Claim OwnershipChristian Faith and OCD, Scrupulosity, Intrusive Thoughts, Compulsions, Peace
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Christian Faith and OCD: Practical Strategies to Greater Peace
Do you constantly worry about "what-if" scenarios and obsess about things you can't control?
Are you frustrated with performing the same compulsions over and over and wish you could find freedom?
Do you struggle to find OCD resources that understand or align with your Christian faith?
You’re in the right place. This podcast will help you connect with God’s peace by learning practical skills leading you out of the OCD mental prison and walking in the freedom God has for you.
Hi! I’m Carrie Bock, Christ follower, wife, mom and Licensed Professional Counselor.
For years, I worried about the future as I struggled to trust God with what was next. I was constantly grasping for control over my life and internally feeling a sense of shame of not being good enough. I tried to pray, read my Bible, and work really hard to be the perfect Christian.
When my first husband asked for a divorce, I had no choice, but to acknowledge how much was out of my control and how much of Christianity wasn’t about following a formula, but following a living God.
As God brought other areas of uncertainty in my life (physical pain, pregnancy complications, and a husband with a rare neurological condition), he gave me the gift of learning to be present with Him. This allowed me to let go of past regret and future worries, so I could move forward into the abundant life Jesus promises.
I kept working with more and more Christians with OCD who were frustrated that they couldn't find Christian resources to help them. I developed customized tools to help them, and I'm so excited to share everything I've learned with you!
If you’re ready to get out of the endless prison of the obsessive compulsive loop without compromising your convictions, this podcast is for you!
So, walk away from the google search bar, take a deep breath, and let’s journey together towards greater peace.
196 Episodes
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In this episode of Christian Faith and OCD, Carrie is joined by Joe Feldman, founder of Cover My Mental Health, who shares his family’s battle with insurance companies and how that experience led to creating free resources that help others get the care they deserve. Episode Highlights: What “medical necessity” means and how it impacts your insurance coverage for OCD and other mental health care Why documenting your provider search is crucial when navigating insurance barriers How to file...
In this episode, Carrie shares how our brains link colors, numbers, and events in ways that can trigger OCD. She offers relatable stories and practical tools to help break these patterns. Episode Highlights: How everyday experiences can form powerful associations in our brains. How trauma can create associations that fuel OCD symptoms. Examples of how OCD attaches meaning to colors, numbers, and routines. The difference between ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) and ICBT approache...
Carrie is joined by Rachel Kuchem Woodward, LCSW, a therapist with lived experience of OCD, to discuss how pastors can better support those who struggle through insights on discipleship, treatment, shame, and spiritual warfare. Episode Highlights: -Rachel’s personal journey with OCD and how her faith community played a role in her healing. -How pastors can discern between normal spiritual wrestling and scrupulosity. -The role of safe spaces, gospel-centered preaching, and grace-based disciple...
In this episode, Carrie explores the hidden stories and emotions that make letting go of items so difficult. Drawing from conference insights and personal experiences, she shares practical wisdom to help anyone declutter and create a home that feels peaceful, joyful, and welcoming. Episode Highlights: The stories we tell ourselves about objects, including how joy, identity, and memory influence what we keep. Why letting go can feel like loss and the connection between grief, trauma, and p...
In this heartfelt episode, Carrie sits down with her husband Steve to talk about one of life’s hardest challenges: living with uncertainty. They dive into what it looks like to live with faith, peace, and joy in the face of an unpredictable future. Episode Highlights: -How uncertainty impacts whether you struggle with OCD, chronic illness, or everyday worries—and why acceptance is such a key step in the journey. -The power of living one day at a time, with practical ways to choose joy des...
In this episode, Carrie explores the link between overworking and OCD, sharing warning signs of burnout and offering biblical wisdom and practical strategies for balance, rest, and healthy boundaries. Episode Highlights: How overworking and OCD are often connected. Key warning signs of burnout to watch for. Common beliefs that keep Christians stuck in unhealthy work habits. Why rest, boundaries, and compartmentalization matter for recovery. Faith-based strategies to find balance and hon...
In this episode, Carrie goes “off script” to explore a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skill—radical acceptance—and why it’s a powerful tool for Christians navigating OCD, grief, and life’s hard realities. Episode Highlights: What radical acceptance really means—and what it doesn’t. How fighting reality keeps you emotionally stuck (and what to do instead). Biblical perspectives on suffering and endurance from James 1, Romans 5, and Romans 8:28. Practical ways to sit with and move through ...
In this episode, Carrie explores how to recognize when it might be time to move on from your therapist. She unpacks both major red flags and quieter signs that the fit isn’t right, offering practical, faith-based insight for clients, loved ones, and fellow professionals. Episode Highlights: What red flags signal it's time to immediately leave and report a therapistWhy dual relationships and boundary violations matter in Christian therapyHow to assess if your therapist’s approach or personali...
In this episode, Carrie explores how to identify and overcome all-or-nothing thinking, a common challenge for those with OCD. She offers practical strategies for developing flexible thinking to foster peace and recovery. Episode Highlights: How to recognize all-or-nothing thinking in yourself. Mindfulness exercises to help detach from obsessive thoughts. The importance of taking different perspectives to break rigid thinking. How asking "What if it went well?" can shift your mindset. ...
In this episode, Carrie unpacks what it really means to take a thought captive and why that verse can feel confusing for Christians navigating OCD. She brings biblical clarity, challenges common misconceptions, and shares a more grace-filled way to respond to intrusive thoughts. Episode Highlights: What that “take every thought captive” verse actually means in context—and why it’s not about perfect thought control How spiritual armor like the helmet of salvation helps protect your mind in ...
In today’s episode, we’re wrapping up our Personal Story Summer Series with Michael Kier, author of Waging War Against OCD: A Christian Approach. Michael shares his honest journey through scrupulosity, intrusive thoughts, and how grace—not striving—transformed his view of God and mental health. Episode Highlights: What it’s like to live with scrupulosity (religious OCD) from childhood into adulthood How to tell the difference between conviction from God and intrusive OCD thoughts W...
As part of the Personal Story Summer Series, we’re bringing back Carrie’s powerful conversation with Amber Williams Van Zuyen, who shares her journey through harm OCD, intrusive thoughts, and the difficult decision to take medication during pregnancy. Amber’s story is relatable, faith-filled, and a reminder that you’re not alone in the struggle. Plus, don’t miss Carrie’s upcoming live webinar Calming the Inner Chaos: Tips for Christians Seeking OCD Treatment on August 11 at 4PM CT—replay ava...
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 diagnosis provided clarity and freedom -The role of her supportive husband in her healing...
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 like Inference-Based CBT (ICBT) and metacognitive therapy. Why faith-based concerns and...
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, beginning in childhood and evolving into scrupulosity during her teen years. Why OCD often targets...
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, masquerading as panic attacks, anxiety, or spiritual crises The impact of childhood fears and how ...
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 growing up with a parent battling severe mental illness. Stormie’s testimony is a powerful reminde...
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” is and how somatic symptoms can signal deeper mental health struggles. How Inference-Based ...
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 childhood and evolve into different themes throughout life. Why many people with OCD—especiall...
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 identify and restructure obsessional reasoning in OCD The benefits of combining EMDR and ...
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