Yours

Podcasts · Kids & Family · Health & Fitness

AT Parenting Survival | Raising Kids with OCD & Anxiety

Natasha Daniels: Child Therapist, Child Anxiety and Child OCD Expert

300 episodes

If you’re raising a child or teen with OCD or anxiety, you’re in the right place.

More about the show

Parenting a child with OCD can feel confusing, exhausting, and isolating, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Each week, therapist Natasha Daniels shares practical, evidence-based strategies to help you understand how OCD and anxiety really work, respond in ways that support recovery, and feel more confident as a parent.

Whether your child struggles with contamination OCD, intrusive thoughts, reassurance seeking, perfectionism, moral OCD, social anxiety, panic, school refusal, or other anxiety-related challenges, you’ll learn realistic tools you can use at home right away.

Drawing from more than 20 years of clinical experience and her own journey parenting children with OCD and anxiety, Natasha breaks down complex topics into clear, compassionate guidance that parents can actually apply. Episodes cover OCD treatment, ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), reducing family accommodation, managing meltdowns, supporting therapy, and navigating everyday challenges with confidence.

Whether you’re newly discovering that your child’s anxiety may actually be OCD, searching for better ways to help, or simply looking for reassurance that you’re not alone, this podcast is here to support you every step of the way.

Welcome to AT Parenting Survival: Raising Kids with OCD & Anxiety.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes page 2 of 6

  1. Understanding Your Role: What You Can and Can’t Do When Your Child Has OCD

    · 42 min

    As parents, we want to rescue our kids from anxiety and OCD—but the truth is, some things are not within our control. And when we spend our energy trying to fix what isn’t ours to fix, we burn out, lose connection with…

  2. The 7 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make When Trying to Help OCD (and What to Do Instead)

    · 39 min

    Are you trying everything to help your child’s OCD… yet nothing seems to stick? You’re not alone—and it’s not because you’re doing anything wrong. In this episode, I’m breaking down the 7 most common mistakes parents…

  3. The Do’s and Don’ts of Pulling Back OCD Accommodations

    · 42 min

    When your child struggles with OCD, it’s natural to want to ease their distress, but those well-meaning “helping” moments can actually feed OCD’s control. In this episode, Natasha breaks down how to pull back…

  4. My Child Can’t Explain Their OCD—Now What?

    · 36 min

    When your child can’t explain their OCD, it can feel impossible to know how to help. Many kids feel embarrassed, don’t have the words, or experience OCD as a feeling instead of a clear fear. Sometimes the compulsions…

  5. When Reassurance Becomes an OCD Compulsion: How Parents Can Respond Differently

    · 34 min

    When your child is stuck in an endless cycle of reassurance, it can feel impossible to break free. Reassurance may bring temporary relief, but for kids with OCD it actually fuels the disorder and makes things worse in…

  6. Why Your Go-To Parenting Strategies Don’t Work on OCD

    · 35 min

    Parents often rely on their usual parenting strategies to help their child with OCD — but those same strategies can actually backfire. In this episode, I break down the most common approaches parents try and explain…

  7. When OCD Shifts: Handling Theme Changes in Kids & Teens with OCD

    · 47 min

    OCD loves to change costumes. One week it’s germs, the next it’s harm or moral worries—and parents are left wondering, “Are we back at square one?” In this episode I explain why theme changes are common, what’s…

  8. Interview with Dr. Tamar Chansky Author of Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

    · 47 min

    In this podcast episode, I sit down with Dr. Tamar Chansky to talk about the newly revised edition of her classic book, Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Dr. Chansky has helped countless families…

  9. How to Help Young Children with OCD

    · 40 min

    OCD can show up much earlier than most people realize — and often in ways parents don’t immediately recognize. For younger kids, compulsions might appear before they can even describe intrusive thoughts. You might see…

