Untangling Scrupulosity: Evidence-Based Approaches to OCD Specific to Faith and Faith Deconstruction

2CEs (APA, NBCC, CA, BRN)

This presentation explores the assessment and treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder when it presents as religious scrupulosity, moral perfectionism, and post-religious distress.

Participants will gain a greater understanding of how religious beliefs, fear of moral failure, and the need for certainty can contribute to compulsive checking, mental rituals, reassurance-seeking, and rigid perfectionism.

The course will examine the experiences of clients who remain active in conservative or high-demand religious communities, as well as those who have deconstructed from religion but continue to experience a bodily drive for flawlessness and safety. Emphasis will be placed on ethically adapting Exposure and Response Prevention and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy while respecting clients’ spiritual values and autonomy.

Clinicians will leave with practical tools for distinguishing OCD from religious trauma and developing culturally responsive treatment plans for clients across religious and post-religious transitions.

At the end of this webinar participants, will be able to:

Differentiate between normative, value-driven religious practices and ego-dystonic scrupulosity/perfectionism using clinical assessment markers.
Design culturally competent, ethical ERP hierarchies that respect the core tenets of an active believer's conservative faith without accommodating OCD rituals.
Analyze the functional mechanisms of compulsive reassurance-seeking and spiritual checking common to both active and deconstructing religious clients.
Utilize somatically informed ACT interventions to target the bodily "need for perfection" in clients who have intellectually deconstructed from religion but retain a hyper-aroused nervous system.
Compare the clinical presentations of acute religious trauma and standard OCD to prevent diagnostic overshadowing and misapplied treatment protocols.
Formulate an evidence-based relapse prevention plan that addresses the intersection of moral scrupulosity and spiritual transition.

Meet the Instructors:

Natasha Helfer is a licensed marriage and family therapist, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Supervisor, speaker, writer, and podcaster with more than 23 years of clinical experience. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University and her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Friends University. Her clinical work has focused primarily on supporting Mormon and post-Mormon clients navigating relational health, sexuality, and faith transitions.

Natasha is the founder and owner of the group practice, Symmetry Counseling, where services focus on helping people with religious trauma, reclaiming sexual desire, mixed-faith relationships, coming out journeys, healing sexual shame or trauma, and exploring sexual authenticity.

Natasha has presented nationally in both professional and public settings and has been featured in podcasts, television news programs, and print media for her work in sexual health advocacy. She is widely recognized for her culturally informed approach to working with clients from high-demand religious backgrounds.

Rachel Larsen, CMHC, CST, is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) and certified sex therapist (CST) specializing in the intersection of religious trauma, scrupulosity, and obsessive-compulsive dynamics. With extensive experience treating clients navigating high-demand religious backgrounds, her work focuses on helping individuals untangle core spiritual values from pathological anxiety.

Rachel is a therapist and owner at Symmetry Counseling and teaches Cognitive Psychology and Abnormal Psychology at Utah Valley University. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Frequently asked questions

What if I am unable to attend a live webinar?

This webinar will be recorded for later viewing. We typically post the recorded version 7-10 business days after the webinar. For those who are unable to join us live, we will provide a short quiz to verify attendance.
We'll send out an email letting you know when it's available, and the recording will remain on our website for the foreseeable future.

Help! I need tech support! How do I get in touch?

Please understand that we are able to provide minimal support during the live webinar.
The fastest way to reach us is via email at info@learnreligiontherapy.com

What is your refund policy?

All requests for a refund must be made in writing via email to info@learnreligiontherapy.com. We typically do not provide a refund due to an inability to attend the live session, as we will be recording the session for later viewing.

Course Outline

The Buehler Institute was created to provide the highest quality training in human sexuality for mental health professionals and healthcare providers. Its founder, Dr. Stephanie Buehler, is a licensed psychologist and author of a bestselling sex therapy textbook, among others.

We are located virtually but our mailing address is:

The Buehler Institute, Inc.
3213 Duke Street, Suite 192
Alexandria, VA 22314

The best way to reach us is by email:

info@learnsreligiontherapy.com

Here is our phone number.

800-769-0342