Christian Faith and OCD, Scrupulosity, Intrusive Thoughts, Compulsions, ICBT

In this episode, Carrie revisits a powerful conversation with author Peyton Garland, who shares her journey through OCD, scrupulosity, and anxiety while holding onto her Christian faith.  Episode Highlights: -The emotional weight of growing up in a culture where therapy was viewed as weakness, -The spiritual confusion and fear that can accompany OCD in rigid religious environments -How finding a d...

In this episode, Carrie responds to the International OCD Foundation’s newly released 2024 treatment guidelines. She offers a therapist’s take on the updates, and what they mean for Christians navigating OCD.  Episode Highlights: What the IOCDF’s updated 2024 treatment guidelines mean for OCD care, and why this shift matters. How Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) compares to newer approaches...

In this episode, Carrie speaks with Virginia-based therapist Stephanie Smith about her personal and professional journey with OCD, including how it intersected with her Christian faith. They explore the development of scrupulosity, the healing impact of ICBT, and the importance of separating OCD’s voice from the truth of God’s grace. Episode Highlights: Stephanie’s personal journey with OCD, begin...

As part of our ongoing OCD Personal Story series, Carrie sits down with Amber Vetitoe who bravely shares her lifelong battle with undiagnosed OCD—from early childhood fears to the heavy weight of scrupulosity and health anxiety—and the healing journey that unfolded through faith, perseverance, and the right therapeutic support. Episode Highlights:  How OCD can go undiagnosed for years, masqueradin...

As part of the OCD Personal Story Summer Series, Carrie shares a special re-airing of her powerful conversation with bestselling author Stormie Omartian—beloved for The Power of a Praying Wife, Parent, Husband, and other transformative books on prayer. While this isn’t a traditional OCD story, it speaks deeply to anyone who’s carried the weight of trauma, emotional pain, or the lasting impact of g...

In this episode, Carrie welcomes fellow therapist Heather Vignali to share her personal journey with OCD, including how symptoms emerged during a major life transition—and how ICBT, EMDR, and her Christian faith played a role in her healing. Episode Highlights: The ways OCD impacted Heather’s life, including obsessive safety concerns and compulsive monitoring of her daughter. What “anxiety tongue”...

In Episode 176 of Christian Faith and OCD, Carrie kicks off a new series of personal stories from individuals who have struggled with OCD by revisiting an early and powerful interview with Mitzi VanCleve. Mitzi shares her decades-long journey with OCD, including early symptoms, spiritual struggles, and finally finding hope through proper diagnosis. Episode Highlights: How OCD can begin in early ch...

In this episode, Carrie shares how integrating ICBT and EMDR creates a powerful, personalized approach to treating OCD. She explains how these therapies work together to address both the cognitive and nervous system components of healing through a Christ-centered lens. Episode Highlight:  Why EMDR is more than just trauma treatment and how it targets the nervous system for healing How ICBT helps i...

 In this episode, Carrie explores whether Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT) is a good fit for individuals struggling with OCD—especially those who haven’t found success with exposure and response prevention (ERP).  Episode Highlights: The key differences between ERP and ICBT, and why ICBT may be a better fit for certain individuals with OCD. How ICBT helps unpack the reasoning be...

In this episode, Carrie sits down with Angela Henry, LCSW, a therapist in private practice based in Northern Indiana, to discuss her journey into OCD treatment, the integration of faith in therapy, and how Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT) is transforming lives—especially for Christians struggling with OCD and scrupulosity. Episode Highlights: What the “feared possible self” is a...

In this episode, Carrie dives into the true meaning of self-care—going far beyond bubble baths and downtime. She shares her personal journey through a challenging season, exploring how soul care, healthy boundaries, and physical wellness play essential roles in managing life and faith with OCD. Episode Highlights  Why soul care must come before any other kind of self-care—and how your connection w...

In this episode, Carrie dives into the unexpected risks of feeling better when dealing with OCD. While it may seem like a positive step forward, there are some potential challenges that can arise as recovery progresses. Episode Highlights: The risk of thinking OCD will magically disappear without continued engagement in treatment. How feeling better might make it difficult to connect with your tru...

