Ep 47: Redefining OCD: Debunking the Misconceptions about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ft. Dr. Anthony Bram

Today’s episode is all about obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD. I met up with Dr. Anthony Bram, a clinical psychologist in Lexington, Massachusetts to learn more about this fascinating brain-based condition. Dr. Bram works with adults and kids, providing support for a wide range of mental health challenges, including OCD, anxiety, depression, and learning differences. He explained to me that he became interested in helping people with OCD during his predoctoral internship. He realized that the traditional kinds of psychotherapy that he had been learning were not so effective in alleviating the distressing symptoms of his patients with OCD. This led him to discover a specialized form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) called exposure with response prevention (ERP). Dr. Bram continued to learn more during his postdoctoral work at the Menninger Clinic, which was in Topeka, KS at the time. There, while primarily pursuing advanced training in traditional modalities of treatment and assessment, he also sought the supervision of a cognitive behavioral therapist who specialized in OCD so he could begin learning and applying ERP and other CBT techniques. This experience taught him the importance of being flexible and expanding his therapeutic skills to better meet the diverse needs of his clients. I’m so happy to bring Dr. Bram on so we can all learn about OCD, its connection to executive functioning, and how to support people in our lives who may be struggling with it and its related challenges. Enjoy! Show notes: Learn more about Dr. Bram http://www.dranthonybram.com/ Learn more about OCD https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ OCD activity in the prefrontal cortex (image) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x6W41yZhcbsnf4ZJ9qCY1R8J4-_jv0sl/view?usp=sharing Find a Provider https://iocdf.org/find-help/?_provider_proximity=42.3600825%2C-71.0588801%2C50%2CBoston%252C%2520MA%252C%2520USA

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Focus Forward is a comprehensive guide to improving Executive Functions - the mental skills like time-management, task-initiation, organization, and emotional regulation that allow us to be successful. Whether you're a parent looking to better support your child, or are simply looking to improve your own Executive Function (EF) skills, this podcast is for you. We'll be having guests of all kinds on, including parents who've had success in improving their child's EF challenges, adults who have navigated executive dysfunction, and experts who specialize in treating these types of issues. Focus Forward is an Executive Function Podcast sponsored by Beyond BookSmart.