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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.

We want you to know that your intrusive thoughts do not define the quality of your faith, your worth, or your relationship with God. ​

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OCD and scrupulosity can feel like an endless cycle of doubt, fear and compulsions. you can feel trapped by your own faith,  fearful of morality, and constantly questioning your salvation. You Are Not Alone. there are many Catholics and Christians who loves the Lord and feel caught between overwhelming thoughts and their desire for connection with God.

What is Scrupulosity?

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

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  • Constant fear of having committed a sin without realizing it

  • Repetitive confession

  • Avoiding reception of the sacraments because of doubts

  • Prayer feels compulsive

  • Mental checking to "make sure" God isn't angry or you aren’t in mortal sin

  • Intense feelings of need for reassurance from priests, spiritual directors, or loved ones

  • Feeling trapped in your own mind

  • Feeling unable to trust yourself or God's mercy

The Saints and the Storm

It is important for you to know that you are not the only one that has struggled like this. The church has identified a number of saints who have also  shouldered similar struggles

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

  • St. Ignatius of Loyola developed the Discernment of Spirits in response to his own obsessive fears.

  • St. Thérèse of Lisieux, struggled with terror and paralyzing fear over sin and punishment before she discovered her “little way”. ​

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They are not Saints because they never struggled. We look to them as an example because of their trust and love  of the Lord in the midst of their struggles.

A Clinical and Christian Approach

Scrupulosity is not a character flaw, a vice, or a sign of weak faith. It is a neurobiological condition. And it is a neurobiological condition for which we have effective treatments. 

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

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  • Research-driven: We have therapists trained in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), one of the gold standard treatments for OCD.

  • Faith-integrated: Our therapists will respect your faith, not ask you to abandon it as a way of treating OCD or scrupulosity.

  • Gentle and strategic: Treatment will include learning to tolerate doubt, and building trust in yourself and in the Lord rather than in compulsions.

  • Collaborative: When appropriate your therapist can collaborate with spiritual Directors  and clergy to support you across multiple areas of your life. Clinical work should support your faith life. It does not have to contradict it or be in competition with spiritual advisors.​

What Counseling Can Offer

Counseling can help you:

  • Help you understand the patterns of intrusive thoughts and compulsions

  • Give you an understanding of the brain mechanisms in OCD and scrupulosity

  • Overtime you will grow more comfortable in sitting in the uncertain

  • Counseling can help you to see a reduction of your compulsive behaviors

  • It will help you have better responses to intrusive thoughts

  • It can  increase your confidence in handling your OCD symptoms

  • Overtime you will see an improvement of your daily functioning

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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