Justin’s Blog: “The Jog”

Join my fellow expert, Saharah Shrout, MA, LPC-S, and myself for the recorded live presentation during #OCDWeek 2020 we gave for OCD Texas (IOCDF Affiliate) in 2020. A very rough copy of some notes, providing examples, is below.  I hope this helps you feel less alone and understand this: just about any distressing thought/feeling can […]

Join Us!  I’ll be speaking/moderating for several sessions, including the Christian Discussion Group! “The IOCDF is excited to present the second annual virtual Faith and OCD Conference on Monday, May 9! This unique event began out of recognition that many people living with OCD initially seek assistance from a faith leader prior to a mental […]

As a clinician and person of faith, I really wish all the stories I tell involved an easy resolution.  That’s not the case, nor is it a reality.  It is important for us as clinicians and people of faith to hear of the hurts, pains, and in-process stories that can remind us: it’s a process– […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 & […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

With most things we do in life that are healthy and good, sustainability requires the ability to stick with something over the long haul.   Health Requires Realism & Cutting Out Shame Theoretically, with any one aspect of growth we might be able to figure it out ourselves, so we may think to ourselves, “I don’t […]

When I first learned to implement mindfulness, relaxation, and deep breathing into my therapy practice, I have to admit I was surprised when some clients quickly stated one of a few things: They didn’t want to continue. It was distressing to them. It didn’t work for them.  It threw me off a little as a […]