My friend, Dr. Debra Theobald McClendon, joins us to talk about her new book: “Freedom from Scrupulosity: Reclaiming Your Religious Experience from Anxiety and OCD”—a powerful book focused on a comprehensive examination of religious and moral scrupulosity, with a focus on treatment.

In the podcast, Dr. McClendon (active LDS, licensed psychologist, Ensign/LDS living author, speaker at Education Week and BYU Women’s Conference) gives an overview of her new book covering anxiety, scrupulosity, gospel principles/church talks that apply to this space, and clinical insights to bring more understanding and healing. She talks about how scrupulosity is not a spiritual weakness or a moral failing, but rather a mental health issue.

Dr. McClendon shares powerful excerpts from the book, including stories of people with scrupulosity (all client quotes are shared with permission). These stories may speak to you--that you are not alone--and give you hope for a better quality of life and a vision for how to move forward to be able to find peace and joy in your religious worship.

We conclude the podcast with advice to parents and local leaders. We discuss the practical issue of how to find a therapist. I also share some of our family story with scrupulosity and the people (including Dr McClendon) that were the answer to our prayers.

If you are working to understand and solve anxiety/scrupulosity (or want better tools to help others), please listen to this podcast, check out Dr. McClendon’s website (which links other resources, as well), and read her book. It is the path to understanding and healing.

Thank you, Dr. McClendon for being on the podcast. Your work is so needed in our community. And thank you for blessing the Ostler family.

Links:

Dr McClendon website: debramcclendon.com

Book link on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1950304426

Book link on Deseret Book: deseretbook.com/p/freedom-from-scrupulosity