Justin’s Blog: “The Jog”

One of the most common questions I get from Christians concerning intrusive thoughts in OCD and Anxiety Disorders is along the lines of “Is this thought sinful just for having it?” “What if these thoughts mean something?” “Are the  thoughts real?” “Is God trying to tell me something?” After someone recently requested my thoughts on […]

In case you missed it, here is the roundtable live stream from February 15, 2022.  I hope it encourages you. Synopsis: “Are you seeking to navigate OCD while remaining connected to your faith community? Have you ever felt like you had to choose between your religious space and clinical mental health treatment? Have you ever […]

Join my fellow expert, Saharah Shrout, MA, LPC-S, and myself for the recorded live presentation during #OCDWeek 2020 we gave for OCD Texas (IOCDF Affiliate) in 2020. A very rough copy of some notes, providing examples, is below.  I hope this helps you feel less alone and understand this: just about any distressing thought/feeling can […]

The Mind and Soul Foundation is a non-profit in the U.K. described as a team of leaders who bring together resources on both faith and emotions, instead of separating the two.  This article is re-posted in full with their permission (formatting is the only change).  You may read more about them at the end of […]

The research is really clear on this: disordered checking behaviors (and thoughts) lead to distrust of your memory (van den Hout & Kint, 2003; Radomsky & Alcolado, 2010).  Let’s say you walk away from your front door or your car.  You typically lock them.  But you start to think about it, and you are now […]

Lisa is a learner, sensitive to do the right thing, and receptive to the input of other people.  She’s just another example of one of the true “sweethearts” that I get to work with.  When we started therapy she was a “therapist’s dream”: receptive, ready to learn, willing to try any exercise suggested, and highly […]

Recorded on Tuesday, 2/15/22, I was honored to be invited to the first in a series of Roundtables on Faith and OCD. I hope this helps you!! Description: Are you seeking to navigate OCD while remaining connected to your faith community? Have you ever felt like you had to choose between your religious space and […]

That Voice. You undoubtedly know the difference when someone uses that voice.  The conversation went from being lighthearted to now serious.  As a child, you may remember actual examples when your parent got serious and “laid down the law.”  I’m working on how to do this graciously, yet firmly, with my toddler right now. Have […]

Good news: resilience in life can be learned; it’s not just “trait-based” (like a more persistent personality trait).   We all set ourselves up for defeat at times through our beliefs.  In CBT, we typically call these cognitive distortions.  Whatever thoughts we have that are biased or self-defeating will always limit us in some way, often […]

OCD can be a highly debilitating disorder- yet it is highly treatable! You don’t have to check your faith at the door to get good help.   One example is from Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale, Director of the McLean OCD Institute // Houston and Lecturer at Harvard Medical School.   She is also Founder of the Peace […]

This four part series is meant to be a brief, yet fairly comprehensive, overview into the world of uncertainty for Christians.  SUMMARY: In Part 1, uncertainty is explored as a human experience- one for which Christians do not escape simply in lieu of being a faithful follower.  Part 2 addresses what ways people generally handle […]

This four part series is meant to be a brief, yet fairly comprehensive, overview into the world of uncertainty for Christians.  SUMMARY: In Part 1, uncertainty is explored as a human experience- one for which Christians do not escape simply in lieu of being a faithful follower.  Part 2 addresses what ways people generally handle […]

This four part series is meant to be a brief, yet fairly comprehensive, overview into the world of uncertainty for Christians.  SUMMARY: In Part 1, uncertainty is explored as a human experience- one for which Christians do not escape simply in lieu of being a faithful follower.  Part 2 addresses what ways people generally handle […]

This four part series is meant to be a brief, yet fairly comprehensive, overview into the world of uncertainty for Christians.  SUMMARY: In Part 1, uncertainty is explored as a human experience- one for which Christians do not escape simply in lieu of being a faithful follower.  Part 2 addresses what ways people generally handle […]

As a sequel to my popular, “ERP 4 OCD- Ultimate Guide to Treating OCD” training, here is the full length training on “Common Pitfalls in ERP 4 OCD.”  I have given this to OCD sufferers, family/friends, clergy, and clinicians.  May it benefit you wherever you find yourself today. Intro Evidence-based treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder […]