At the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley, we offer cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for Scrupulosity/Moral OCD. Our approach is practical, goal-oriented, compassionate, and scientifically-based while focusing on your individual needs.

What is Scrupulosity/Moral OCD?

Scrupulosity/Moral OCD involves the fear of doing or thinking something that might be in conflict with your ethical or moral values. If you have Scrupulosity/Moral OCD you may believe that you have to abide by your morals and ethics perfectly and at all times and that any deviation, not matter how small, has significant consequences. You may try to “make up” for any perceived transgression with compulsions, such as repeatedly seeking reassurance or forgiveness from loved ones or taking on more responsibilities than would normally be expected of you.

Symptoms of Scrupulosity/Religious OCD

• Excessive concerns about having violated your moral or ethical code
• Fear of losing control of impulses and acting immorally
• Repeatedly seeking reassurance from loved ones that you are a good person
• Feeling compelled to “fix” situations that are not your responsibility
• Constantly reminding yourself “I am a good person”

Cognitive Behavioral Model of Scrupulosity/Moral OCD

According to the CBT model, it is normal to experience intrusive thoughts and impulses that are counter to your personal morals from time to time. If you have Scrupulosity/Moral OCD, however, you might view these experiences as threatening and assign a great deal to importance to these thoughts. For example, you may have the thought that you have offended someone and interpret this to mean that you are not a good and kind person. This causes you significant distress or anxiety. You may then attempt to soothe yourself with a ritual or compulsion that temporarily reduces your anxiety such as excessively asking for forgiveness, or attempting to make up for your error beyond what would normally be expected. Because anxiety is relieved in the short-term, the anxiety cycle continues with the next intrusive thought.

Cognitive Behavior Treatment of Scrupulosity/Moral OCD

The goal of CBT for Moral OCD is to teach you that you can manage the anxiety associated with obsessive thoughts without performing compulsions or rituals. You will learn a type of CBT called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Treatment will include education about Scrupulosity/Moral OCD and how it is different from having a strong ethical code. You will learn cognitive strategies that will help you respond differently to anxiety and intrusive thoughts and behavioral strategies to help you delay and/or eliminate compulsive behaviors. ERP/CBT will help you face your fears, in session and in the real world, and practice new ways of responding to your anxiety. With practice and with experience facing your fears, you will find yourself to be less disturbed by intrusive thoughts and more able to cope with anxiety and uncertainty.

How to Get Help for Scrupulosity/Moral OCD

The Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley is located at 16579 Los Gatos Almaden Road on the border of San Jose. With our convenient location between highways 85 and 17, we serve the Silicon Valley communities of San Jose, Saratoga, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Los Gatos, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Cupertino and Campbell, CA. Contact us for more information on how we can help you manage your Scrupulosity/Moral OCD.

Serving the Silicon Valley communities of San Jose, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Cupertino, Campbell, Mountain View, Los Altos, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto and Santa Clara, CA

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