The OCD Stories Jonny Say and Stuart Ralph role-play a key ACT skill for rumination (#518)
Dec 28, 2025
Jonny Say, a UK-based therapist and co-director at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy, dives into practical Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) skills. He discusses the transformative 'dropping anchor' technique, helping individuals manage emotional storms and compulsions. The podcast also explores the innovative 'dipping in and out of the stream' exercise, vital for combating rumination. Jonny and Stuart demonstrate role-play scenarios, showcasing how these skills can disrupt negative thought patterns, offering listeners actionable tools for their journeys.
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Progressively Condense Practice
- Progressively shorten the Dropping Anchor routine so you can use it in seconds during real-life triggers.
- Over time drop the body stage or the full scaffold until minimal noticing and engaging suffice.
Function Trumps Form
- The function of a behavior determines whether it's a compulsion, not the behavior's surface form.
- Dropping Anchor aims to reduce compulsions and return attention to values rather than controlling thoughts.
Russ Harris Helped Jonny Recover
- Jonny credits Russ Harris' ACT materials with helping him recover from OCD alongside ERP.
- He now uses those ACT tools extensively with clients to complement exposure work.