  10. Does Your Child Have Contamination OCD: Are You Missing This?

    · 37 min

    Contamination OCD can be easy to spot, but often, it runs much deeper than what you are observing. In this episode, I break down the common mistakes parents make when trying to support a child with contamination OCD,…

  11. Moral OCD: Mistakes Parents Often Make (and How to Avoid Them)

    · 51 min

    Moral OCD can be tricky for parents to recognize because it often looks like strong values, deep guilt, or honest confessions. In this episode, I break down the most common pitfalls parents fall into when trying to…

  12. 5 Things I’ve Learned Raising a Child with OCD, Anxiety & ARFID

    · 44 min

    Parenting a child with OCD, anxiety, and ARFID changes you in ways you can’t fully understand until you’re living it. Over the years, I’ve learned some powerful lessons — often the hard way — that have reshaped how I…

  13. From Fixer to Anchor: A Mindset Shift for Parents of Kids with OCD

    · 43 min

    When our child is in distress, it’s natural to want to jump in and fix things. But with OCD, that urge to solve, control, or protect can actually get in the way of long-term growth. In this episode, I talk about one…

  14. When You’re More Motivated Than Your Child to Fight OCD

    · 47 min

    You’re reading the books, watching the videos, and learning everything you can to help your child with OCD. But your child? They’re shutting down, avoiding exposures, or flat-out refusing to engage. Sound familiar? In…

  15. When Anxiety and OCD Feel Contagious—How to Stay Grounded

    · 43 min

    When you’re raising a child with anxiety or OCD, it’s easy to feel like you’re absorbing all of their fear, stress, and urgency. Their nervous system is on high alert—and suddenly, so is yours. In this episode, we…

  16. When Helping Hurts: Navigating Burnout in OCD Parenting

    · 42 min

    When you’re parenting a child with OCD, burnout can sneak in quietly—and then hit hard. You’re doing all the things: managing compulsions, pulling back OCD accommodations, showing up for exposures, and trying to keep…

  17. Why Kids with OCD Say ‘I Don’t Know’ to Everything—and What You Can Do About It

    · 47 min

    Do you ask your child with OCD a question—about their thoughts, feelings, or fears—only to get “I don’t know” in return? It can be frustrating, confusing, and leave you feeling stuck. But for kids with OCD, those three…

  18. How to Reclaim Moments of Peace While Parenting a Child with OCD and Anxiety

    · 57 min

    When you’re parenting a child with OCD or anxiety, life can start to feel like one long crisis response. You may find yourself constantly managing meltdowns, fears, compulsions—and feeling like there’s no room for…

  19. Navigating Travel with Kids Who Have Mental Health & Special Needs: Tips from a Travel Expert

    · 51 min

    Traveling with kids who have mental health or special needs can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I talk with Hana Seyoum, founder of World of Possibilities Travel and a Certified Autism…

  20. Raising Mentally STRONG Kids with Dr. Cristi Bundukamara

    · 50 min

    In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Cristi Bundukamara—known as Dr. B—the founder of Mentally STRONG and creator of the Raising Mentally STRONG Kids program. We explore what it really means to build resilience,…

  21. Child OCD Bedtime Battles: How to Stop the Nighttime Loops That Trap You and Your Child

    · 41 min

    Bedtime shouldn’t feel like a battleground—but for many families raising a child with OCD, nighttime is when the OCD compulsions ramp up and take over. In this episode, child therapist and OCD parenting expert Natasha…

  22. Therapy for a Child with OCD Isn’t Enough: Why Your Role is Crucial

    · 36 min

    Child OCD Therapy is important—but it’s not the whole answer. In this episode, child therapist and OCD parent Natasha Daniels explains why therapy alone isn’t enough to help a child with OCD truly thrive. You’ll…

  23. When Kids Feel Unreal: Managing Depersonalization in Child OCD and Anxiety

    · 34 min

    Is your child saying things like: I don’t feel real? Is this a dream? Am I dead? Is this really happening? They may be experiencing depersonalization, a common but often misunderstood symptom in children with OCD…

