OCD: The Tricky, Sticky, Picky Brain: Interview with Marni L Jacob, PhD

Lizzie Assa, MSED, discusses her new book BUT I'M BORED: Discover the Power of Independent Play to Raise Confident, Resilient Kids  It is a book about how to compassionately foster independent play in your child and why it is so important. It is filled with fun suggestions about how to build "play pockets" and rather profound insights such as "Who we are alone is someone different from who we are with others, and knowing both parts of yourself is valuable for everyone's growth. Until they are alone, a child may not be able to distinguish their needs and desires from someone else's" (p15) In the process of following her suggestions about fostering independent play, you will also be building many of foundational skills in coping with anxiety in whatever form in may show up for your child. Lizzie Assa is someone to listen to. For more information about Lizzie Assa https://www.workspaceforchildren.com/about

Marni L Jacob, PhD, ABPP has just published What to Do When You Have a Tricky, Sticky, Picky Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Strategies to Help Kids with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Dr Jacob discusses her new book and provides an overview of the cognitive behavioral treatment for OCD. Her book is geared toward adolescents and teens when the condition is most commonly diagnosed. It has been estimated to affect 1-2 out of every 100 children.  Central to the treatment of OCD is understanding the relationship of Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviors and well as the centrality of response prevention based therapy. Adolescents will find the answers they have been searching for in this comprehensive guide. For more information about Dr Jacob https://www.jacobcenterforebt.com

Will Dobud, PhD talks about his new book coauthored with Nevin Harper KIDS THESE DAYS: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health. Rather than adopting the age old perspective of looking at the younger generation and saying some version of "Kids these days..." The authors suggest that the youth mental health crisis is what might be termed a "wicked problem" that does permit easy solutions. What has been missing is taking a serious look at the environmental context in which children are growing up in. Digital interference, environmental toxins, a culture of safety are some of the environmental factors impinging on the younger generation and adversely effecting their mental health. For more information https://www.kidsthesedaysbook.com/will-dobud  

Dr Melissa Giglio and Daisy Geddes have recently published Bravery Grow and an accompanying workbook The Bravery Grows Journal & Workbook: Building Bravery in Anxious Kids with Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety Dr Melissa Giglio is a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of anxiety disorders. She is the director of Central Health Partners Child Development Team in Hong Kong. She created an intensive group therapy program for selective mutism "Confident Crew"'. Her coauthor, Daisy Geddes is an associate Psychologist and assoicate director of the Selective Mutism Program at CHP. In this interview I talked with Dr Giglio about the book she coauthored with Daisy Geddes. In any anxiety disorder, psychoeducation about the condition is a critical first step. Bravery Grows captures the experience of a child with selective mutism in a way that will appeal to children and their caregivers. It can be a puzzling condition for both the child and caregivers and this book will provide much needed clarification.  For more information https://bravemightyminds.com/

Rhiannon Theurer, LMFT has just published The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Teens: DBT Tools To Help You Deal with Sensory Sensitivity, Manage Emotional Overwhelm and Thrive. Rhiannon Theurer is a  neurodivergent therapist in private practice who works with neurodivergent teens and adults. She can be found at [email protected] Rhiannon Theurer talks in her book and in this interview about  how the skills taught in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can be so helpful for neurodivergence teens who may for a variety of reasons experience the world in a more intense and nonvalidating manner.  

Coltan Scrivner, PhD has just published Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can't Look.  He defines morbid curiosity "...a curiosity about things that are threatening or potentially dangerous". In the interview and in his book he explains why it is important to be curious about things that are dangerous. He provides an entirely new perspective about why children enjoy scary stories, the appeal of horror movies, haunted houses and true crime stories. All of these activities help you become familiar and explore the sensation of being afraid in a fictional context which in turn has been shown to help you with real life fears and dangers. For more information about Coltan Scrivner, here is his website https://www.coltanscrivner.com

