Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is characterized by intense compulsions that, at times, feel impossible to ignore. These YouTube channels on OCD have information, tips, and can help you get started on a treatment plan to help manage your OCD symptoms.
1. The OCD Stories
This channel follows the podcast of the same name. Each episode speaks with a doctor or patient with obsessive compulsive disorder. The goal is to help those struggling with their OCD understand their symptoms and what they’re going through. Host Stuart Ralph got tired of people not having compassionate, accurate information on OCD, so he created the show to offer solutions and light a path for others.
2. International OCD Foundation
The IOCDF uses its platform to fight stigma, increase access to treatment, and foster a supportive community. One of the ways they do that is through their YouTube channel, which features town halls, live streams, and helpful information for those with OCD or assisting loved ones with OCD.
3. Chrissie Hodges/Pure OCD Advocate
Chrissie Hodes is a certified peer support specialist who connects those suffering from OCD to trained therapists. She uses her YouTube channel to talk about everything OCD-related, from sexuality to relationships to managing shame. Her channel focuses heavily on the intersection between OCD and sexuality, which makes sense when considering she struggled silently for years with homosexual OCD (the fear of or intrusive thoughts concerning sexuality).
4. Made of Millions
This nonprofit wants to change how people see mental health, and they’re using art, digital media, and technology to do it. While videos can take a broad mental health focus, many topics center around OCD, the symptoms, and how to deal with it. Videos include the science behind “Pure O”, the term for an intense form of OCD, and dealing with OCD during the pandemic.
5. Katie d’Ath
All of Katie d’Ath’s videos are based on evidence-based treatment protocols. As a cognitive-behavioral therapist who specializes in treating OCD, she wants her videos to be a source of tools and information for OCD sufferers to live their best life.
Video topics include how to deal with intrusive urges, getting clear on your compulsions, and understanding treatment.
6. Private Therapy Clinic
This London-based clinic offers a wide range of therapy, counseling, and psychology services, including information on treating, dealing with, and healing beyond OCD. Get started with their beginner’s guide to OCD or learn how to overcome intrusive thoughts.
Have other mental-health-related questions? Their YouTube channel is dedicated to answering as many questions as they can, so don’t be afraid to reach out.
7. Anxiety & OCD Discernment
John Glanvill is a therapist and OCD expert who’s using his channel to share tips and information on OCD. Previously an engineer, Glanvill is also a trained hypnotherapist and has a diploma in Integrated Mind Therapy. He has a full treatment plan on his website, but you can watch videos like his top ten tips for dealing with OCD and how OCD keeps you stuck in the same thinking loops.
8. OCD & Anxiety
A trained clinical social worker, Nathan Peterson’s goal is to use easy-to-understand, detailed videos to further illuminate mental health issues like anxiety and OCD to help as many people as he can. His online course is built for those who are in between therapy sessions or struggling to find a specialist in their area. You can still see plenty of videos on his channel though, from learning how to deal with being imperfect to intrusive thoughts about being gay.
9. Natasha Daniels
Whether you’re a parent dealing with an OCD child or dealing with your own OCD diagnosis, anxiety and OCD therapist Natasha Daniels has the tools and resources you need to thrive.
Her videos are both for parents and children, from helping children overcome their fear of falling asleep at night to discussing the difference between OCD and anxiety.
10. Reid Wilson PhD
The licensed psychologist behind the books Stopping the Noise in Your Head, Don’t Panic, and Stop Obsessing uses his channel to help those with anxiety or OCD grow beyond it. Get started with his video on why it may be worth it to step away from your fears for a moment or go the opposite direction with his video on how facing your fears can be exactly what you need.
11. TEDx Talks
TEDx is where some of the greatest minds come together to discuss everything surrounding the human experience, and OCD is no exception. Hear personal stories of success like Samantha Pena, who graduated with a major in mathematics, two minors in philosophy and history, and her Bachelors of Education, all while dealing with OCD. Or hear from Daniel McCutchen, who used mindfulness to treat his OCD.
12. Paige Pradko
Licensed psychotherapist Paige Pradko uses her channel to spread awareness and information on a variety of mental health issues, including OCD. Her channel is both for those looking for therapeutic tips and other therapists looking for scripts and advice.
Check out her dive into “pure o” obsessive thoughts or her video on how to stop obsessive “pure o” rumination.
13. Katie Morton
We’ve shared Katie Morton’s videos before, but this licensed therapist is worth noting for her mental health content on OCD as well. From videos on “pure o” to determining what OCD isn’t, her videos are full of helpful information and resources you can take advantage of.
14. The School of Life
This collection of psychologists, philosophers, and writers are dedicated to helping people live calmer, more resilient lives through mental health education. From relationships to work/life balancing, this channel is full of helpful advice.
While they do have videos on OCD and intrusive thoughts, you may also find their videos on perfectionism and hypervigilance noteworthy as well.
15. ALI GREYMOND / YOUHAVEOCD
Ali Greymond is an OCD recovery coach with a successful online recovery program. Her YouTube channel works as a companion to the program, but you don’t have to buy it to appreciate her videos. Jump in with quick videos on stopping OCD attacks or determining if your thoughts are actually intrusive.
16. Kat Hashway
Created by Kat Hashway, this channel raises public awareness about mental illness, including OCD. It also promotes recovery to anyone who lives with the sometimes debilitating effects of mental illness. While Hashway is not a therapist, she encourages her listeners to see their primary care doctor or a professional counselor for help regarding treatment. The purpose of her channel is to offer support, education, and comfort, reminding people that they are not alone in their suffering and that better days are coming.
17. OCD Illustrated
Katie Strang of OCD Illustrated is a professional therapist. She uses her Youtube channel to delve into (and illustrate) her personal OCD story, discussing things like inpatient care, social anxiety, and exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP). Strang also gives advice to the friends and family members of people with OCD, sharing unique and effectives ways they can help their loved ones.
18. Family OCD
While Family OCD no longer puts out new episodes of its podcast, The Invisible Wheelchair, it has a backlog of five year’s worth of content. Each episode includes input from mental health experts. It is a great resource for anyone who is diagnosed with OCD, as well as any concerned friends or family members. Since ending his journey with Family OCD, creator Donald Grothoff has started a new, more broad channel called Focused Health Family.
19. Doctor Ali Mattu
As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Ali Mattu says he became frustrated by the limitations of the mental health care system. Stepping away from his efforts to treat anxiety disorders at some of New York City’s top hospitals, Mattu shifted his attention to efforts related to public education, which led him to create his Youtube channel. He provides his listeners with the reliable information they need to overcome mental health challenges during today’s myriad of mental health crises.
20. Medcircle
Medcircle focuses on mental illness and mental health, covering specific topics like OCD, ADHD, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, and more. Consider this your comprehensive guide on how to survive and thrive, even if you are dealing with the difficult reality of these disorders. Featuring interviews with mental health professionals, Medcircle is a reliable source that advocates, entertains, and helps raise awareness, too.
21. Martin Burridge
Martin Burridge’s goal when he created his YouTube channel was to disseminate all the information he learned over years of training in various forms of therapy. He says he has learned a lot throughout his own experience treating people with anxiety disorders, and while his career ultimately went in a different direction, he didn’t want to waste his hard-earned knowledge. His channel offers independent, evidence-based resources for anyone who is struggling with their mental health.
When to See a Therapist for OCD
OCD can feel debilitating if left untreated and, in intense cases, hinder life in major ways. A therapist can help you find a trained professional and treatment plan to help you cope with your OCD. Find a therapist in your area today by searching a directory.
