Justin’s Blog: “The Jog”
120+ Articles Driven by Research and Practice
Can Thoughts Be Evil or Sinful? What Does That Mean For Intrusive Thoughts and Obsessions? (Part 3/3)
This 3 part series explores a common question for Christians struggling with intrusive, unwanted thoughts: “Can thoughts be evil or sinful? What does that mean?” All good questions are best explored in community; consider this a conversation. I want to encourage you that this is not the same as therapy OR gaining direct wisdom from […]
Read More >Can Thoughts Be Evil or Sinful? What Does That Mean For Intrusive Thoughts and Obsessions? (Part 2/3)
This 3 part series explores a common question for Christians struggling with intrusive, unwanted thoughts: “Can thoughts be evil or sinful? What does that mean?” All good questions are best explored in community; consider this a conversation. I want to encourage you that this is not the same as therapy OR gaining direct wisdom from […]
Read More >Can Thoughts Be Evil or Sinful? What Does That Mean For Intrusive Thoughts and Obsessions? (Part 1/3)
This 3 part series explores a common question for Christians struggling with intrusive, unwanted thoughts: “Can thoughts be evil or sinful? What does that mean?” All good questions are best explored in community; consider this a conversation. I want to encourage you that this is not the same as therapy OR gaining direct wisdom from […]
Read More >Can Thoughts Be Evil or Sinful? (Subscribers, Get the New e-book FREE NOW!)
One of the most common questions I get from Christians concerning intrusive thoughts in OCD and Anxiety Disorders is along the lines of “Is this thought sinful just for having it?” “What if these thoughts mean something?” “Are the thoughts real?” “Is God trying to tell me something?” After someone recently requested my thoughts on […]
Read More >Faith and OCD Roundtable
In case you missed it, here is the roundtable live stream from February 15, 2022. I hope it encourages you. Synopsis: “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 clinical mental health treatment? Have you ever […]
Read More >Less Frequently Discussed Subtypes of OCD
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 […]
Read More >Why Church May Be Difficult For OCD Sufferers [Guest Post by The Mind and Soul Foundation]
The Mind and Soul Foundation is a non-profit in the U.K. described as a team of leaders who bring together resources on both faith and emotions, instead of separating the two. This article is re-posted in full with their permission (formatting is the only change). You may read more about them at the end of […]
Read More >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 >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 […]
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