After decades in the field, these two veteran therapists have seen it all — the stigma, the broken insurance policies, and the slow grind toward change. But now, they say, something real is happening. Mental health is finally being recognized for what it is: essential care. And the system is starting to reflect that — from better insurance parity to easier access through virtual platforms.

In this episode, Dr. Patrick McGrath and Chris Novak pull back the curtain on the mental health industry. They talk about what’s finally working, what still needs to change, and why finding the right therapist matters more than ever. 

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Carrie Berk has been battling a spiraling mind for as long as she can remember. As a child, she kept her OCD rituals secret. As a teen, her anxiety took over during the silence of the pandemic. And even now — as a published author, popular content creator, and mental health advocate — the intrusive thoughts haven’t gone away. But instead of waiting to be “cured,” Carrie chose something else: to live, to create, and to speak out.

In this raw and revealing conversation, she shares what it means to build a life with anxiety as your shadow — and why she refuses to let it steal her voice. From her new book Mindfire to her journey through therapy and self-discovery, Carrie opens up about the hardest thoughts she’s had, the tools that helped her move forward, and the truth that changed everything: it’s not about being cured — it’s about learning how to live with what’s still there.

0:00 Intro
2:28 Meet Carrie
3:30 Why Carrie’s book is called Mindfire
4:27 Early signs of having OCD
7:54 Feeling you are alone
9:16 Self-harm and suicidal thoughts are not the same
11:31 Listen to your gut
15:24 Why OCD feels so real
17:47 Carrie’s book is a roadmap for OCD
20:54 Advice if you’re struggling
22:25 You’ll never “cross the finish line” with OCD
25:41 How OCD safety behaviors affected Carrie
31:17 What Carrie does when OCD cuts into her passions
33:41 OCD is misunderstood
36:10 How to talk about your OCD with someone else
37:17 How friends and extended family members react to Carrie’s OCD
42:10 You need to want to get better
44:18 Outro

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For many people with OCD, the path to getting diagnosed isn’t quick — it’s a journey that can take over a decade. In fact, the average time it takes to receive an accurate OCD diagnosis is 17 years. Dr. Patrick McGrath knows this all too well. In this video, he shares why OCD is so often missed, how even well-meaning therapists can overlook the signs, and what the actual diagnostic process looks like when done right.

Through personal stories and clinical insight, Dr. McGrath walks viewers through the real markers of OCD — not just what you’ve seen in movies. He explains why intrusive thoughts and mental compulsions often go unnoticed, how shame and secrecy play a role, and what it finally takes to get the help you need. If you've spent years wondering what's really going on in your mind, this video might be the moment things finally make sense.

If you're struggling with anything we covered in this video, our specialized therapists might be able to help. To book a free 15-minute call, visit us at https://learn.nocd.com/podcast

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Sabrina Eliano never thought she’d end up in therapy. Raised in a family where mental health wasn’t discussed — and where seeking help was seen as something only “crazy” people did — she carried that belief well into adulthood. Even as she struggled with obsessive thoughts and anxiety that began to take over her life, she convinced herself it wasn’t that bad. But when she found herself on a subway platform, overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts and wishing the train would hit her just to make the noise stop, something finally broke. She realized she had no one left to talk to — and no other option but to try the very thing she had spent her whole life avoiding.

What happened next didn’t just help her cope — it changed her life. Therapy, specifically Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), gave Sabrina the tools to stop fearing her thoughts and start reclaiming control. In this episode, she opens up about the cultural stigma that kept her silent, the physical toll OCD took on her body, and the moment she went from resisting therapy to pursuing a career in it.

0:00 Intro and mental health awareness month
2:55 Meet Sabrina
6:10 Sabrina goes to therapy after resisting it
10:33 Changing career paths because of her therapy experience
12:24 Ruminating on thoughts
15:46 Realizing your experience and thoughts have an explanation
17:39 OCD never gives relief — not even when you give in to it
18:30 Why OCD feels so real
23:33 How cultures and families think about therapy
28:20 Trying ERP without safety behaviors
32:57 Not being asked about mental health during the medical process
35:58 Advice from Sabrina to those struggling with OCD
37:57 Living the life you want to live — not OCD’s life
39:19 Why Sabrina never gave up on therapy
44:21 Sabrina’s takeaway message

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In this eye-opening Q&A, licensed therapist Tracie Ibrahim dives deep into the realities of Pure O OCD — a lesser-known but deeply distressing form of obsessive-compulsive disorder. She answers the most common questions around intrusive thoughts, compulsions, diagnosis, and treatment, all with compassion and clarity. Whether you're struggling yourself or supporting someone who is, this conversation sheds light on what Pure O really is — and what healing can look like.

If you're struggling with OCD, our NOCD therapists might be able to help. They are specially trained in ERP therapy — the most effective treatment against OCD. To learn about treatment options, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/podcast

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Bridget McGuire lived with undiagnosed OCD for decades. It started in childhood — intrusive thoughts, irrational fears, compulsive rituals — all hidden under the surface while she tried to live a “normal” life. From believing she’d get pregnant from kissing a boy to taking HIV medication she didn’t need, her brain never gave her a break. Therapy helped, but it wasn’t until she faced OCD head-on that things started to change.

