Breaking the Rules is a show for mental health professionals designed to help you build confidence in treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Effective treatment of OCD requires commitment, creativity and the recognition that things can sometimes get a little … messy. And on the show, you’ll hear from a range of leading professionals and learn everything there is to know about OCD and other related mental health concerns. This podcast is brought to you by Melbourne Wellbeing Group, a psychology practice based in Melbourne with a special focus on treating OCD. <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
Breaking the Rules: A Clinician's Guide to Treating OCD
Claim This Podcastby Dr Celin Gelgec and Dr Victoria Miller
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Podcast Overview
Breaking the Rules is a show for mental health professionals designed to help you build confidence in treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Effective treatment of OCD requires commitment, creativity and the recognition that things can sometimes get a little … messy. And on the show, you’ll hear from a range of leading professionals and learn everything there is to know about OCD and other related mental health concerns. This podcast is brought to you by Melbourne Wellbeing Group, a psychology practice based in Melbourne with a special focus on treating OCD. <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
Language
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Publishing Since
3/28/2022
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Recent Episodes
June 15, 2026
The Truth About Eating Disorder Treatment with Dr Alissa Knight: Part 1
<h4>Eating Disorders, OCD & The Problem With Traditional Treatment | Dr Alissa Knight</h4><p><br></p><p>For the Season Premiere of Breaking the Rules, Dr Celine Gelgec and Dr Tori Miller are joined by eating disorder specialist Dr Alissa Knight from Calming Suite Psychology Clinic in Adelaide for a powerful and thought-provoking conversation about eating disorders, trauma, OCD, and why traditional treatment approaches may be failing many young people.</p><p>After seeing Dr Alissa present at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference, Celine and Tori knew they had to bring her onto the podcast. What follows is an honest discussion about the realities of eating disorder treatment, the fear-based messages many clinicians receive, and why genuine connection, trust, and understanding a person's full story may be far more important than rigid treatment manuals.</p><br><p>Together, they explore the complex relationship between eating disorders and OCD, the role of trauma and attachment, why relapse rates remain so high, and how a more collaborative and compassionate approach can help people move towards true wellness rather than simply chasing "recovery."</p><br><p>In this episode, you'll learn:</p><p>• Why eating disorders are far more than food and weight</p><p>• The hidden links between OCD, trauma, anxiety and eating disorders</p><p>• How traditional treatment approaches can unintentionally damage trust</p><p>• Why rapport and connection are often the most important therapeutic tools</p><p>• The dangers of fear-based treatment and clinician burnout</p><p>• How trauma-informed care can change outcomes for young people</p><p>• Why wellness may be a more helpful goal than "recovery"</p><p>• The challenges clinicians face when balancing medical risk and compassion</p><br><p>This conversation challenges long-held assumptions about eating disorder treatment and offers a hopeful, human-centred perspective for clinicians, families, and anyone supporting a loved one through recovery.</p><br><p>If you're a clinician, parent, educator, or someone living with OCD or an eating disorder, this is an episode you won't want to miss.</p><br><p>To learn more about Dr Alissa Knight follow this<a href="https://thecalmingsuite.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> link</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
May 18, 2026
Exposure Therapy in a Public Bathroom
<p>In this episode of Breaking the Rules, we record from an unusual location — <strong>the bathroom floor of a public restroom</strong> — as we explore an increasingly popular social media trend: <strong>“clean girl culture.”</strong></p><br><p>Across platforms like TikTok and Instagram, the clean girl aesthetic promotes a polished, minimalist lifestyle — natural makeup, tidy wardrobes, “clean” eating, and curated routines that appear effortless and healthy.</p><br><p>But when does a healthy routine become <strong>rigidity, anxiety, or compulsive behavior</strong>?</p><br><p>In this conversation we unpack how trends like clean girl culture can blur the line between <strong>wellbeing and preoccupation</strong>, and how certain aspects of the aesthetic can overlap with <strong>OCD patterns</strong>, particularly around contamination, checking, perfectionism, and the need for control.