# 184. A 50-Year OCD Expert Explains Why Recovery Feels So Hard

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ocd-whisperer-podcast-with-kristina-orlova-1214844/184-a-50-year-ocd-expert-explains-why-recovery-feels-so-hard
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ocd-whisperer-podcast-with-kristina-orlova-1214844/184-a-50-year-ocd-expert-explains-why-recovery-feels-so-hard.md
Podcast: [The OCD Whisperer Podcast with Kristina Orlova](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ocd-whisperer-podcast-with-kristina-orlova-1214844)
Published: 2026-05-15T13:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://ocdwhisperer.podbean.com/e/184-i-will-change-this-later/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ij3jwyj46qc9pjur/Ep_184_Dr_Fugen_Neziroglu_AUDIO_ONLY7r1hh.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-ocd-whisperer-podcast-with-kristina-orlova-1214844/episodes/184-a-50-year-ocd-expert-explains-why-recovery-feels-so-hard
Duration seconds: 1186

## Resource

Can OCD therapy actually make OCD worse if it’s done incorrectly? In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Fugen Neziroglu, one of the pioneers in OCD treatment and the founder of the BioBehavioral Institute. With over 50 years of experience and more than 4,000 OCD patients treated, Dr. Neziroglu shares what most people still misunderstand about OCD therapy, ERP, CBT, and recovery. Dr. Neziroglu opens up about: • How OCD treatment looked in the 1970s before ERP, SSRIs, and CBT even existed • The surprising story behind the first OCD medication studies in the United States • Why many people think they’re getting ERP therapy when they’re actually not • What “real” OCD treatment should look like for severe OCD cases • Why some people need more support than once-a-week therapy • How intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and residential treatment can help people reclaim their lives If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” in OCD treatment but still feel stuck, this episode may help you understand why. Whether you’re struggling with contamination OCD, intrusive thoughts, severe anxiety, compulsions, or treatment-resistant OCD, this conversation offers real hope and practical insight from someone who helped shape modern OCD treatment itself. 📲 About Dr. Fugen Neziroglu (guest): Bio Behavioral had the first Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in the US and brought OCD to the forefront nearly 50 years ago and she wrote many books on OCD. She also won the lifetime achievement award for OCD. This establishes her expertise in the field and my passion for continuing to help suffering patients. She has devoted her entire life to OCD. • Ph.D., ABBP, ABPP • Hofstra Medical School • Board Certified in Behavioral and Clinical Psychology…

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