Justin’s Blog: “The Jog”
120+ Articles Driven by Research and Practice
Family Accommodation in OCD- Addressing Specific and Systemic Accommodations
Everyone Loses Lucas* regularly expressed frustration about his parents’ “nagging” him. Though he is a young adult, he lives out home and is mostly dependent on his parents for all essentials. He gave permission to involve his parents in treatment, which is ideal in many cases. It was frustrating for his compulsions to impair his […]
Read More >The Hurried Spiritual Life
This post was originally written July 31, 2013 and has been updated slightly with a reference to the bestseller book on the same topic. Rushing, Rushing ‘Til Life’s No Fun “Gotta go!” Dave looks at his watch, kisses his wife, and walks out the door. With just enough time to get ready and leave for […]
Read More >Clarity vs. Trust- Guest Post by Cal Zant (Kingdom at Work)
Clarity feels so nice, doesn’t it? That decision for work, taking a new job, or whether to take that next step in your relationship. I really like clarity. Yet, clarity is a weak foundation to stand on in pursuit of things that matter. Amazingly, sometimes the very best things we seek in this life may […]
Read More >Psychology Is Not (Supposed to Be) a Worldview
Psychology isn’t a worldview. It needs to be said. Looking for Answers With a plurality of views, perspectives, and beliefs, with technology that allows us to be exposed to every crevice that humans reside in, do you experience information overload? Feel adrift? Overwhelmed? Confused? Many people who feel this way end up in therapy for […]
Read More >Connection- The Importance of Not Walking Alone
Sitting at the Annual International OCD Foundation’s (IOCDF) OCDCon2022, I am struck by the power of connection. The conference is really strange- in a good way. As my family and I reflected on it, we all noted the unique nature of bringing together professionals and researchers with sufferers, family members, siblings, youth, young adults, parents, […]
Read More >Faith & OCD Conference: Navigating OCD in Diverse Faith-Based Communities
Join Us! I’ll be speaking/moderating for several sessions, including the Christian Discussion Group! “The IOCDF is excited to present the second annual virtual Faith and OCD Conference on Monday, May 9! This unique event began out of recognition that many people living with OCD initially seek assistance from a faith leader prior to a mental […]
Read More >Why Church May Be Difficult For OCD Sufferers [Guest Post by The Mind and Soul Foundation]
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 […]
Read More >Religious Trauma
As a clinician and person of faith, I really wish all the stories I tell involved an easy resolution. That’s not the case, nor is it a reality. It is important for us as clinicians and people of faith to hear of the hurts, pains, and in-process stories that can remind us: it’s a process– […]
Read More >Do You Repeatedly Check Things to Make Sure? BIG Mistake. Checking Leads to Memory Distrust
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 […]
Read More >HOW You Do Exposure Therapy is MORE Important Than What You Do
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 […]
Read More >IOCDF Faith & OCD Roundtable Livestream
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 […]
Read More >Bill Nye, Potential Energy, and How To Recover From Uncertainty
Ever noticed how if you try to push something away it seems to come back even stronger? A common phrase in my work is “What you resist, persists.” And this couldn’t be truer than with anxiety, panic, OCD, and maybe just about any problem that’s fear related. Repeated checking leads to “memory distrust” (Hout & […]
Read More >Staying in the Game: Resilience Can Be Learned
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 […]
Read More >Can Christians Be Free From Uncertainty? Part 4/4: The Good News In Uncertainty
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 […]
Read More >Can Christians Be Free From Uncertainty? Part 3/4: The Argument For Christians To Embrace Uncertainty
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 […]
Read More >