Podcast Episodes
Guest appearances discussing mental health psychoeducation, management of anxiety disorders, parenting strategies for anxious children, athlete mindset, and so much more.
Conversation with Cali Werner -- Episode 09
The Athletes Community
01.12.2023
Cali attended Rice University in Houston, Texas where she competed as a D1 distance runner, winning 9 conference titles among other achievements. After college, she went on to compete in the 2020 US Olympic Trials in the marathon. However, her experience includes other trials that she had to deal with both on and off the track, ranging from injuries early on in college to mental health struggles and being diagnosed with OCD. Her journey motivated her to pursue a career in mental health, and she’s currently working on her Ph.D. in clinical social work at Baylor University. Even in the midst of her doctorate studies, seeing patients regularly and training for marathons (and carving out time for herself!), she continues in her dedication to raising awareness by being a voice of encouragement for those that need it.
The Spin Cycle -- Episode 51
The Anxiety Sisters Podcast
10.18.2022
Meet Cali Werner, award-winning collegiate distance runner, licensed clinical social worker, and fellow Anxiety Sister who has been diagnosed with OCD. Her areas of expertise include perfectionism, burnout, anxiety, and obsessive thinking; we dive into these topics and more during our conversation which is searingly honest and revelatory. If you’ve ever lived with (or wondered what it’s like to live with) debilitating anxiety, this podcast is for you!
About Cali Werner:
Cali received her bachelor’s degree from Rice University where she competed as a Division I collegiate distance runner winning nine conference titles, and an Honorable Mention All-American in the 10k. Her most recent athletic success was competing in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials in the marathon. She received her master’s degree in social work with a specialization in OCD from Baylor University, and is currently working on a Ph.D. in clinical social work at Baylor while continuing to see patients virtually.
It's a Party Out There: Cali Werner
Unit3d: Hilinski's Hope
09.06.2022
Anxiety and perfectionism is common among athletes and can take the joy away from sport. To manage nerves, many athletes can engage in routines, behaviors, thoughts and habits but when they get in the way of daily life it can be an indication of a deeper problem. Cali Werner was a distance runner in college and is currently training for Olympic trials and shares with Unit3d her experiences as an athlete with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and anxiety as well as her expertise in treating these issues in athletes as a clinician.
Interview with Cali Werner, LCSW
@caliwerner1
To learn more about the Altitude Project running camp including where to sign up: altitudeproject.com
For resources related to OCD from the International OCD Foundation: iocdf.org
To learn more about Cali's book Anxious Annie: www.authorcaliwerner.com
To order Anxious Annie: www.amazon.com/Anxious-Annie-Cali-Werner/dp/1665523778
Episode 17
The Examined Athlete
10.19.2021
In this episode, Clay speaks with Cali Werner. Cali is a family and behavioral therapist, author, and elite-level marathoner. While Cali excelled on the track, she also struggled with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder throughout her life which compelled her to dedicate her professional career to helping others with similar struggles.
Cali and Clay talk about self-confidence, marathons, success while living with anxiety, OCD and other anxiety disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy, the role fear plays, advice for family members, and Cali courageously walks through her personal journey with OCD.
Episode 004
Student of Running Podcast
01.13.2022
Episode 49
Why is Everyone Yelling
09.07.2021
Cali Werner is a family and behavioral therapist. She focuses on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, athletes and repetitive and ritualistic performance inhibiting behaviors, anxiety, mental health stigmas and more. Cali also recently wrote a book and it’s called Anxious Annie.
In this episode, she gives us really thoughtful ways to evaluate and decide if our kids might need to see a behavioral therapist, ways to think about anxiety with our kids, how to handle certain situations, anxiety with sports, and more.
I took a lot from this conversation and I hope that you all with too!
What we talked about:
4:05- The book that Cali wrote
5:15- Her work as a therapist
6:45- Cali’s own story with OCD and working with your child on their own OCD
20:15- Bringing siblings to therapy
21:50- When to get help for your child with OCD
24:35- Symptoms of panic attacks
25:30- How to help your child through a panic attack
28:55- Anxiety with sports
34:35- Writing Anxious Annie
36:10- Anxiety vs OCD and how they intertwine
37:30- How to communicate with teachers and others about your child’s anxiety
49:10- End of podcast questions
Episode 226
Anxious Toddlers Parenting Survival Podcast
09.07.2021
Anxiety and OCD love to glom onto everything our children love, including sports. It can make your child anxious, sick and panicky before a game, meet or competition. OCD can go one step further and create compulsions around the sport.
I invited Cali Werner, Anxiety and OCD Clinician, athlete, and author of Anxious Annie, to come on to the AT Parenting Survival Podcast and my Youtube channel to talk to us about how to handle sports-related anxiety and OCD struggles.
Episode 16
Run into Life Podcast
06.15.2021
I LOVED the chance to chat with Cali Werner in episode #16 of the Run Into Life Podcast. She is such an inspiration as a clinician, author, advocate, and competitive athlete. In this episode, we attempted to debunk myths around OCD and athletics (from the perspective of both an athlete and a clinician!). We also dove into Cali's competitive running career, racing at the Olympic Trials, and the release of her new book!
Cali (Roper) Werner is an athlete and clinician specializing in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Cali's research focuses on competitive athletes with debilitating anxiety that negatively impacts their performance.
Cali's struggle with OCD began at the young age of four. However, Cali did not receive a proper diagnosis or evidence-based care until she went to college. Cali's OCD symptoms increased during times of stress. As her successes grew as a Division I distance runner at Rice University, her symptoms worsened. These circumstances made Cali's love for her sport turn into dread. While at Rice, Cali won 9 conference championships and was named an honorable mention All-American in the 10k. Cali was able to reignite the love for her sport after receiving appropriate evidence-based care. Cali hopes to help others with mental illness know that they are not alone, and that appropriate treatment is available to reobtain the joy that mental illness takes away.
Cali recently qualified and competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in 2020 and continues to pursue her passion for running while advocating for those struggling with mental illness through her research, therapy, and her own personal testimony.
While obtaining her Ph.D. at Baylor University, Cali also works at the McLean OCD Institute at Houston as a mental health clinician. In her free time, Cali enjoys growing in faith, learning about new cultures through travel, and spending time outdoors with her pups, family, and friends.
