—with compassion—to let them grow..

The 3 things you’ll learn in today’s episode:

• Why reducing accommodations—not increasing them—is key to helping your anxious child.
• How to shift from "fixing your kid" to examining your own role in the anxiety cycle.
• Actionable tools from the SPACE method: mapping accommodations, supportive language, stress testing, and more.

In This Episode

• [00:00] Introduction and free OCD resources
• [00:45] Meet Robyn Iseman, SPACE-certified therapist
• [01:10] What is the SPACE method and how does it work?
• [02:20] Understanding anxiety as interpersonal
• [04:30] Parental accommodations: what they are and why they matter
• [07:50] Mapping accommodations and setting target behaviors
• [10:20] How to handle meltdowns and anger using SPACE
• [14:00] Emotional regulation—for parents
• [17:50] How to respond when your child gets upset
• [20:30] Supportive language and delayed response techniques
• [23:30] Creating distance from anxiety through externalization
• [25:50] Addressing safety, stress-testing, and tapping out as parents
• [28:45] The power of the “announcement” and doing this with love
• [33:00] Real-life results: How SPACE transforms family dynamics
• [35:11] Robyn’s upcoming membership and where to find her

Our Guest

Robyn Isman is a licensed therapist and anxiety expert certified in the SPACE method, with over a decade of experience working with children, teens, and families. Through her private practice and upcoming membership platform, Robyn equips parents with tools to confidently support their anxious children—without reinforcing the anxiety itself. She offers education, strategy, and compassion in equal measure.

Resources & Links

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

• Instagram
• YouTube
• OCD CBT Journal Tracker and Planner
• Website

Robyn Isman

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Parenting The Anxious Child Membership

Please note, while our host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

Stay tuned for weekly episodes filled with valuable insights and tips for managing OCD and anxiety. And remember, keep going in the meantime. See you in the next episode!

Did you know OCD is like an overprotective friend—one that targets what you love most? It sounds strange, doesn’t it?

In this episode of the OCD Whisperer Podcast, host Kristina Orlova is joined by Dr. Thomas Ballas, a clinical psychologist specializing in OCD, anxiety, perfectionism, and trauma. Dr. Ballas provides therapy via telehealth across 42 states and brings a practical, evidence-based perspective to the discussion.

Together, they explore the concept of theme shifting in OCD—how intrusive thoughts often jump from one obsession to another—and why ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) remains effective even as themes evolve. The conversation also covers Relationship OCD, highlighting ways to differentiate between genuine relationship concerns and OCD-driven doubt.

The episode concludes with a discussion on rebuilding self-trust and confidence after years of navigating OCD.

If you've ever found yourself second-guessing your thoughts, your feelings, or even your relationships, this conversation offers clarity, practical tools, and a fresh way to understand what’s really going on. Let’s jump into it!

The 3 things you’ll learn in today’s episode:

• Why OCD themes change and how to apply ERP no matter what your brain latches onto
• What differentiates real relationship concerns from Relationship OCD and how to tell the difference
• How to build mood-independent confidence and make values-based decisions despite doubt

In This Episode

• [00:32] Introduction to Dr Thomas Ballas
• [01:23] What OCD theme shifting is and why it happens
• [02:01] Why OCD attacks what we value most
• [03:29] The internal false alarm system and shifting fear
• [05:07] How to apply ERP even when themes change
• [06:11] Noticing the same patterns behind different thoughts
• [07:05] Navigating taboo and emotionally charged OCD themes
• [08:19] “But this time it feels different” – how to manage doubts that seem real
• [09:23] Diving into Relationship OCD and distinguishing it from real concerns
• [11:14] Real dysfunction vs. OCD-fueled rumination
• [13:07] Self-doubt, shame, and the role of mood-independent choices
• [14:25] Confidence, compassion, and choosing values-based actions
• [15:28] Where to find Dr. Thomas Ballas online

Our Guest

Dr. Thomas Ballas is a clinical psychologist based in New York and New Jersey, specializing in OCD, anxiety, perfectionism, and trauma. Through telehealth, he serves clients in over 42 states. His approach emphasizes evidence-based techniques like ERP and values-driven recovery. Dr. Ballas is passionate about helping people regain self-trust and build resilience on their journey with OCD.

Resources & Links

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

• Instagram
• YouTube
• OCD CBT Journal Tracker and Planner
• Website

Dr. Thomas Ballas

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Mentioned

• Cognitive Therapy for OCD
• Sneaky Rituals with Jenna Overbaugh
• ICBT with Kristina Orlova and Christina Ennabe

Please note, while our host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

Stay tuned for weekly episodes filled with valuable insights and tips for managing OCD and anxiety. And remember, keep going in the meantime. See you in the next episode!

In this deeply personal and enlightening episode of the OCD Whisperer Podcast, host Kristina Orlova sits down with Crystal Propes—a wife, mother of three, and passionate mental health advocate. Crystal shares her lifelong experience with emetophobia (fear of vomiting), OCD, ADHD, and PTSD, offering a raw and honest look at what it’s like to live with intersecting conditions—and how healing is possible.

Crystal opens up about the early onset of emetophobia and how it later intertwined with health and contamination OCD, particularly as a mother. She walks us through the long road to diagnosis, the gap between recognizing OCD and finally seeking help, and the breakthrough she experienced using Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT).

You’ll hear about how CBT modules, especially those on reality sensing and alternative narratives, helped her stop ruminating and reconnect with the present. Kristina and Crystal also dive into the nuanced differences between OCD and ADHD, offering clarity and validation for listeners who might be navigating both.

Whether you’re exploring treatment options, parenting with OCD, or trying to make peace with uncertainty, this episode is filled with hope, humor, and empowering insights.

The 3 things you’ll learn in today’s episode:

• How emetophobia and OCD often intertwine—and why it can escalate during parenthood
• Why ERP isn’t one-size-fits-all, and how CBT reality-sensing exercises helped Crystal stop compulsive rumination
• The surprising differences between OCD-driven behaviors and ADHD tendencies—and how understanding both leads to self-compassion

In This Episode

• [00:03] Introduction and guest introduction
• [01:08] Crystal ’s early experiences with OCD and phobia
• [02:04] Teenage years and OCD development
• [03:38] Realization and diagnosis of OCD
• [04:17] College years and OCD struggles
• [06:16] Seeking treatment and therapy journey
• [08:46] CBT modules and life-changing insights
• [12:05] Managing doubt and realistic fears
• [14:44] Acceptance and setting boundaries
• [16:28] OCD and ADHD intersection
• [18:32] ADHD symptoms and coping strategies
• [20:28] Conclusion and contact information

Our Guest

Crystal Props is a wife, mom of three, and passionate advocate living with OCD, emetophobia, ADHD, and PTSD. Through her candid storytelling and social media presence, she helps others feel seen in their mental health journeys, breaking stigma and offering relatable, real-life tools for navigating anxiety, neurodivergence, and parenting.

Resources & Links

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

• Instagram
• YouTube
• OCD CBT Journal Tracker and Planner
• Website

Crystal Propes

• Instagram

Mentioned

• Cognitive Therapy for OCD
• I-CBT Training Online
• Sneaky Rituals with Jenna Overbaugh
• ICBT with Kristina Orlova and Christina Ennabe

Please note, while our host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

Stay tuned for weekly episodes filled with valuable insights and tips for managing OCD and anxiety. And remember, keep going in the meantime. See you in the next episode!