AT Parenting Survival | Raising Kids with OCD & Anxiety

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, I sit down with Mia Mason, the creative force behind Worry’s Whispers, a beautifully illustrated collection of poems that gives voice to anxiety, fear, and the quiet corners of the inner world that so many of us know all too well.Mia and I explore the origins of her work, what inspired her to turn internal dialogue into poetic expression, and how Worry’s Whispers serves as both a mirror and a companion for people navigating anxiety — whether persistent, sudden, quiet, or loud.In this episode we break down:Why poetry can be a powerful tool for emotional expression — especially for those who struggle to articulate internal experiences.How Worry’s Whispers uniquely captures the nuanced textures of worry without judgment, offering readers comfort through recognition rather than prescription.The creative process behind the book — from inspiration to illustration — and how Mia uses language and imagery to normalize the experience of anxiety.Mia’s perspective on the importance of finding the right therapist who is qualified to address anxiety and OCD.Throughout the conversation, Mia’s warmth, vulnerability, and insight shine through, providing real encouragement for anyone whose inner world sometimes feels overwhelming. Tune in to hear Mia’s story, wisdom, and words of encouragement.Get your copy of her beautiful book here. Check her out on Instagram and TikTok too!Links discussed in episode:Psychpact MapAnxiety Specialists of Atlanta***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?  🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:https://atparentingsurvivalschool.comJoin the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):https://atparentingcommunity.comTake one of my FREE webinars:www.Natashadaniels.com/webinarsCheck out my books: www.Natashadaniels.com/books🌸 Other social places I hang out:http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

When parents start looking for help for a child with OCD, the process can feel confusing, overwhelming, and high-stakes. Between therapy options, medication questions, and different levels of care, it’s hard to know what actually matters — and what doesn’t.In this episode, I break down what parents really need to know when seeking treatment for OCD.We talk about why the therapist’s training matters more than their degree, and what specific approaches are most effective for OCD. I explain the importance of evidence-based modalities like CBT with ERP, ACT, and why family involvement is essential, especially for kids and teens.I also walk through the different levels of care, from outpatient therapy to intensive and residential programs, and how to know when a higher level of support may be appropriate.For parents considering more intensive treatment, I share key questions to ask programs so you can better understand whether the environment is truly appropriate for a child with anxiety or OCD, including how much individual therapy is provided, the mix of diagnoses in the program, and the overall level of safety and stability.Finally, I touch on several well-known OCD treatment programs parents often hear about, and how to think through these options thoughtfully.This episode is designed to help parents feel more informed, more grounded, and more confident as they navigate treatment decisions, because finding the right support can make a meaningful difference in your child’s recovery.If you are new to this OCD journey, take my free OCD webinar, 5 Things Every Parent Needs to Know When Helping Their Child with OCD.***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?  🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:https://atparentingsurvivalschool.comJoin the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):https://atparentingcommunity.comTake one of my FREE webinars:www.Natashadaniels.com/webinarsCheck out my books: www.Natashadaniels.com/books🌸 Other social places I hang out:http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

Parenting a child with OCD can feel incredibly isolating. Your child is on their own journey with anxiety or OCD, but that doesn’t mean you’re supposed to navigate it alone.In this episode, I talk about one of the most overlooked pieces of helping kids with OCD: parent support.I explore questions like:Who do you turn to when things feel overwhelming?Do you have access to other parents who get it?Do you have a safe place to vent without judgment?Are you surrounded by people who can validate your struggles and share what’s helped them?Does your child have access to age-appropriate support beyond just you?I also share why having a community matters so much when you’re raising a child with anxiety or OCD — not just for emotional support, but for practical tools, shared wisdom, and grounding perspective when OCD is loud.At the end of the episode, I talk about the AT Parenting Community, which is currently open for a limited time. Inside the community, parents get access to:A supportive space to connect with other parents raising kids with anxiety and OCDLive classes, on-demand courses and support group calls for parents, kids and teensHelpful resources and ongoing educationA place to private message me and other parents questionsA safe, understanding environment where you don’t have to explain or justify what you’re going throughIf you’ve been trying to do this on your own, this episode is an invitation to pause and ask: Do I have enough support — and what would change if I did?🧡 The AT Parenting Community is open until Thursday. Join us at www.atparentingcommunity.com ***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?  🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:https://atparentingsurvivalschool.comJoin the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):https://atparentingcommunity.comTake one of my FREE webinars:www.Natashadaniels.com/webinarsCheck out my books: www.Natashadaniels.com/books🌸 Other social places I hang out:http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

When you’re raising a child with anxiety or OCD, progress can feel confusing, inconsistent, or even invisible at times. In this episode, we explore how your mindset around progress directly impacts the energy, pressure, and expectations your child feels as they navigate their struggles.We start by unpacking our relationship with the idea of progress and how common, well-intended beliefs can actually make things harder — like rigid goalposts, unrealistic end goals, artificial timelines, or the belief that anxiety or OCD must be permanently “fixed” to count as success.Then we shift into a more supportive and sustainable way of viewing progress. One that includes flexible goals, small daily or weekly wins, and an understanding that your child’s mental health journey is fluid, not linear. When we remove external pressure and let go of unrealistic timelines, we create space for real growth, resilience, and trust.This episode will help you recalibrate how you define progress so you can show up calmer, steadier, and more grounded for your child.How we show up to our child’s struggles makes a huge impact. Want to learn how to be a steady anchor for your child’s anxiety and OCD?🧡 Register for my FREE Anchor Series for Parents at atparentingsurvivalseries.com. The series is running from January 8th through January 16th, so you can still catch it!***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?  🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:https://atparentingsurvivalschool.comJoin the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):https://atparentingcommunity.comTake one of my FREE webinars:www.Natashadaniels.com/webinarsCheck out my books: www.Natashadaniels.com/books🌸 Other social places I hang out:http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

