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What Qualifies as Intrusive Thoughts? | Kristen McLoud, LCSW
In this episode of Therapist Voices @ ReachLink, we speak with Kristen McLoud, LCSW, owner and psychotherapist at Mental Wholeness Psychotherapy, about three practical ways to deal with intrusive thoughts before they take over your day.
Kristen breaks down why suppressing a thought only invites it back in, and walks through the tools she actually uses with clients: logging thoughts to spot patterns, labeling cognitive distortions like catastrophizing and fortune telling, and using mindfulness and breathwork to calm the body before trying to challenge the thought itself.
We also talk about where intrusive thoughts tend to show up most, including major life transitions like motherhood and caregiving, why shame keeps so many people from getting help, and how medication and therapy can work together rather than one replacing the other.
Chapters
00:00 – Episode Introduction
00:40 – Kristen's Path Into Therapy
01:57 – What Intrusive Thoughts Really Are
03:48 – Where Intrusive Thoughts Come From
05:03 – Shame as a Barrier to Getting Help
06:24 – How Treatment Begins
09:16 – Logging Thoughts and Retraining the Brain
10:58 – Labeling Cognitive Distortions
14:03 – Intrusive Thoughts vs. OCD
16:08 – ReachLink Ad Break
17:24 – How Intrusive Thoughts Impact Daily Life
19:55 – Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques in Session
22:34 – Medication, Therapy, and Working Together
25:06 – Anxiety During Life Transitions
Guest Bio
Kristen McLoud, LCSW, is the owner and psychotherapist at Mental Wholeness Psychotherapy, licensed in New York, Florida, and South Carolina. Her specialty is anxiety, with a focus on intrusive thoughts and helping clients rewire automatic thinking patterns and build effective tools for emotional regulation. Kristen works extensively with clients navigating sensitive life transitions such as motherhood and caregiving, as well as those experiencing burnout and disconnection from their sense of purpose. She primarily offers telehealth sessions.
Links and Resources
Follow Kristen McLoud and Mental Wholeness Psychotherapy:
Website -> https://www.mentalwholeness.com
LinkedIn -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristendmcloud/
Therapist Aid (cognitive distortion worksheets) -> https://www.therapistaid.com
Dr. Aaron Beck, founder of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Dr. Barry Panzer, Kristen's CBT mentor
Connect with ReachLink
Website -> https://reachlink.com/
LinkedIn -> https://linkedin.com/company/reachlink
Learn more about therapist opportunities -> https://reachlink.com/for-providers/
View all episodes
By ReachLinkIn this episode of Therapist Voices @ ReachLink, we speak with Kristen McLoud, LCSW, owner and psychotherapist at Mental Wholeness Psychotherapy, about three practical ways to deal with intrusive thoughts before they take over your day.
Kristen breaks down why suppressing a thought only invites it back in, and walks through the tools she actually uses with clients: logging thoughts to spot patterns, labeling cognitive distortions like catastrophizing and fortune telling, and using mindfulness and breathwork to calm the body before trying to challenge the thought itself.
We also talk about where intrusive thoughts tend to show up most, including major life transitions like motherhood and caregiving, why shame keeps so many people from getting help, and how medication and therapy can work together rather than one replacing the other.
Chapters
00:00 – Episode Introduction
00:40 – Kristen's Path Into Therapy
01:57 – What Intrusive Thoughts Really Are
03:48 – Where Intrusive Thoughts Come From
05:03 – Shame as a Barrier to Getting Help
06:24 – How Treatment Begins
09:16 – Logging Thoughts and Retraining the Brain
10:58 – Labeling Cognitive Distortions
14:03 – Intrusive Thoughts vs. OCD
16:08 – ReachLink Ad Break
17:24 – How Intrusive Thoughts Impact Daily Life
19:55 – Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques in Session
22:34 – Medication, Therapy, and Working Together
25:06 – Anxiety During Life Transitions
Guest Bio
Kristen McLoud, LCSW, is the owner and psychotherapist at Mental Wholeness Psychotherapy, licensed in New York, Florida, and South Carolina. Her specialty is anxiety, with a focus on intrusive thoughts and helping clients rewire automatic thinking patterns and build effective tools for emotional regulation. Kristen works extensively with clients navigating sensitive life transitions such as motherhood and caregiving, as well as those experiencing burnout and disconnection from their sense of purpose. She primarily offers telehealth sessions.
Links and Resources
Follow Kristen McLoud and Mental Wholeness Psychotherapy:
Website -> https://www.mentalwholeness.com
LinkedIn -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristendmcloud/
Therapist Aid (cognitive distortion worksheets) -> https://www.therapistaid.com
Dr. Aaron Beck, founder of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Dr. Barry Panzer, Kristen's CBT mentor
Connect with ReachLink
Website -> https://reachlink.com/
LinkedIn -> https://linkedin.com/company/reachlink
Learn more about therapist opportunities -> https://reachlink.com/for-providers/