Episode 04: Healing Scrupulosity and OCD

When faith turns into fear and prayer becomes a compulsion, that’s not devotion, it’s scrupulosity. And it’s time we talk about it.In this episode of Mind and Spirit, Catholic-integrated therapist Luke Johanni unpacks what scrupulosityreally is, a form of OCD that turns religious practice into anxiety, and how both psychology and Catholic wisdom reveal a path toward peace.You’ll learn what OCD looks like beneath the surface, how distorted guilt can hijack the spiritual life, and why healing requires both clinical tools and spiritual truth. Lukedraws from the lives of St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux to show that even thesaints battled this fear, and found freedom by trusting God’s mercy over their perfectionism.Through insights from CBT, ERP, and the Church’s own teaching on hope and confession, you’ll see how psychology and faith can work hand-in-hand to restore peace, prayer, and trust in God’s love.For more reflections and resources, visit RestoredChristianCounseling.com or beacons.ai/lukejohanni to learn more about integrating Catholic faith and psychology in everyday life.📚 Sources from Today’s Discussion:International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)VerywellMind | Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)Abramowitz, J. S. (2014) | The Cognitive-Behavioral Model of OCDO’Connor & Aardema (2005) | Inferential Confusion in OCDMcLean Hospital | Understanding OCDScrupulous Anonymous | Ten Commandments for the Scrupulous (PDF)Catholic Answers | Kevin Vost, “Scrupulosity and the Virtue of Prudence”Catechism of the Catholic Church | CCC 2090 – Hope in God’s MercyCatechism of the Catholic Church | CCC 1458 – Confession and HealingCatholic Culture | Fr. Ernest Latko, “Pastoral Care for the Scrupulous”St. Thérèse of Lisieux | Story of a Soul (1897)St. Ignatius of Loyola | Spiritual ExercisesRomans 8:11 Corinthians 14:33Matthew 11:28-30