Talking Scrupulosity with A Catholic Therapist: When OCD Meets Catholicism

Former youth minister (and current Catholic) Ashley Kiefer joins me to talk about the messy overlap of faith, OCD, and scrupulosity. We trace her journey from professional Catholic youth worker to licensed therapist, why quoting the catechism at every problem stopped working, and how therapy forced her to learn actual listening instead of spiritual “fixing.” We dig into what scrupulosity really is, how it shows up as a subtype of OCD, why sermons that end with “just trust God more” don’t work, and how online Catholic culture and “rad trad” spaces can quietly supercharge religious anxiety. Ashley shares practical steps for discerning when it’s time to see a therapist, how to find scrupulosity-literate help, and why dealing with OCD is not a betrayal of your faith. 00:00 Ashley’s Journey from Youth Ministry to Therapy 04:21 Discussing Mental Health in Youth Ministry 07:34 Transitioning to a Career in Therapy 10:40 The Role of Faith in Therapy 25:59 Scrupulosity and OCD 29:52 Addressing Misconceptions and Scrupulosity 35:45 Understanding Intrusive Thoughts 39:24 Scrupulosity in Catholicism 56:15 Seeking Help and Resources