Is Your Child Trapped in OCD? What Parents Need to Know with Dr. Aureen Pinto Wagner

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Aureen Pinto Wagner, clinical child psychologist, OCD specialist and author of the Worry Hill series, who has spent over 25 years developing child-friendly approaches to treating OCD and anxiety.If your child repeats questions you've already answered, gets stuck in rituals they find distressing, avoids things they used to manage fine, or seems trapped in a cycle of fear you can't seem to break, this episode will help you make sense of what might be happening and what you can do about it.Dr. Wagner explains the difference between normal childhood worry and OCD, why well-meaning reassurance can actually make things worse, and how the brain gets locked into a cycle of escape and avoidance that keeps the fear alive. She introduces her "four Ds" framework (disproportion, disruption, distress and duration) as a practical guide for parents trying to work out whether what they're seeing warrants professional support, and walks through the Worry Hill analogy that helps even young children understand what exposure and response prevention (ERP) actually involves.We also cover hidden compulsions including mental rituals, intrusive thoughts in children and teens, how to handle meltdowns in three phases, and why early intervention can make a significant difference to a child's long-term outcome.Dr. Wagner's books, including Up and Down the Worry Hill and Worried No More: Help and Hope for Anxious Children, are available via her website at www.anxietywellness.com. You can also follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn.To learn more about Wendy's work, explore resources, or stay up to date with future episodes, visit: 👉 https://wendycastelino.com/If you found this episode helpful, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with someone who might benefit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.