Imagine this: A bright, capable adult, full of potential, yet paralyzed by the invisible grip of OCD. They live at home, rely on their parents for everything, and seem unable to take the first step toward independence. The parents, heartbroken and exhausted, wonder, “Where did we go wrong? How do we help without hurting?” It’s a delicate dance, a tightrope walk between support and enabling, between love and letting go.

In this compelling episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, host Kristina Orlova, LMFT, welcomes Natalia Aiza, LPC, co-founder of Kairos Wellness Collective, for an insightful discussion on the challenges of "failure to launch" among adults with OCD. Together, they explore the complexities of dependency, the role of parental accommodations, and actionable strategies to help individuals with OCD take meaningful steps toward autonomy. Natalia shares her expertise on fostering independence through gradual, supportive approaches while emphasizing the importance of real-world exposure, skill-building, and overcoming the mental barriers that OCD creates. This episode is a must-listen for parents, caregivers, and individuals navigating the journey toward self-reliance.

In This Episode

[00:00:02] Introduction to the episode

[00:01:04] Understanding "failure to launch"

[00:02:33] Dependency and OCD

[00:04:03] Parental guidance for adult children

[00:05:41] Research on dependency

[00:07:12] Creating independence plans

[00:08:53] Challenges of financial independence

[00:09:56] Motivation and comfort zones

[00:12:41] Gradual process of change

[00:13:20] Long-term parenting goals

[00:14:49] Overcoming anticipatory anxiety

[00:16:29] Learning new skills

[00:18:35] Real-world exposure through jobs

[00:19:27] Understanding OCD's impact on progress

[00:20:45] The importance of financial independence

[00:21:34] Rethinking personal rationalizations

[00:21:45] Taking action against OCD

[00:22:14] How to connect with Natalia

[00:22:54] Closing remarks

Notable Quotes

Our Guest

Natalia Aniela Aíza, LPC, is the founder and executive director of Kairos Wellness Collective, a leading OCD clinic based in Boulder, Colorado. A Harvard graduate and daughter of a political refugee, Natalia brings a unique perspective to mental health care, shaped by her multicultural background and fluency in multiple languages. With a career dedicated to serving diverse communities—including Latinx populations and medically complex children—Natalia is a passionate advocate for social justice and expanding access to effective OCD treatment. Under her leadership, Kairos Wellness Collective has helped over 2,000 clients across four locations. Natalia is also a writer, speaker, and advocate committed to improving mental health care and practitioner competency.

Resources & Links

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

Natalia Aiza

Mentioned 

Disclaimer

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 biweekly 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!