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Yes. OCD can affect anyone — including people with deep faith and strong moral convictions. In fact, OCD often attaches itself to the things that matter most to us. For someone whose faith is central to their life, intrusive thoughts may focus on religious themes such as sin, purity, prayer, or blasphemy. This doesn’t mean your beliefs have caused the problem; it means your mind has connected anxiety to the area of life you care about most.

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Many people with strong faith worry that having unwanted or “bad” thoughts means they’re spiritually weak or disobedient. But intrusive thoughts are a symptom of OCD, not evidence of unbelief or moral failure. They are automatic mental events — often the opposite of what a person truly values. Therapy helps you recognise this difference so that these thoughts lose their power and no longer control how you feel or behave.

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With the right support, you can learn to separate genuine spiritual experiences from OCD-driven fear and rituals. Faith-sensitive therapy acknowledges that your relationship with God or your belief system is important. Treatment doesn’t ask you to abandon your faith; it helps you reconnect with it in a calmer, grace-filled way — one that allows peace, freedom, and a renewed sense of trust to grow where anxiety once ruled.

How does Schema Therapy help treat Scrupulosity?

Schema Therapy helps by looking beneath the surface of scrupulosity to understand why certain fears and patterns have developed. Many people who experience religious or moral OCD have learned from an early age that being “good” means never making mistakes, disappointing others, or questioning authority. Over time, these lessons can become rigid beliefs that link worthiness with perfection. When combined with faith, these beliefs can make everyday doubts or intrusive thoughts feel like moral or spiritual failure.

In Schema Therapy, we explore these patterns gently and compassionately. Together, we identify the parts of you that feel afraid of being punished, ashamed of not measuring up, or convinced you must always do the “right thing.” Therapy helps you notice how those fears show up in daily life — in overthinking, excessive praying, or seeking reassurance — and begin to respond to them differently.

Instead of focusing on rules and guilt, Schema Therapy helps you build self-understanding and emotional safety. It’s about learning to treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer someone else who is struggling. Over time, this approach helps reduce anxiety, quiet the inner critic, and create space for a healthier and more peaceful relationship with faith — one based on grace rather than fear.

Yes. Research shows that online therapy can be just as effective as face-to-face sessions for a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationship issues. It also offers convenience, privacy, and access to support regardless of location. All sessions are conducted via a secure telehealth platform.

Spiritual abuse is an area of particular interest in my practice. It can take many forms—sometimes it reflects clear patterns of coercive control, while at other times it emerges through shaming, manipulation, or rigid systems that erode autonomy and wellbeing. My own research has focused on control and coercive control, giving me a deep understanding of how these dynamics develop, why they are so damaging, and how they can be addressed in therapy.

In addition to my clinical training and research, I have also worked in both volunteer and work roles within Religious and Christian organisations. This has given me unique insight into how church and spiritual environments function—their potential for good, but also the ways power can be misused.

As a psychologist with faith, I recognise the central role spirituality can hold in people’s lives, and also the profound disorientation that occurs when trust in those environments is broken. This dual perspective allows me to walk with clients as they process harm, while honouring their faith journey and supporting them to find a safe and authentic way forward.

This is a common and very understandable fear. Survivors of spiritual abuse often feel stuck—longing for professional support, but worried that their faith will be misunderstood or dismissed. Some describe feeling like they have only two painful options: “Who do you go to? A Christian, who is part of the system who hurt you, or someone who doesn’t understand your faith? You don’t go anywhere” (Oakley, 2024).

All good counselling should provide a safe space where both your pain and your spirituality are respected.  My approach is trauma-informed and sensitive to the unique wounds of spiritual abuse, while also recognising that many people long to preserve or rediscover their faith.

The goal is not to push you away from God or community, but to support you in processing what has happened and to help you find your own path forward—whether that involves reconnecting with a spiritual community in a safe and healthy way, or taking time to explore what faith now means for you.

No. My role is not to challenge or change your beliefs. I work with what matters to you, and if your faith is part of that, we can discuss aspects of it that you feel comfortable with.

That's a question a number of Christians bring to their first appointment. I'm happy to talk through any reservations you have. There's no obligation, and no pressure to engage in any aspect of treatment you do not feel comfortable with. Many Christians find that psychological support and faith complement each other well. Many faith leaders actively refer members of their church community to psychologists and counsellors, and see psychologists themselves, when mental health support is needed. The ethical requirements of psychologists, including a non-judgmental approach to personal, spiritual, and moral beliefs, mean that your faith will be respected throughout the process.

I understand the importance of prayer in spiritual life. If you are facing difficulties with your mental health and relationships, you may find it worth considering psychological support alongside prayer. Just as a person of faith would seek medical treatment for a broken leg or a cancer diagnosis, seeking psychological support for mental health difficulties is not a sign of weak faith or a lack of trust in God. When you engage a psychologist, you are seeking support from someone who has spent many years training in the science and practice of mental health. Many faith leaders actively refer members of their church community to psychologists and counsellors, and seek support for themselves, when mental health support is needed. Faith and psychological support do not need to be mutually exclusive, and many people find that the two work well alongside each other.

Yes. Scrupulosity — sometimes called moral or religious OCD — is a recognised and treatable condition. It is frequently misunderstood, including within church settings. I have a particular interest in this area and work with it using evidence-based approaches.

Yes. I understand that it is entirely possible to have been harmed within a religious context while still holding faith that is meaningful to you.

All treatment is discussed with you, and nothing is imposed. If something doesn't sit well with your values or beliefs, we talk about it and find an approach that works. You are not required to accept any aspect of treatment that feels incompatible with your faith.

In Australia, the title of psychologist is protected by law and regulated by AHPRA. To be registered as a psychologist, a person must have completed a minimum of six years of approved university training and supervised practice, and must meet ongoing registration and continuing education requirements. Registered psychologists are bound by a strict code of ethics and professional conduct. Psychologists are trained to formulate and diagnose mental illness, as well as being trained in evidence-based treatment of all psychological disorders. This includes counselling, psychoeducation, cognitive behavioural therapy, trauma-focused therapies, behavioural interventions, and psychological assessment, among other approaches.

The title of counsellor is not regulated in the same way in Australia. While many counsellors are well-trained and are members of professional associations, there is no legal requirement governing who can use the title, and training requirements vary considerably. Counsellors can offer valuable support for a wide range of personal and relational difficulties, and for many people this is an appropriate and helpful level of care.

Biblical counselling is a distinct approach that draws on scripture as the primary framework for addressing personal difficulties. Biblical counsellors are not required to hold psychological qualifications, and their approach differs significantly from evidence-based psychological treatment. For some people of faith, biblical counselling may feel like a natural first step, however for those with complex mental health challenges or trauma, psychological support may be beneficial instead of or in addition to this support.

Kylie is trained as both a psychologist and a counsellor, holding Master’s degrees in both disciplines. This means she brings aspects of both disciplines to her work.