  24. How to Boost Your Child’s Confidence While Navigating Anxiety or Child OCD with Sharon West

    · 1 h 03 min

    Confidence can take a major hit when a child is struggling with OCD or anxiety. In this episode, I sit down with teen coach Sharon West to explore how we can nurture self-confidence in our kids—even as they battle…

  25. Tiffany Jenkins on Parenting with Anxiety, OCD and Depression

    · 53 min

    Tiffany Jenkins has been the authentic face of mental health struggles on the internet for years. She offers a candid, raw and often humorous view on her struggles of sobriety and mental health, helping normalize these…

  26. Child OCD vs Autism: Understanding the Key Differences

    · 32 min

    Is it autism or OCD? Sometimes the behaviors can look so similar, it’s hard to tell. In this episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast, I break down the key differences between autism and child OCD — and why…

  27. Avoid These 4 Communication Stoppers When Helping a Child with OCD

    · 47 min

    When you’re trying to support a child with OCD, communication is everything. But sometimes, even with the best intentions, we accidentally shut it down. In this episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast, I’ll walk…

  28. PSP 418: A Game Changer for Parents Raising Kids with Anxiety or OCD

    · 36 min

    Raising a child with anxiety or OCD can feel incredibly isolating. Parents often find themselves without the support, education, or guidance they desperately need. In this episode, I’m diving into the three key areas…

  29. PSP 417: The Power of Pause: Teaching Kids to Delay OCD Responses (and Why It Works)

    · 34 min

    OCD thrives on urgency. The faster your child reacts to an intrusive thought, the more powerful OCD becomes. But what if your child learned to pause—even for a few seconds—before doing an OCD compulsion? In this…

  30. PSP 416: Groundbreaking Study on Virtual ERP for Kids with OCD – with Dr. Sara Conley from NOCD

    · 31 min

    In this episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Sara Conley, a licensed clinical psychologist and clinical manager at NOCD, to discuss a groundbreaking new study on virtual Exposure and…

  31. PSP 415: When OCD Looks Like Oppositional Behavior: Understanding Hidden Compulsions

    · 37 min

    If your child refuses to shower, melts down over clothing, or avoids homework, you might assume they’re being defiant. But what if it’s actually OCD driving their behavior? In this episode of the AT Parenting Survival…

  32. PSP 414: How to Handle OCD Meltdowns Without Making Them Worse

    · 36 min

    If your child has OCD, you’ve likely witnessed an OCD-driven meltdown—intense distress triggered by an intrusive thought, fear, or the inability to complete a compulsion. These meltdowns can be overwhelming for both…

  33. PSP 413: When Your Child’s OCD & Anxiety Turn Into School Avoidance

    · 53 min

    Anxiety and OCD can abruptly put the brakes on our children’s education.This is one of the most disruptive and concerning aspects of our children’s OCD or anxiety. It is a slippery slope that can gain momentum and get…

  34. PSP 412: Improving Our Child’s Life with OCD with Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz

    · 48 min

    How do we help our children with OCD have a better quality of life? Our child’s OCD is more than just Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. It is more than just their intrusive thoughts and their compulsions.…

  35. PSP 411: When Your Child’s OCD Says a Loved One is Contaminated

    · 38 min

    There is nothing more disruptive and upsetting than OCD latching on to a loved one. Contamination isn’t just about germs - it can be about people, people our kids love. Families get thrown into chaos when OCD decides a…

  36. PSP 410: Helping Your Child with OCD or Anxiety When They Feel Hopeless

    · 41 min

    Struggling with Anxiety and OCD can make kids feel hopeless. Hopelessness can lead to depression and a lack of motivation to work on their issues. In this week’s AT Parenting Survival Podcast I explore what causes…

  37. PSP 409: When You See Anxiety or OCD in Others Kids

    · 35 min

    As you become more educated about anxiety and OCD, you most likely will start seeing it all around you. It can be hard to stomach seeing a child struggling with anxiety or OCD, especially if their parents aren’t aware…