Then came stand-up. What began as a creative outlet after a breakup quickly became a way to take control of the narrative. Bridget’s acts use comedy to explore the absurdity, pain, and resilience of life with OCD — and somehow, it’s hilarious. In this episode, she opens up about what it means to laugh at the very thing that nearly unraveled her.

0:00 Intro
2:50 Meet Bridget 
5:05 Watch a comedic bit from Bridget about OCD
7:43 Coming from a family of “worrywarts” 
9:26 What Bridget worried about early in life
13:37 Seeing therapists for the first time
16:35 The struggles of finding specialized care for OCD
17:51 The depths OCD can take you
21:40 OCD can’t be figured out
22:59 Bridget tries ERP for the first time
26:53 Bridget went to the program Patrick started
28:36 You can’t be brave if you’re not afraid
29:34 Breaking down stigma 
32:36 Difficulties of attaining OCD therapy
34:24 You can do therapy online
35:55 Life after treatment  
37:14 Living in New York can bring out the worst of OCD
37:53 Becoming obsessed with bed bugs
44:12 Why Bridget jokes about OCD
47:19 How to watch Bridget's act
48:09 Advice from Bridget if you have OCD
49:43 Outro

If you're struggling with OCD, our NOCD therapists might be able to help. They are specially trained in ERP therapy — the most effective treatment against OCD. To learn about treatment options, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/podcast

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Brenna Posey grew up hearing she was just a “worrywart” — but the truth was deeper. Her thoughts weren’t just anxious, they were relentless. The “what ifs” took over her mind and daily life. In this video, Brenna shares her journey of discovering that her constant worrying wasn’t just anxiety — it was OCD. She walks through the subtle but important differences between normal worry and something more serious, and how getting the right diagnosis changed everything.

If Brenna’s story sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and there’s help. Our best-in-care therapists specialize in treating OCD and can help you find relief. Book a free 15-minute call here: https://learn.nocd.com/podcast

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When intrusive thoughts or strange sensations start taking over, a lot of people with OCD fear the worst — what if it’s not OCD at all? What if it’s something like psychosis or schizophrenia? In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains the critical differences between OCD, delusions, and hallucinations, why the fear of “what if it’s not OCD” is so common, and how real insight plays a major role in telling them apart. If you’ve ever doubted your diagnosis, this breakdown will help you understand what’s really going on.

Struggling with intrusive thoughts? Our best-in-care therapists might be able to help. To book a free 15-minute call, visit us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT

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What if a single text message could change the way your brain works? After years of battling schizophrenia, OCD, and bipolar disorder, Johnny Crowder discovered something powerful: interrupting negative thought patterns — even briefly — can start to reshape the mind. That insight led him to create Cope Notes, a company that sends randomized, psychology-based text messages to help people rewire their brains for better mental health. Built on the science of neuroplasticity and rooted in personal experience, the platform has now delivered millions of messages to users around the world.

In this episode, Johnny shares how he went from refusing to talk about his mental health to building a platform that helps thousands do just that. He breaks down the science behind Cope Notes, why randomness matters, and how something as small as a text can become a turning point. It’s not about toxic positivity or replacing therapy — it’s about giving your brain a new default, one message at a time.

0:00 Intro
2:15 Meet Johnny
5:55 OCD was debilitating
7:33 Common phrases that minimize OCD
11:08 OCD-character traits can become beneficial AFTER treatment
13:17 Using rationale to stump OCD
14:47 We are great at motivating everyone but ourselves
19:02 Moving the goalposts
21:08 Starting Cope Notes
24:00 How Cope Notes has impacted others
27:49 Cope Notes at a neuropsychological level
30:31 Negative feelings are not ALL bad
37:02 What if disorder
38:20 Why Johnny is so positive despite his conditions
42:33 One of the biggest lies of OCD
47:05 How to connect with Johnny

If you're struggling with OCD, our NOCD therapists might be able to help. They are specially trained in ERP therapy — the most effective treatment against OCD. To learn about treatment options, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/podcast

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Brenna Posey always thought she had a good grasp on her OCD, but everything shifted when she started hearing celebrities like Luke Combs, Nikki Glaser, and Ariana Grande open up about their own mental health struggles. Their stories weren’t just relatable — they were eye-opening. Luke talked about being consumed by intrusive thoughts even while performing on stage, Nikki shared how her OCD fed into an eating disorder, and Ariana described rituals that kept her trapped in a cycle. Hearing those raw, honest moments helped Brenna connect dots in her own experience that she hadn’t seen before.

In this video, Brenna reflects on the impact those stories had on her understanding of OCD and why celebrity voices can play a powerful role in breaking stigma. She explains how each of their perspectives helped her realize that OCD isn’t one-size-fits-all, and that even people at the top of their careers are navigating the same exhausting mental loops. Most of all, it reminded her — and now hopefully you — that struggling with OCD doesn’t mean you can’t live a full, meaningful life.

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