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Winding forest path symbolizing the confusion and looping thoughts of scrupulosity

Counseling for OCD and Scrupulosity

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. - John 14:27

When your thoughts won’t let go, healing is still possible.

Scrupulosity is not the same as holiness.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is not the same as “being careful.”

Intrusive thoughts do not define your worth, your soul, or your relationship with God.

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At Grace and Nature Group, we meet individuals whose minds feel like they’re trapped in an endless cycle of doubt, fear, and compulsion, especially around matters of faith, morality, and salvation. Many are devout Catholics or Christians who long for peace but feel caught between the tug of their thoughts and the truth they know in their hearts.

What is Scrupulosity?

Scrupulosity is a form of OCD that centers around moral or religious fears. It may look like:

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  • Constant fear of having committed a sin without realizing it

  • Repetitive confession or avoidance of the sacraments altogether

  • Compulsive prayers, rituals, or mental checking to "make sure" God isn't angry

  • A relentless need for reassurance from priests, spiritual directors, or loved ones

  • Feeling trapped in your own mind, unable to trust yourself or God's mercy

The Saints and the Storm

You are not the first to struggle this way.

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  • St. Alphonsus Liguori suffered greatly from scrupulous thoughts, at times believing he was damned.

  • St. Ignatius of Loyola had to develop his famous discernment tools in response to his own obsessive fears.

  • St. Thérèse of Lisieux, before discovering her “little way,” struggled with terror over sin and punishment.

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These saints found healing not by “thinking harder” or “praying more correctly,” but by growing in trust, surrender, and often, through wise human accompaniment.

A Clinical and Christian Approach

Scrupulosity is not a character flaw or a sign of weak faith. It is a neurobiological condition that can be treated effectively.

 

At Grace and Nature Group, we offer therapy that is:

  • Research-driven: including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold standard treatment for OCD

  • Faith-integrated: respecting your love of the Church, sacraments, and spiritual tradition

  • Gentle and strategic: helping you learn to tolerate doubt, embrace peace, and build trust in God rather than in compulsions

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We collaborate with spiritual directors and clergy when appropriate, ensuring that the clinical and spiritual work supports each other—never contradicts.

What Counseling Can Offer

Healing doesn’t always arrive in grand gestures. Often, it comes slowly — like light through stained glass: filtered, colored, and beautiful in its own way.

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Counseling can help you:

  • Understand the emotional, relational, and spiritual roots of depression

  • Build habits of hope and practical coping strategies

  • Find words for your suffering — and space to be heard

  • Reconnect with God without shame or fear

  • Experience compassion, not correction

Whether you’re newly aware of scrupulosity or have been silently struggling for years, we are here to walk with you, patiently, faithfully, and clinically.

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