Justin’s Blog: “The Jog”

Chris and Olivia are two people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), yet their stories reveal a tale of two churches, highlighting sometimes inconsistent and poor treatment of those OCD within the church. ⛪ This past month, I started a Substack with the article, OCD Is Not A Faith Problem: Why the Church Must Listen to the Muffled […]

If you suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or even if you only suspect it, getting help quickly can make all the difference. The average time from the onset of symptoms to treatment is 11 to 17 years. That’s a terrible length of time to let the suffering grow, often out of control. OCD is […]

What if I want the bad thing to happen? What if I don’t really love them? What if I need to figure this out? What if me not being distressed means I’m missing something? The Hope in the Suffering If you ever suffer with questions like this, you are not alone. However, it is undoubtedly […]

People who have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) experience severe distressing intrusions, sometimes called “spikes” by sufferers. These can happen in the place most unwanted, including holidays, birthdays, funerals, job interviews, weddings, and sacred spaces like a church. What if these thoughts aren’t a reflection of character or faith? What if you can find peace by tools […]

Children and teens who suffer from OCD can often feel more alone for several reasons: They lack the developmental capacity to grasp the nature of mental illness and to understand with an adult brain what is going on The occurrence in children is lower (1 in 200) making it less likely to come across others […]

Stuart Ralph is an acclaimed podcast host of the OCD Stories who has both lived experience and expertise as a clinical specialist in the treatment of OCD. Being the most popular podcast dedicated to OCD by far, he has over 7 Million listens from around the world. His podcast is my favorite to share with […]

Did you miss the webinar? No problem! Here’s the recording on YouTube and the summary from Mental Health Grace Alliance:   Justin Hughes, LPC, explains how anxiety and OCD get filtered through the Christian perspective and general strategies for overcoming. Resources and links in the video: Understanding the Overactive Conscience Is it God or my […]

This Friday! Join us for a webinar by The Mental Health Grace Alliance.   The Peace of Christ: Effective Ways to Overcome Anxiety and OCD Apr 25, 2025 10:00 AM CST Click HERE to sign up now! “In this powerful webinar, licensed professional counselor (LPC, MA) Justin Hughes will explore how anxiety and OCD affect […]

Popular recording artist Danny Gokey recently shared his battle with OCD (scrupulosity), AD/HD, trauma, and depression. This comes as Braden Smith (Offensive Tackle for the Indianapolis Colts) recently detailed his severe struggle with OCD. I hope you are encouraged to hear stories that make tangible the 3% of those who have (or will have) OCD […]

If you have an Anxiety disorder or OCD, there are factual, verifiable differences in your experience with fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Many of my clients feel extra shame that they can’t overcome their doubts quickly through faith. IMPORTANT: God sees that some struggle more with doubt. Does God shame us out of it? No. He […]

I heard a phrase recently that goes something like this: If you knew you had to fail 20 times before you succeeded, how fast would you want to fail?  Oof.  That is hard to accept when something is essential. The sentiment is to take action, and the realization is that success is rarely on a […]

None of us recovers alone. The role of community in our support is more crucial than any of us knows. If you struggle with mental or emotional health (i.e., you are human), going it alone is not an option, yet most of us choose this at various points in our suffering. Therapy, unchecked, is at […]

Dr. Kevin Chapman caught my attention several years ago with his engaging mix of psychology credentials and faith. He has been a “friend at a distance,” offering kind words and encouragement to me on the regular. I recently reviewed his brand new book, which is out this month, and my review is below. Mastering Our […]

Around here, I’m all about helping people get unstuck. It is a joy to elevate voices of hope. Today’s guest article is by my friend and fellow advocate, Carolyn Ringenberg, MSW.  Join my free newsletter to be the first to receive articles, stories, announcements, and free ebooks: www.justinkhughes.com/getunstuck Is OCD Spiritual Warfare? By Carolyn Ringenberg, […]

There is one key mistake I come across from clinicians who try to work with OCD but lack training or experience treating it. Simply put, they “play with” obsessions rather than treating the nature of the problem. This can turn into well-meaning psychotherapy being a “rumination-fest” filled with reassurance from the clinician. Clients don’t usually […]