We hear people say things like, “He’s so OCD” or “I’m so OCD” all the time. But what does OCD actually look like in a child? And how can you tell when your child simply likes things a certain way versus when their behavior might be driven by something more serious?

In this episode of Educated Parent, I’m joined by psychologist Dr. Chad Brandt, who specializes in treating severe OCD in children and adolescents. Dr. Brandt is trained in the Bergen four-day treatment for OCD and has been providing full-day intensive treatment since 2020. We talk about how ordinary routines and repetitive behavior can differ from OCD, the warning signs parents should pay attention to, and why understanding parenting and child development can help us avoid both over-pathologizing normal behavior and overlooking a child who needs support. It’s exactly the kind of nuanced conversation I want more parenting podcasts to have.

In this episode, we cover:

• What OCD in children actually looks like and how obsessions, compulsions, fear, and interference with daily life fit together
• How to distinguish normal childhood preferences and repetitive behavior from rituals that are driven by anxiety or fear
• Why Dr. Chad Brandt looks at how much time OCD consumes when considering the severity of a child's symptoms
• How letting children experience manageable discomfort instead of immediately fixing it connects parenting and child development with building confidence and resilience

If you're sorting through repetitive behavior and wondering whether it's simply part of your child's personality or could be OCD in children, this conversation with Dr. Chad Brandt can help you know what to watch for and when to seek an expert evaluation. Among parenting podcasts, I hope Educated Parent can give you the evidence-based information you need to feel more confident navigating parenting and child development when your child is struggling.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

International OCD Foundation Website

LET'S CONNECT:

Thriving Child Center

PCIT Experts

Calm and Connected Program

Instagram

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CONNECT WITH DR. CHAD BRANDT:

Website