When your child is struggling with anxiety or OCD, fear can quietly take over your parenting. Fear of making things worse. Fear of missing something. Fear of what the future might hold. In this episode, I explore the hidden cost of parenting from that place.I talk about how fear often shows up in ways we don’t always recognize, such as agitation, constant anxiety, over-cheerleading, or swinging into punitive responses when we are exhausted and overwhelmed. While these reactions are completely understandable, they can unintentionally undermine trust and keep both parent and child stuck.I also share how things shifted when I stopped parenting from fear and began meeting my child exactly where they were. That change did not mean doing less. It meant responding differently. By building trust and creating emotional safety, my child was able to feel more empowered and begin taking ownership of their own struggles.This episode is for parents who are trying their best but feel stuck in survival mode. We talk about how to recognize fear-driven parenting patterns and how moving toward a more anchored approach can change the tone of your relationship and support your child’s growth.Learn how to be a solid anchor for your child in my free series. Register here. -Watch the Instagram reel on anchored vs unanchored parenting.-Take the SPACE Study Guide Course here.-Read: When a Loved One Won’t Seek Mental Health Treatment Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?  🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:https://atparentingsurvivalschool.comJoin the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):https://atparentingcommunity.comTake one of my FREE webinars:www.Natashadaniels.com/webinarsCheck out my books: www.Natashadaniels.com/books🌸 Other social places I hang out:http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

One of the hardest parts of raising a child with OCD is figuring out who you’re actually talking to. Is it your child… or is it their OCD pulling you into another loop?In this episode, we talk about the different ways OCD ropes parents in—whether it’s endless reassurance seeking, constant confessing, permission checking, “just right” demands, or those sneaky checking questions like, “Do I look sick?” or “Is this bad?”I’ll walk you through how to spot when OCD is taking over the conversation: the circular back-and-forth that goes nowhere, the distress when you don’t answer the “right” way, or the need for more and more clarity tied to their specific OCD themes.Then we shift into what you can do. We’ll cover how to talk to your child about these patterns ahead of time, how to team up on a plan for responding, and how to use exposures and tools (like reassurance cards) to stop feeding the OCD loop.And finally, an important reminder: not talking to OCD does not mean ignoring your child. You can still validate, support, connect, and check in, just without fueling compulsions. Pulling yourself out of OCD’s conversations is often one of the first big steps toward real progress.Links Mentioned in this episode:PDF handout for this episode: www.natashadaniels.com/handoutsJoin my free series: How to Be an Effective Anchor for Your Child’s Anxiety or OCD — www.atparentingsurvivalseries.comYoutube video: Reassurance can Be a CompulsionYoutube video: Confessions Can be a Compulsion Podcast: How to Use Reassurance Cards ***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?  🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:https://atparentingsurvivalschool.comJoin the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):https://atparentingcommunity.comTake one of my FREE webinars:www.Natashadaniels.com/webinarsCheck out my books: www.Natashadaniels.com/books🌸 Other social places I hang out:http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

In this episode, we explore why trust is the foundation for helping a child with OCD. When trust is missing, kids shut down, hide their struggles, and resist therapeutic strategies. I share simple, practical ways to build (and rebuild) trust — from validating their experience, to going at their pace, to connecting with who they are beyond OCD. Even small shifts can strengthen your relationship and make real progress possible.⚓️ If you want in-depth support in how to be an effective anchor for your child’s anxiety and OCD register for free at www.atparentingsurvivalseries.com***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?  🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:https://atparentingsurvivalschool.comJoin the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):https://atparentingcommunity.comTake one of my FREE webinars:www.Natashadaniels.com/webinarsCheck out my books: www.Natashadaniels.com/books🌸 Other social places I hang out:http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

The holidays can be magical — but for kids with OCD and anxiety, they can also be overwhelming. In this episode, Natasha helps parents prepare for the unique challenges that come with travel, family gatherings, disrupted routines, and sensory overload. You’ll learn how to anticipate triggers before they happen, create a holiday coping map with your child, set boundaries with relatives, and protect your child’s regulation during busy days.Whether you’re traveling across the country or just hosting at home, this episode gives you simple tools to make the holidays more manageable—and even enjoyable—for your child.You’ll walk away feeling prepared, supported, and confident going into the holiday season.Get the PDF template on how to write a text or email to your family about your child’s anxiety and OCD struggles at www.natashadaniels.com/handout⚓️ If you want in-depth support in how to be an effective anchor for your child’s anxiety and OCD register for free at www.atparentingsurvivalseries.com***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?  🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:https://atparentingsurvivalschool.comJoin the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):https://atparentingcommunity.comTake one of my FREE webinars:www.Natashadaniels.com/webinarsCheck out my books: www.Natashadaniels.com/books🌸 Other social places I hang out:http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival

When your child’s OCD gets loud, it’s so easy to get swept into the panic, the questions, the intensity.But the calmer and more grounded you stay, the faster they can settle.In today’s episode I’m breaking down how to stay present when everything in you wants to react — and why this one skill changes the tone of your entire home.If you want deeper support in staying steady during your child’s anxiety or OCD storms, my new series will walk you through it step-by-step.Register for free at www.atparentingsurvivalseries.com***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?  🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:https://atparentingsurvivalschool.comJoin the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):https://atparentingcommunity.comTake one of my FREE webinars:www.Natashadaniels.com/webinarsCheck out my books: www.Natashadaniels.com/books🌸 Other social places I hang out:http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvivalhttp://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival