Justin’s Blog: “The Jog”

An enduring reality of life: we all have to do things we don’t want or like. An enduring principle of life: discipline builds strength and character. A curious paradox of life: doing disciplined things we don’t like often leads to greater contentment. An enduring joy of life: experiencing discipline and seeing it pay dividends brings […]

Faith & OCD Roundtable October 18 at 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm EDT Topic: Being in a Relationship with Religious Scrupulosity  Join Lead Advocate Rev. Katie O’Dunne and clinicians Dr. Caitlin Clagget Woods & Justin K. Hughes, LPC, along with Carolyn Ringenberg of the Faith & OCD Task Force to discuss the topic of being […]

The IOCDF and its Advocates invite you to celebrate OCD Awareness Week, October 9–15, 2022! “#OCDWeek began in 2009 to share knowledge and reduce stigma around OCD and related disorders. Each year in October, individuals, community groups, service organizations, and clinics around the world celebrate with OCD-inspired educational talks, youth events, grassroots fundraisers, yoga, creative […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Medications for OCD are often straightforward.  Usually, they involve SSRIs at often double the dosing compared to treating anxiety and depression.  No one thing is known to cure OCD.  The average adult sees a maximum 40-60% improvement in symptoms (which by the way, is less on average than the therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, or […]

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, […]

Over a year in the making, the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) launched its Faith & OCD Resource Center.  I have had the privilege to serve on the Task Force and to be a regular contributor to this and the Annual OCD & Faith Conference.  While many of my readers most certainly know of the specific […]

Join me for a FREE Live stream with all questions allowed!  I will be using the highly respected presentation created and given prior by Dr. Ted Witzig, who has graciously allowed its reproduction.  We’ll cover all things OCD, scrupulosity, faith integration with treatment, and 10 differences between Healthy Faith and OCD. Who: Me!  Justin K. […]

OCD and Anxiety are difficult foes when it comes to change.  Part of the problem with these disorders is that those who are not yet in recovery have developed often elaborate systems to prevent and escape from their distress.  While this may provide immediate relief momentarily, it serves to reinforce that we might only be […]