In this special Thanksgiving Day episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast, the tables turn as Dr. Patrick McGrath takes the spotlight — but not as the interviewer. Tia Wilson steps in to ask the questions, giving listeners a rare glimpse into Patrick’s personal and professional journey.

For the next 45 minutes, Patrick opens up about his early struggles with childhood anxiety, the rejections that ultimately shaped his path to psychology, his decision to make OCD his life’s mission, and the profound loss of his wife to cancer. 

Though he doesn’t have OCD himself, Patrick’s deep understanding of the disorder has earned him the trust of countless individuals seeking help. This heartfelt conversation offers a deeper connection to the man behind the mission at NOCD.

Want help for OCD from Patrick and our top-of-the-line therapists? Visit https://learn.nocd.com/podcast to book a free consultation. 

Show notes:
0:00 Intro

1:38 Patrick gets “bamboozled” 

2:10 Patrick’s upbringing 

10:30 How Patrick ended up in field of psychology 

13:31 How Patrick understands OCD despite not having 

15:19 Patrick applies own therapy techniques while his wife was cancer-stricken 

18:48 The difficulty of being a caregiver

22:02 Being open about grief

24:18 “Good” days and “bad” days

30:45 How Patrick summarizes OCD to others

34:53 What Patrick does for NOCD

36:20 How OCD treatment has improved since Patrick began his career

43:30 Patrick’s parting advice if you have OCD

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