In this episode of Christian Faith and OCD, Carrie explores the tough question many wrestle with: “Is it my parents’ fault I have OCD?” She explores the impact of nature versus nurture in mental health, especially how family dynamics and upbringing shape our experiences with OCD. Episode Highlights:  How rigid and overly controlled upbringings can contribute to OCD tendencies. Why the messages you...

In today’s episode, Carrie sits down with Christian entrepreneur Erick Vargas to discuss the growing issue of cell phone addiction and how we can set better boundaries with our technology. Erick shares his personal journey with phone addiction, the impact it had on his life, and how he created Sabbath Space—an app designed to help people disconnect and reclaim their time. Episode Highlights: The r...

In this episode, Carrie wraps up the themes and treatment series with a discussion on Just Right OCD, a condition where individuals feel compelled to arrange or organize objects in specific ways to achieve a sense of "rightness.” Episode Highlights: What Just Right OCD is and how it impacts daily routines and relationships. The difference between Just Right OCD and perfectionism. How OCD comp...

Join  Carrie as she continues the Themes and Treatment series, offering insight into the different treatment options available for OCD.  In today’s episode, Carrie welcomes special guest Madasen McGrath-Wilson, an associate marriage and family therapist and associate professional clinical counselor in California, to discuss an intensive treatment option: Intensive Outpatient Therapy (IOP). Highlig...

In this episode, Carrie sits down with Brittany Braswell, a registered dietitian and host of Faith Filled Food Freedom podcast, to discuss a specific type of restricted eating that can be seen with OCD: Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).  Episode Highlights: -The connection between OCD and disordered eating behaviors. -What ARFID is and how it differs from other eating disorders. -...

In this episode, Carrie talks about Relationship OCD and how it distorts normal relationship doubts into obsessive thoughts. She shares valuable insights and practical tools for overcoming ROCD while maintaining faith in God’s plan for your relationships. Episode Highlights: -How Relationship OCD (ROCD) impacts relationships and leads to constant doubt and reassurance-seeking behaviors. -The conne...

In this episode, Carrie explores the struggles of Harm OCD, including fears of harming others and self-harm, and how these intrusive thoughts are tied to OCD. She shares practical ways to separate thoughts from actions, showing you how to confront these fears and find a deeper sense of peace. Episode Highlights: -What Harm OCD is and how it manifests as thoughts about harming others, even loved on...

In today’s episode, Carrie talks about some of the hardest OCD themes to discuss, like HOCD and POCD, and how they can bring shame and confusion. She shares insights on how OCD can distort your thoughts and how separating those thoughts from who you really are is key to healing. Highlights: -How OCD targets sensitive themes, like sexual thoughts, and creates shame and confusion. -The difference be...

Welcome back to Christian Faith and OCD!  This week, Carrie continues the Themes and Treatment series with a deep dive into scrupulosity. Joining her for this powerful conversation is Dr. Constance Salhany, clinical psychologist and founder of Cognitive Therapy of Staten Island, They explore how ICBT offers a powerful, self-theme-based approach to treating scrupulosity, helping individuals break f...

Welcome back to the Themes of OCD series! Today, Carrie is diving into health-related OCD, covering both physical and mental health obsessions. She explores how OCD latches onto body sensations and turns them into sources of anxiety. Episode Highlights: -How OCD amplifies normal body sensations into obsessive fears. -The role of reassurance-seeking, especially through Google and online forums. -Wh...

Welcome to the Themes and Treatments for OCD series!  In this segment, Carrie breaks down contamination OCD and shows why it's not simply about fearing germs.  Learn how ICBT can offer you a way out of the compulsive behaviors and bring true relief from contamination obsessions. Episode Highlights: -The complexities of contamination OCD and how it goes beyond a simple fear of germs. -How cont...

In this episode, Carrie welcomes Katie Wetsell, a parent coach and mother of four, to discuss how parents can support their children who are navigating the challenges of OCD. Episode Highlights: -What it’s like discovering your child has OCD and the challenges parents face in supporting them. -The key principles of the SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) approach to support...

In this episode, Carrie dives deep into the overwhelming fear that often accompanies OCD, particularly when it feels like your thoughts might be wrong, sinful, or even harmful to others. Episode Highlights: -How to discern true desires vs. OCD-driven thoughts -Why intrusive thoughts don't equate to sin -How intrusive thoughts are not intentional and do not reflect your true desires or intenti...