Dr. Amy Jenks

11/05/2025

If you are a parent of a child or teen with OCD I highly recommend this free series of videos. The series starts Nov 6th and ends on Nov 14th. You can sign up for free here.

Are you struggling to know how to help your child or teen with anxiety or OCD? This free on-demand video series, hosted by therapist Natasha Daniels, will help you!

08/31/2022

Check out this brain stimulation study for OCD from Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab in the Palo Alto California area.

They are looking for adults between the ages of 18-80 who have been diagnosed with OCD, and have not benefitted from medication or therapy. Participants must be able to take an MRI and have no history of traumatic brain injury, concussions, seizures, or neurological diseases.

For more information visit https://clinicaltrials.stanford.edu/browse-all-trials.html?ctid=NCT04286126

Or call or email Contact: Nick Bassano and Ahmed Shamma at: tmsocdstudy@stanford.edu 650-800-6920

Stanford Medicine

08/31/2022

STARTS 9/12!

Join Sarah Carr, LMFT and Susan Ono Psy.D. for an 8-week course. Living free with OCD is a group that focus on learning new ways to interact with OCD in order to live the life you want to be living. Participants will have the opportunity to:
- Create value-based behavior goals.
- Learn mindfulness and self-compassion skills.
- Practice Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
- Offer and receive support from group members.
- Learn from others’ experiences with OCD.

Info and registration at www.mindfulSF.com/grouptherapy

08/20/2022

08/20/2022

What’s the Difference Between Anxiety and OCD?

Is there a difference between anxiety and OCD?

Yes!

A big one.

And when OCD is treated like anxiety, it can often do more harm than good.

For a deeper dive you can visit: https://www.anxioustoddlers.com/between-anxiety-and-ocd/

08/20/2022

As a child, Diana often experienced social and separation anxiety. Over the years, she developed several cases of strep throat and, in 6th grade, contracted the swine flu. Afterwards Diana experienced anxiety, OCD, panic attacks, anorexia, nervous ticks, and signs of depression. She was eventually diagnosed with pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS).

Through treatment, Diana was able to build a toolbox of strategies to help her overcome her illness. She has since written a book entitled, “YES, YOU CAN: A Heartfelt Composition About the Realities and Stigmas Associated With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.” In her book Diana shares her experiences, lessons she has learned, and her hopes for those who struggle with mental illness. She calls on those with mental illness to recognize their power, strength, and ability to overcome their struggles.

Read more about her story: http://ow.ly/qfHy50KfX4M

07/25/2022

The 988 su***de and crisis line is now available for anyone who needs it. Please share widely.

SAMHSA recognizes the need for governments, states, territories, tribes, crisis centers, and partners to speak with one voice to ensure there is a clear understanding about what 988 is and how it will work. We encourage you to use these communication outreach materials and build upon them with your....

07/25/2022

Sometimes delaying a compulsions is a doable first step.

Compulsions can be hard to stop. So in therapy one approach is to initially set a more achievable goal which can look like delaying the compulsion.

If a particular compulsion feels far too challenging and scary to stop right now, delaying that compulsion can be the first step.

If delaying by 10 minutes is too much, try 1 minute. If that’s too much try 10 seconds. Find what is manageable, achieve that and then increase that time from there. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can delay long enough that you lose the interest or need to do the compulsion. At this point, your brain is learning through the absence of the compulsion that you can tolerate the uncertainty.

Sometimes it’s easier with physical compulsions than mental compulsions. But it’s still achievable. With mental compulsions delaying could look like agreeing to ruminate but only after you we engage in something of meaning i.e. watch something, or go for a jog, or chat to a friend, or engage with our senses. Of course, skills like dropping anchor or urge surfing from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can help us ride out the urge to compulse while we are delaying.

Hope that helps.

Listen on all podcast apps, and Spotify 🎧 Just search “The OCD Stories”.

Illustration by https://namiralph.com

07/10/2022

I had a chance to chat with Shannon Shy at the OCD Conference in Denver. He told me about his Online Video Series and it sounds fantastic. I highly recommend it to anyone who struggles with OCD. Outstanding work Shannon.

- Special Discount

Welcome to Denver for the IOCDF Annual Conference! I'm offering a SIGNIFICANT 75% discount to attendees for my online course. See the attached flyer. Your coupon code can be obtained at the Exhibitor's Row. (And for those of you who could not make it to Denver, don't worry. I'll be offering a discount to you too starting Monday.

can be defeated. I'm with you. Let's go.

ocdrecoveryturningpoints.com

07/02/2022

Thank you for sharing your story Robyn Stern.

06/21/2022

You can catch yourself from a misstep before it turns into a total collapse. You can learn from it and come back even stronger. ⁠
⁠

06/18/2022

Have you read the latest "Why I'm An Advocate" post on the blog? IOCDF Advocate Sophie Suri shares her experience with advocacy and spreading OCD Awareness! Check it out: iocdf.org/blog