From OCD Patient to OCD Therapist: Paul McCarroll on ERP & ACT

Send us Fan Mail (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2539197/fa...) What happens when someone who once needed inpatient treatment for OCD becomes a therapist helping others through the same struggles? In this episode of The OCD Confessional, Liam Martin and Alicia Hill sit down with Paul McCarroll of Be Free From OCD to discuss his remarkable journey from struggling with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder as a teenager to becoming an OCD therapist at the very facility where he was once hospitalized. Paul opens up about his personal experiences with OCD, the challenges that led to inpatient treatment, and how those experiences ultimately shaped his career and approach to helping others. We also dive into two important approaches to OCD treatment: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Paul explains how he combines these approaches in his work and why learning to respond differently to intrusive thoughts, anxiety and uncertainty can be such an important part of OCD recovery. It's a conversation about the realities of severe OCD, the possibility of recovery, and what it means to help others navigate something you've experienced firsthand. Whether you're living with OCD, supporting someone who is, or working in mental health, this episode offers a powerful perspective on treatment, resilience and hope. Topics include: OCD hospitalization, severe OCD, intrusive thoughts, OCD recovery, exposure and response prevention (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and becoming an OCD therapist. Support the show (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2539197/su...) 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional    • Trailer: Welcome to The OCD Confessional   Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.