Justin’s Blog: “The Jog”

What if I want the bad thing to happen? What if I don’t really love them? What if I need to figure this out? What if me not being distressed means I’m missing something? The Hope in the Suffering If you ever suffer with questions like this, you are not alone. However, it is undoubtedly […]

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 […]

Why is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) such a new phenomenon? Well, it’s not. We have clues about many in history who have suffered, from St. Ignatius to Loyola to Martin Luther. It is a fascinating history, which is church history. ⛪ Click Here to Watch the Short Video now, which is a free sample from […]

Did you miss the webinar? No problem! Here’s the recording on YouTube and the summary from Mental Health Grace Alliance:   Justin Hughes, LPC, explains how anxiety and OCD get filtered through the Christian perspective and general strategies for overcoming. Resources and links in the video: Understanding the Overactive Conscience Is it God or my […]

[Updated 2025, formerly the original article can be found here: “The 3 D’s in OCD Recovery“]   Did you know there are four ways to break OCD’s hold on you? In ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), we target one thing: facing distress without compulsion. That simple concept is hard to live out. Because OCD is […]

This Friday! Join us for a webinar by The Mental Health Grace Alliance.   The Peace of Christ: Effective Ways to Overcome Anxiety and OCD Apr 25, 2025 10:00 AM CST Click HERE to sign up now! “In this powerful webinar, licensed professional counselor (LPC, MA) Justin Hughes will explore how anxiety and OCD affect […]

Popular recording artist Danny Gokey recently shared his battle with OCD (scrupulosity), AD/HD, trauma, and depression. This comes as Braden Smith (Offensive Tackle for the Indianapolis Colts) recently detailed his severe struggle with OCD. I hope you are encouraged to hear stories that make tangible the 3% of those who have (or will have) OCD […]

I heard a phrase recently that goes something like this: If you knew you had to fail 20 times before you succeeded, how fast would you want to fail?  Oof.  That is hard to accept when something is essential. The sentiment is to take action, and the realization is that success is rarely on a […]

There’s no doubt about it: trauma and maltreatment of children impact OCD in both children and adults. Surely, trauma must be causal to OCD? Not so fast. Trauma not Causal to OCD (So Far As We Know) Trauma is not a definitive cause of OCD (Dykshoorn, 2014). However, it has some strong associations. If you […]

Find me presenting at OCD Con 2024!!   TITLE: Keeping the Faith: How to Ethically and Competently Treat Religious Scrupulosity TRACK: Clinician–Advanced DATE/TIME: Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 9:45 AM – 11:15 AM   Description: Providing effective and respectful care to individuals with religious scrupulosity challenges even the most experienced OCD therapists. Our individual biases and lack […]