Show Notes
Episode 39. OCD & Scrupulosity
Episode 39. OCD & Scrupulosity
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is freedom."
~ 2 Corinthians 3:17
How often do we hear that someone is "obsessed" with a new show or that they keep a clean home because they're "a little OCD"? The reality is that the burden of OCD weighs heavily on millions of people who suffer with this disorder, and on those who love them. How can we understand OCD and its effects on faith? And, even more importantly, how can we support those who are working on healing from OCD - or seek help and support ourselves
In Episode 39 of "This Whole Life," Kenna welcomes Dr. Katherine Posch, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders. They tackle the complexities of OCD and its terrible cycle. Dr. Posch emphasizes evidence-based treatments, including Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, and offers a hope-filled way forward for those struggling with religious OCD or scrupulosity. Through personal experiences and professional expertise, the episode offers hope, understanding, and practical guidance for those impacted by OCD - and for all of us who can be stuck in a place of fear and anxiety. Freedom is real and possible!
Katherine Posch, Psy.D., LP is a licensed clinical psychologist at Renew Behavioral Health in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and earned her Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from Baylor University. She completed a clinical internship at George E. Wahlen Veterans Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in PCBH/Health Psychology at Hennepin Healthcare Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Find out more about Katherine's work at renewbehavioralmn.com.
Show Notes
Dr. Katherine Posch, Renew Behavioral Health
OCD is NOT simply hand washing, being clean, being a “germaphobe”, etc.
1-2% of US population struggle with OCD, which is 2-3 million people
4 stages of the OCD cycle:
1. Obsessions/intrusive thoughts
2. Feelings of anxiety
3. Compulsions to soothe the anxiety
4. Temporary relief (which leads back to stage 1)
Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy and is a very effective, evidence-based treatment for OCD
The International OCD Foundation & their provider directory
Her podcast, Your Anxiety Toolkit
For listeners looking for Minnesota-based clinicians who provide ERP therapy for children & teens
Challenge By Choice
Pray & Reflect on moving out of fear & into living from your values
Is there an area of my life where I’m living out of a place of fear, and which is keeping me from living my values?
What is a small step I can take toward living a life of freedom & intentionality?