Real Life: OCD
OCD in childhood versus adulthood
In this honest Real Life conversation, Venessa Scott speaks with Jay Deakin and accredited psychotherapist and Registered Mental Health Nurse Peter Lindsayhall about growing up with OCD, recognising its early signs and understanding how obsessions and compulsions can evolve over time.
When compulsions take over everyday life
In this episode of Real Life, Venessa Scott speaks with certified Life Coach and OCD lived-experience advocate Dierdre Rae and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr Simon Holliday about Dierdre’s experience of developing OCD in early childhood and the impact it had as she grew older.
Meet the participants
Venessa Scott
Venessa presents these Real Life episodes, guiding the conversation between our lived experience experts and specialist clinicians, asking the questions that often don't get answered.
Jay Deakin
Jay Deakin is the founder of TalkHub C.I.C., a non-profit men’s mental health organisation that brings men together through activities including football, boxing, golf and walking. Drawing on his own experience of OCD and mental health challenges, Jay works to reduce stigma, encourage open conversations and help people feel less alone. We chose him because he is a natural community-builder who speaks openly and informatively about growing up and living with OCD. His contribution challenges stereotypes, creates space for men to talk about mental health and helps the audience understand how intrusive thoughts and compulsions can remain hidden from the people around them.
Peter Lindsayhall
Peter Lindsayhall is an accredited psychotherapist and registered mental health nurse working with adults, offering online and face-to-face appointments. He specialises in the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, addiction, depression and traumatic stress. Having personally recovered from OCD, Peter brings both professional expertise and personal insight to his work with clients experiencing similar difficulties.
Dierdre Rae
Dierdre Rae is a certified life coach, fitness expert and lived-experience advocate for OCD. Through sharing her experience of living with and managing OCD, she offers personal insight, practical strategies and hope for recovery. We chose Dierdre because she brings passion, depth and an extensive understanding of how OCD can affect everyday life. Her willingness to go beneath familiar stereotypes helps the audience understand the reality of compulsions, emotional contamination and treatment, while reinforcing that people are not defined by their condition and can build a meaningful life beyond it.
Dr Simon Holliday
Dr Simon Holliday is a medically qualified child psychiatrist with over 20 years' experience in neurodevelopmental care. He leads ADHD and Autism assessments using ADI-R and a formulation-led, trauma-informed approach. With an MSc in Psychiatry and training in CBT (OCD-focused), Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Remediation, and NLP (Master Practitioner), Dr Holliday delivers accurate, compassionate diagnoses grounded in evidence-based practice.
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