By Tabitha Vidaurri, NOCD
Scrupulosity, also known as religious or moral-themed OCD, involves intrusive thoughts, urges, or fears related to violating religious, ethical, or spiritual rules. If you’re experiencing scrupulosity, you may wonder if it’s possible for a therapist who doesn’t share your faith to treat you effectively.
While it can be helpful to find a therapist who understands your spiritual worldview, it’s not actually a necessary requirement. If your therapist has a thorough understanding of OCD, and they’re dedicated to practicing cultural competence, then it’s absolutely possible to receive excellent care, even across religious or cultural differences.
What is cultural competence?
Cultural competence is when a mental health provider understands, respects, and adapts to a person’s cultural and religious identity while delivering care. Not surprisingly, studies have shown that cultural competence leads to better communication and trust between people and their therapists.
This is especially important because OCD tends to latch onto what we value most, our faith, morality, family, and identity. With scrupulosity, you might fear that you’re constantly sinning or falling short spiritually, even when you’re doing everything “right.” Compulsions like repeated praying, confession, or reassurance-seeking can take over daily life. And sometimes, the line becomes blurred between OCD and your religion itself.
If a therapist isn’t willing to understand the tenets of your faith, you may feel misunderstood, dismissed, or even harmed by treatment. It can also be difficult to open up about OCD within your religious community if you’re concerned about being judged by your intrusive thoughts.
However, by working with a therapist who is trained in both OCD and cultural competence, it’s possible to treat your OCD symptoms and still live according to your spiritual values.
What if my therapist doesn’t share my faith?
Unfortunately, finding a therapist who shares your religious or cultural background isn’t always possible. Access, geography, insurance coverage, or provider availability may limit your options. But this doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. What really matters is whether your therapist shows cultural humility and a willingness to learn from and with you.
“Many therapists aren’t going to have the same faith as the people they treat, and that’s ok,” explains Patrick McGrath, PhD, Chief Clinical Officer at NOCD. “A therapist’s job is to help people live the way they want to live, not the way OCD wants them to live. OCD says that it knows better than any faith or belief system, so the reason to reach out to an OCD specialist is to help remove this burden from the faith life of a person. We do not offer faith advice, as that is not what we specialize in. We do specialize in OCD treatment, so that is where we step into the situation. We identify how OCD has interfered, help to change that, and let the person move on with their life.”
Tips for working with your therapist
Here are some ways to build a strong therapeutic relationship, even when your provider doesn’t share your faith:
1. Be clear about your beliefs and values
If your religious identity plays a central role in your life, don’t be afraid to share that. Talk openly about your values and the spiritual practices that matter to you. You can also share openly about your intrusive thoughts and the distress that OCD causes.
While it’s not your responsibility to educate your therapist about your religion, giving them some context helps them support you better.
2. Ask questions
It’s okay to interview a few therapists before settling on the right fit. You can ask:
- Have you received cultural competence training or taken courses on issues surrounding race, ethnicity, or culture?
- Have you worked with people from my faith background before?
- How do you approach OCD when it includes religious or moral themes?
Asking questions like these is a way to protect your emotional safety and find a therapist who respects your perspective.
3. Look for cultural humility, not just shared identity
Even a therapist from your own faith background may not be a good match if they can’t diagnose or effectively treat OCD. Conversely, a therapist from a different background who listens well, respects your boundaries, and has the right specialized OCD training could help make a huge difference in your symptoms.
Cultural humility is the idea that cultural competence is an ongoing, lifelong process. It encourages healthcare providers to self-reflect and acknowledge their own biases. Essentially, it means therapists know that they’ll never be totally culturally competent, there will always be new things to learn.
To see if your therapist is practicing cultural humility, pay attention to how they respond when you bring up your faith. Do they show curiosity? Do they ask questions respectfully? Do they separate OCD-related fears from your core spiritual values?
4. Collaborate and set boundaries
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is highly effective at treating OCD, and it works best when it’s personalized. The goal of ERP is to untangle the OCD from your faith, and a good therapist will work with you to find ethical, effective exposures that reduce OCD without compromising your values.
5. Bring in faith-based support if it helps
You don’t have to choose between therapy and your faith. In fact, many people benefit from involving both. If you trust a religious leader or mentor, you might consider looping them into your support system. Depending on your situation, your therapist may ask them to clarify their stance on a particular issue, or to learn new ways to help support your recovery process.
Some people also find it helpful to connect with peer support groups or resources that bridge mental health and spirituality. It ultimately depends on you and what you find helpful.
Remember that you don’t have to compromise your beliefs to get the help you deserve. Culturally competent care helps make OCD treatment safe, respectful, and effective. Whether your therapist shares your background or not, what matters most is their willingness to listen and learn.
Resources
Sources:
What is Religious (Scrupulosity) OCD?
Cultural Religious Competence in Clinical Practice – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
The post Why culturally competent care matters when treating scrupulosity OCD appeared first on International OCD Foundation.
