The OCD Confessional

When Your Child Has OCD: Tools for Parents with Dr. Eli Lebowitz

Season 1 Episode 8

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Parents have been asking for this episode—so we made it happen. 

In this powerful conversation, we talk with Dr. Eli Lebowitz, a Yale psychology professor and creator of SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), a groundbreaking parent-based treatment for childhood OCD and anxiety.

Instead of focusing on changing a child’s behavior directly, SPACE teaches parents how to stop accommodating OCD while still showing support, love, and care.

We explore:
 🧠 How childhood OCD shows up 
 🚫 What “accommodation” looks like (and why it makes symptoms worse)
 💚 How parents can stop accommodating without shaming their child
 🔁 How family routines get hijacked by OCD
 🛑 Why SPACE reduces symptoms even without the child participating in therapy

If you’re a parent, caregiver, teacher, or someone who loves a child with OCD or anxiety, this episode is packed with tools, hope, and a new way forward.

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📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ

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.