Compassion and Acceptance: A Therapist’s Journey Through OCD Recovery

On this episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast, Patrick McGrath sits down with Jonny Say, a London-based therapist whose personal experience with OCD spans over 30 years. From childhood panic attacks to intrusive thoughts and existential struggles, Jonny shares how these challenges shaped his journey to becoming a therapist and advocate.

Now part of the Integrative Center for OCD Therapy, Jonny dives into the nuances of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), compassion-focused approaches, and the critical role of values-based living in recovery. He reflects on the grief of time lost to OCD, the challenge of breaking free from rumination, and the importance of fostering self-compassion in the healing process.

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Show notes:
0:00 Intro

1:30 Jonny’s background

2:31 The use of mindfulness in therapy

4:52 What is ACT therapy?

10:46 The importance of compassion 

13:20 Fear of being around others with OCD

14:51 Emotions beyond anxiety or distress 

19:43 Sticking with ERP and other treatments

21:41 Functional analytical psychotherapy 

23:06 Using lived experience when treating others

25:12 “I have a little OCD too”

28:36 Triggering OCD during therapy?

33:08 Dealing with the regret of “lost” years to OCD

36:55 If OCD was an ice cream flavor

37:42 How OCD interferes with making choices

39:16 Phrases that OCD loves

40:50 Jonny’s advice to others 

42:07 Not all treatments are created equal 

44:18 Jonny’s career 25 years from now

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