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ABOUT US
After living with distressing intrusive thoughts since early childhood, I finally got an OCD diagnosis at 32.
It came with a lot of other, very painful, symptoms associated with generalised anxiety, panic disorder and
depression. I found that the best way to traverse recovery and to develop self compassion and kindness (even if
my mind was telling my I didn't deserve it) was through the use of Olivia - a cheeky and somewhat sassy character that helped me separate myself from my condition and practice those positive skills that would help me into recovery.
I set up a blog about Olivia for my own personal use and hoped it would help one or two others. Fast forward seven years and it's grown beyond my wildest dreams. Taming Olivia is used as a concept around the world. We've appeared in international press, in classrooms, therapists offices and conference centers globally, and, importantly, in discussions around dinner tables.
Beyond the blog, Taming Olivia now provides resources designed to help support those dealing with OCD, and to help promote positive mental well-being in general.
OUR STORY
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OUR DIRECTION
Besides the website and the blog, Taming Olivia is involved in a range of exciting projects:
Cat is Executive Producer on a multi-award winning short film called Waving which documents the realities of dealing with distressing intrusive thoughts for the first time in the mainstream media. It stars Ralph Ineson and Krissi Bohn. It's currently in it's film festival run and will be released Early 2024. Waving is a huge passion project with the majority of the cast, crew and management receiving no wage at all.
We are currently co-developing an OCD prevention app with the University of Bath. This will be produced alongside the NHS and will be the first app of its kind internationally!
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We are busy creating Taming Olivia resources that can be given out free to people dealing with OCD and other mental health disorders.
We are supporting the 'For Want of A Nail' team with an exciting new development of their ten part series about OCD where Olivia will be making an appearance.
We volunteer out time to collaborate with a range of UK and international OCD charities including the wonderful, OCD Action, Maternal OCD, OCD UK, Orchard OCD and the International OCD Foundation.
We speak at conferences and write about OCD for international organisations, charities and the media.
We share our story with international press.
We are creating Taming Olivia resources for children and schools to use to help with the development of self-esteem, self compassion and self love.
The majority of Taming Olivia's projects are funded by our day
jobs and the resources we sell in our shop. If you would like to
help us continue our work, please check out the shop or use the 'support our work' button at the bottom of the page. 100% of donations go straight back into Taming Olivia.
