The following excerpt from my brand new ebook highlights the struggle to find a therapist who helps honor Christian values.  It is possible!

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Therapist-Finding Fatigue

Susan and John became overwhelmed by their son William’s* OCD. “Billy” is the kind of young man I’d be honored to have for a son. Known as the most respectable and virtuous guy at his school by his peers, he excelled in his Junior year of high school in grades, basketball, and kindness. He is a shining example of Galatians 6:9:

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

For much of high school, Billy kept his impairment under the surface.  His teachers, friends, and youth group at church would have never guessed the following were just a tiny part of his nightmarish suffering:

• One-hour nightly shower
• One roll of toilet paper used per day for compulsive wiping to “feel clean”
• Could not touch anyone unless he washed immediately before for fear he would contaminate them
• Restarted prayers after a “bad” emotion like anger or sadness occurred
• Immediate aversion from looking at girls he found cute (including using words like “cute” or “attractive”) for fear of lust
• Counter any blasphemous thought in his head with an image of Jesus and a Scripture verse—couldn’t move on until this was the last thing he did (restarting every time a “bad” thought arose)

His parents sought me out for wisdom. They knew he had OCD, and they believed the tenets of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) were what was likely needed.  However, they were in a somewhat rural part of the country, and the only OCD specialistá clinicians they had access to were not Christian. They also read many examples of exposure and couldn’t imagine how he could do exposure to vile, lustful, irreverent, and inappropriate thoughts. It was out of the question to support their son in “being okay” with these awful intrusions.

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CONTENTS

Summary
OCD & Faith
The Nature of the Problem
The Solution
Ah, But
Terrible Things
Resistance is Futile
How to Draw a Line–Respect Faith, Violate the Rules of OCD
Some Christians are Getting A Bit Nervous About Now
Skilled Therapists Know This
Not All Therapists Know This
How to Interview a Prospective OCD Therapist Who Helps You Stay
True to Your Faith
What to Do in Therapy When You Think an Exposure (or Anything)
Violates Your Values
You Pick Two
Good Enough

*The story above is a composite of several common experiences, which allows me to obscure detail to maintain anonymity, confidentiality, and privacy. Rest assured, the examples are authentic and come up often.