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Holding Space with Dr. Barker
Welcome to Holding Space with Dr. Barker—a podcast dedicated to fostering personal growth, emotional healing, and professional development. Hosted by Dr. Christopher Barker, a seasoned psychologist with over two decades of clinical experience, this podcast offers a thoughtful, compassionate space for meaningful conversations about mental health and psychotherapy.
Whether you're on your own path toward greater self-awareness and well-being, or you're a fellow therapist committed to deepening your clinical skills, you’ll find insightful discussions, evidence-based strategies, and expert guidance to support your journey.
Each week, Dr. Barker draws on his extensive training—including a Ph.D. from Seton Hall University, a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Radford University, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from The New School for Social Research—to explore topics like trauma recovery, emotional regulation, therapeutic techniques, and the art of holding space for others.
Join us for educational series, interviews with leading voices in the field, and practical tools designed to inspire personal discovery and professional transformation.
This is your space for reflection, learning, and connection.
Welcome to Holding Space.
Holding Space with Dr. Barker
Anxiety vs OCD: Intrusive Thoughts, ACT & EMDR Explained — with “Therapy with Josh”
In this episode of Holding Space with Dr. Christopher Barker, Dr. Barker sits down with Josh (“Therapy with Josh”), an accredited CBT therapist from Essex, UK, trained in EMDR and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). Together they unpack the real differences between anxiety and OCD, why OCD isn’t just “an anxiety disorder,” and how emotions like shame, guilt, disgust, and embarrassment can fuel the OCD cycle.
Josh shares how he treats OCD by targeting the “D”—the disorder—and explains why compulsions create more doubt. You’ll hear practical examples (like checking while driving), clear markers for when everyday quirks tip into disorder, and how defusion (e.g., “I’m noticing I’m having the thought that…”) helps people unhook from intrusive thoughts.
👉 Please LIKE, SHARE, and COMMENT, and email Dr. Barker with questions, topic ideas, or to be a guest!
Guest
- Josh — Therapy with Josh, Essex, UK
- Instagram: @therapywith_Josh
- TikTok: @therapywithjosh
#OCD #Anxiety #EMDR #ACT #CBT #MentalHealth #IntrusiveThoughts #Compulsions #Grounding #Breathwork #SelfCompassion #CFT #DBT #TherapyPodcast #HoldingSpace
Holding Space For You