Intrusive, Unwanted Thoughts and Faith (I am Second Blog)

In an article titled ” How to Pray for Faith in the Midst of Doubt,” Erika Allen provides a poignant resource on trusting God despite doubt. She starts with one of my favorite passages in Scripture, Mark 9:21-24: And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From […]

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 […]

This is fascinating. I gave into the pop-culture urge of asking ChatGPT for its feedback on why Christians don’t pursue therapy. Its feedback wasn’t bad.  What do you think? ChatGPT on Christian avoidance of therapy—Helpful or Hurtful? Here is my prompt: What are reasons why Christians don’t pursue therapy?    There are several reasons why […]

As many people search for meaning and answers to suffering, questions of faith and spirituality are being asked with renewed fervor. It is no surprise to me that these topics are critical in mental health care and treatment. Yet, few know how to navigate them well. I hope you’ll listen to Kimberley Quinlan’s Your Anxiety […]

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 […]