Justin’s Blog: “The Jog”

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

This is the shortened version of the article, the “PRO Version” available here. Functional Assessment Defined A functional assessment (or analysis, FA) is a framework that clinicians use to assess and plan treatment.  It is simply “any empirical demonstration of a cause-effect relation,” its purpose being “to determine which sources of reinforcement account for problem […]

The Question It was a good question.  Anne* suffered extensively with fear, anxiety, and OCD.  She wanted any relief she could find.  “Can I drink a little alcohol during exposures?” Little Therapist Justin As an early specialist in OCD, I said to Anne my favorite thing to say when I don’t know: “I don’t know.”  […]

Small changes, over time, lead to big results.   Keep Choppin’ If you chop a tree with an axe once per day, you won’t see much progress.  Daily for a year and a tree (most) won’t stand a chance.  However, we are often limited with black and white, insular thinking (a cognitive distortion), also called “all […]

This is the full, “PRO version” of this article.  Looking for the quick read with graphics?  Click here. A great strength we have as human beings is to make connections and associations between simple and complex information.  At its best, we can learn and grow.  At worst, we can live in total unreality. Therapy at […]

As a gift to my subscribers, the guide, Get Unstuck: Your Intro to Facing Fear & Getting Healthy is YOURS, FREE.  Not a subscriber? This is the updated version of the prior “Thriving Mental Health Alongside COVID-19,” leaving the best intact along with new considerations for 2021 and several new handouts, connected articles, guides, and […]