  38. PSP 408: How to Use Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory with Kids with Anxiety or OCD

    · 44 min

    I quickly fell in love with Mel Robbins’ book The Let Them Theory. It is such a simple, and yet powerful approach to living your life. Throughout the book I thought about how the Let Them Theory could be adapted to…

  39. PSP 407: Helping Kids with OCD and Magical Thinking

    · 34 min

    OCD can convince our kids that they have control over the uncontrollable. That is at the heart of magical thinking OCD compulsions. Magical thinking is when OCD convinces a person that if they do or don’t do something…

  40. PSP 406: How to Handle Tourettic OCD with Dr. John Piacentini

    · 40 min

    Not every OCD theme is about a fear, sometimes it is about a feeling. That is the case with Tourettic OCD. Tourettic OCD is not triggered by an intrusive thought, but rather a somatic urge. Compulsions can include…

  41. PSP 405: How to Improve Communication when Dealing with Your Child’s OCD or Anxiety

    · 46 min

    Effective communication is one of the most essential aspects of parenting a child with OCD or anxiety. When communication breaks down, our ability to support them directly becomes limited. The way we communicate, the…

  42. PSP 404: How Your Childhood Impacts How You Handle Your Child’s Anxiety or OCD

    · 44 min

    We don’t just leave our childhood in the past. It comes with us, altering our lens of how we view life. This includes how we view and interact with our child’s anxiety or OCD. When we learn to identify the “smudges”…

  43. PSP 403: Parents at Odds: How Disagreements Impact Progress with Anxiety and OCD

    · 50 min

    When parents disagree on how to approach their child’s anxiety or OCD, they do more than irritate each other, it impacts their child’s progress with anxiety or OCD. In this week’s episode of the AT Parenting Survival…

  44. PSP: 402: Knowing When to Step Back: Supporting Your Child with OCD or Anxiety Without Overpushing

    · 47 min

    Trying to help a child with OCD or anxiety is not an easy task. One reason for that is because we are not steering the ship. This is not our battle. This is not our struggle. Although trust me, I know we have our own…

  45. PSP 401: Are We Inadvertently Contributing to Our Child’s Helplessness?

    · 39 min

    We all want our kids with anxiety or OCD to believe in themselves. We want them to try hard things. We want them to push through their fears. But we only have so much control on how motivated they are to do those…

  46. PSP: 400: The Difference Between Reframing Anxiety Thoughts vs OCD Thoughts

    · 40 min

    How we reframe anxious thoughts vs OCD thoughts are vastly different. Understanding the nuances of how we talk to these two disorders differently is crucial for any parent trying to help their child. In this week’s AT…

  47. PSP: 399: Why the Core Fear Matters in Anxiety and OCD

    · 45 min

    Does it really matter if you understand the core fear related to your child’s anxiety or OCD. The short answer - yes. Of course we will treat anxiety with anxiety tools regardless of theme or core fear. And we will…

  48. PSP: 398: Handling Your Child’s Anxiety, OCD and Christmas Break

    · 39 min

    Just because it is the holiday season doesn’t mean our child’s anxiety and OCD take a break. The holidays can stir up a variety of issues for our kids depending on their particular anxiety and OCD themes. Down time…

  49. PSP: 397: Feelings of Failure When Our Child’s Anxiety or OCD Doesn’t Get better

    · 33 min

    As parents we can be hard on ourselves. The parenting journey raising kids with anxiety and OCD can come with many ups and downs. Many of us blame ourselves when our child’s anxiety or OCD doesn’t get better. But the…

  50. PSP: 396: A New OCD Tool to Help Kids Practice Their Skills at Home

    · 35 min

    Often it is hard to get our kids into OCD therapy, and when we do, it can be an uphill battle to get them to practice those skills in between sessions. That is why I’m so excited to offer another tool to your at-home…

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.