</p><br><p>We also explore the broader question clinicians and individuals often face: <strong>how do we know when something has gone too far?</strong></p><br><p>In this episode we discuss:</p><ul><li>What “clean girl culture” is and why it’s trending on social media</li><li>The appeal of curated lifestyles and polished aesthetics</li><li>When healthy habits start becoming rigid or anxiety-driven</li><li>Parallels with orthorexia and other wellness trends</li><li>How social media trends can reinforce perfectionism and control</li><li>When checking, reassurance seeking, and contamination fears creep in</li><li>How compulsive behaviours can sometimes hide behind socially rewarded habits</li><li>The importance of flexibility, connection, and values when evaluating lifestyle choices</li><li>Questions clinicians can ask when assessing whether a habit has become unhealthy</li><li><br></li></ul><p>Ultimately, this episode isn’t about criticising trends — it’s about <strong>helping people reflect on the “why” behind their behaviours</strong> and recognizing when something that started as self-care begins to shrink a person’s life instead of expanding it.</p><br><p><strong>🔖 Chapters</strong></p><p>00:00 Recording From a Public Bathroom</p><p>01:30 Using Location as an Exposure Exercise</p><p>03:00 Introducing Clean Girl Culture</p><p>05:00 The Appeal of Polished Aesthetics</p><p>07:00 When Wellness Trends Go Too Far</p><p>09:00 Orthorexia and the Pursuit of Health</p><p>11:00 Perfectionism, Checking & Social Media</p><p>13:00 How OCD Can Hide Behind Trends</p><p>14:30 When Habits Start Shrinking Your Life</p><p>16:00 Values, Flexibility & Mental Health</p><p>17:30 Questions to Ask Yourself or Clients</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
May 4, 2026
Why OCD Gets Worse Before It Gets Better (Extinction Bursts)
<p>In this episode of Breaking the Rules, we unpack one of the most confusing and frustrating parts of OCD treatment: <strong>extinction bursts</strong>.</p><br><p>If you’ve ever started exposure therapy and felt like your intrusive thoughts suddenly became louder, more intense, or more frequent, you’re not alone. Many people interpret this spike in discomfort as proof that therapy isn’t working — when in reality, it can be <strong>evidence that change is actually happening.</strong></p><br><p>We explore what extinction bursts are, why they occur when people begin changing compulsive behaviors, and why the brain often reacts with a kind of <strong>“hissy fit”</strong> when long-standing patterns are challenged.</p><br><p>This episode focuses on helping both clinicians and individuals understand that the initial surge in anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or urges isn’t failure — it’s often the brain’s attempt to pull you back into familiar safety behaviors.</p><br><p>We also discuss practical ways clinicians can <strong>prepare clients for extinction bursts</strong>, coach them through these moments, and help them recognize these experiences as part of the change process rather than a sign that treatment is going wrong.</p><br><p>In this episode we discuss:</p><ul><li>What extinction bursts are and why they happen</li><li>Why OCD often gets louder when compulsions start changing</li><li>How long-standing habits create powerful neural patterns</li><li>Why many people misinterpret extinction bursts as therapy failure</li><li>The role of psychoeducation in preparing clients for this phase of treatment</li><li>Coaching clients to observe and ride out the “burst”</li><li>Using curiosity instead of self-judgment during difficult moments</li><li>Why discomfort during treatment can actually be <strong>evidence of progress</strong></li><li>Helping clients track patterns without becoming trapped in distress monitoring</li><li>Reframing extinction bursts as a <strong>sign of meaningful change</strong></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>🔖 Chapters</strong></p><p>00:00 Introduction</p><p>01:20 What Is an Extinction Burst?</p><p>03:00 Why the Brain Reacts When Habits Change</p><p>05:10 Why ERP Can Feel Worse Before It Feels Better</p><p>07:00 How Clients Misinterpret Extinction Bursts</p><p>09:00 Why Psychoeducation Is So Important</p><p>11:00 Coaching Clients Through the “Hissy Fit” Phase</p><p>13:30 Curiosity vs Resistance During ERP</p><p>15:00 Using Data Carefully in OCD Treatment</p><p>17:00 Measuring Coping Rather Than Distress</p><p>18:30 Reframing Extinction Bursts as Evidence of Change</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
78 total episodes available
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- What is Breaking the Rules: A Clinician's Guide to Treating OCD?
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