Justin’s Blog: “The Jog”
120+ Articles Driven by Research and Practice
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 >When Jesus Was Tender & When He Was Tough- What Is He Saying To You?
That Voice. You undoubtedly know the difference when someone uses that voice. The conversation went from being lighthearted to now serious. As a child, you may remember actual examples when your parent got serious and “laid down the law.” I’m working on how to do this graciously, yet firmly, with my toddler right now. Have […]
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 >Time-Savings OCD Shortcuts
In the journey of recovery from OCD, developing quick shortcuts to identify obsessions and/or compulsions is very helpful. Otherwise, clients who attempt to stop and pause to assess every obsession run into two problems: The risk (and actuality) of over-analyzing, thus obsessing more on what is or isn’t an obsession. This is part of the […]
Read More >Faith and OCD- An Interview with Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale
OCD can be a highly debilitating disorder- yet it is highly treatable! You don’t have to check your faith at the door to get good help. One example is from Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale, Director of the McLean OCD Institute // Houston and Lecturer at Harvard Medical School. She is also Founder of the Peace […]
Read More >One Simple Way To Spot OCD- Even If You’re Not A Pro
Is it ego-dystonic? (Inconsistent with one’s personality and/or fundamental beliefs.) It’s called the “Doubting Disease” for a reason. When a person begins to doubt visibly and experientially something that they seem to know, this is something to pay attention to. Did you lock the door? Yes. [10 minutes later] Well, maybe I should go […]
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 >Can Christians Be Free From Uncertainty? Part 2/4: Christian Intolerance of 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 1/4: Uncertainty Can Be Utterly Uncomfortable
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 >Common Pitfalls in ERP 4 OCD- FREE Training
As a sequel to my popular, “ERP 4 OCD- Ultimate Guide to Treating OCD” training, here is the full length training on “Common Pitfalls in ERP 4 OCD.” I have given this to OCD sufferers, family/friends, clergy, and clinicians. May it benefit you wherever you find yourself today. Intro Evidence-based treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder […]
Read More >Vacation, Holiday, Birthday, Anniversary Anxiety? You’re Not Alone
It’s “supposed” to be a special time. You’ve worked hard and are ready to take a break. But you feel more distressed and a certain pressure to be relaxed. Welcome to anxiety invading special moments. This can be true with vacations, holidays, days/hours off, and birthdays and anniversaries. If you struggle to feel happy, content, […]
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