Rachel Busman, PsyD, ABPP is a clinical psychologist and senior director of the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Related Disorder Program at Cognitive Behavioral Consultants in White Plains, NY. She was previously the past president of the Selective Mutism Foundation and the director of the Selective Mutism Service at the Child Mind Institute. She also runs a camp for children with Selective Mutism Voices Rising which is held during the summer and during the school year.  Dr Busman has written Being Brave with Selective Mutism: A Step-by-Step Guide for Children and Their Caregivers. This is a very helpful guide for parents and children dealing with selective mutism. In this interview, Dr Busman provides an overview of selective mutism and highlights some the key interventions for this condition. She speaks with an energy and clarity that I think you will inspiring and motivating.  For more information about Dr Busman https://www.cbc-psychology.com/cbc-staff/rachel-busman-psyd-abpp and for the Voices Rising Program https://www.cbc-psychology.com/events/voices-rising-winter-2026 Dr Busman recommends the Selective Mutism YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6GwY4kccpkcmgl-uNIA5tg and of course The Selective Mutism Foundation is an excellent source of information https://www.selectivemutism.org/

Robyn Koslowitz, PhD is the director of The Center for Psychological Growth of New Jersey and the educational director of the Targeted Parenting Institute. In this podcast episode we talk about her recently published book Post Traumatic Parenting: Break The Cycle And Become The Parent You Always Wanted To Be. This is a valuable book for parents and clinicians. Traumatic experience in childhood and adulthood can effect our parenting. This is not an unusual observation. However,  Dr Koslowitz dissects the issue of how trauma effects parenting in a way that makes more understandable and also leads to clear plan of what to do. As a child psychologist, I found this book to be the most useful book I have read this year.  I think you will also enjoy her podcast on Post Traumatic Parenting https://www.drrobynkoslowitz.com/podcast-2/ And you can also find more information about Dr Koslowitz at https://www.drrobynkoslowitz.com/about/    

Sophia Vale Galano, LCSW  has just published Calming Teenage Anxiety: A Parent's Guide to Helping Your Teenager Cope with Worry Her book is a practical and accessible guide for parent to talk about all forms of anxiety with their teenager. It provides a blue print to guide conversations regardless of the way in which the anxiety might be showing up. She maintains a private practice in California and has extensive experience working with adolescents in inpatient, outpatient, medical and educational settings. She also has completed Sex Therapy certification from California Institute of Integral Studies, an Animal Assisted therapy certification from The Animal Behavior Institute and a Forensic Social Work Certification from The National Organization of Forensic Social Work.   

Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD is a licensed psychologist and a leader in the field of BRFB. Ruth Goldfinger Golomb, LCPC is also a leader in the field of the treatment of BFRB.  In this interview we talk about their latest book, The BFRB Survival Guide: A Workbook for Overcoming Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors. This workbook provides a clear program of action for dealing with these complex disorders. It involves identifying the BRFB potentially mainfest themselves in 5 domains (Sensory, Affective, Cognitive, Motor and Place) and then with this comprehensive knowledge developing a treatment plan.   I have previously interviewed the authors on my podcast about their previous books: Helping Your Child with Sensory Regulation by Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD and Ruth Goldfinger Golomb, LCPC, Psychological Interventions for Children with Senory Dysregulation by Ruth Goldfinger Golomb and Suzanne Mouton-Odum, Comprehensive Behavioral (ComB) Treatment of Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors by Charles S Mansueto, Suzanne Mouton-Odum & Ruth Goldfinger Golomb   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hair-pulling-and-skin-picking-interview-with/id937022377?i=1000634550977 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/expert-interview-25-ruth-goldfinger-golomb-lcpc-helping/id937022377?i=1000519775283 Also of interest is their book for parents of children who pull their hair.  https://www.amazon.com/Parent-Guide-Hair-Pulling-Disorder/dp/0615657400/ref=asc_df_0615657400?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80539280274815&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=51562&hvtargid=pla-4584138866830203&psc=1#:~:text=A%20Parent%20Guide,LCPC%20(Author) The authors are also on the scientific advisory board of the TLC Foundation for BFRBs which is a very helpful resource https://www.bfrb.org/