SCIENCEWORKS
BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE
Edited and reviewed:
June 10, 2026
Complete Care for all Neurotypes
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FAITH & SCRUPULOSITY OCD
i-CBT for scrupulosity in Tennessee
Inference-based CBT for scrupulosity — easing religious and moral doubt without forced exposure, in a faith-respecting space, by secure telehealth in Tennessee.
You fear a stray thought has offended God
IS THIS SCRUPULOSITY?
What i-CBT for scrupulosity involves
Inference-based CBT that targets religious and moral doubt
A faith-respecting therapist who works with your beliefs
Skills to ease compulsive prayer, confession, and reassurance
Licensed Providers
Telehealth Nationwide*
Neuro-affirming
Private & Secure
WHEN FAITH BECOMES FEAR
What i-CBT is, and how it helps scrupulosity
Scrupulosity is OCD that latches onto faith and morality: a fear that a thought was blasphemous, that you've sinned without knowing, or that prayer wasn't done perfectly enough to count. Inference-based CBT (i-CBT) understands this as a reasoning problem — the certainty that something is wrong is built from doubt and imagination, not from your actual conduct or beliefs.
With your therapist, you examine how that religious doubt is constructed — the demand for absolute certainty, the distrust of your own conscience, the "what if" reasoning that turns a fleeting thought into a verdict. As the doubt loses its authority, the compulsive praying, confessing, and reassurance-seeking ease, with no forced exposure. We respect your tradition throughout and work to disentangle OCD from the faith it imitates.
KEY STATISTICS ABOUT SCRUPULOSITY
1 in 3
of people with OCD can have scrupulous symptoms
Source:
>50%
of people with OCD in some religious cultures have religious obsessions
Source:
1.2%
of U.S. adults had OCD in the past year
Source:
WHAT TO EXPECT
A respectful, careful way to start
1
Free 15-minute consult.
2
We listen to what you're carrying — your beliefs respected, no judgment.
3
Structured i-CBT on secure video, anywhere in Tennessee.
You're paired with a clinician experienced in scrupulosity and faith.
Matched with the right therapist.
Weekly telehealth sessions.
Payment options
As a specialty practice, we're out-of-network so we can offer the most effective, customized services.
Our payment options are transparent and flexible:
-
Self-Pay: All major credit cards; FAS/HSA eligible
-
Payment Plans: 6-months interest-free for approved clients via CareCredit
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Superbills Provided
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Out-of-Network: Up to 90% reimbursement for qualifying plans
WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH
Faith-respecting, supervised, reviewed
Your i-CBT care is delivered by licensed Tennessee clinicians with specialized training in inference-based CBT for OCD, including scrupulosity and faith-related themes. We work with your beliefs rather than against them, disentangle OCD from genuine faith, and every plan is clinically supervised and reviewed.
Dr. Kiesa Kelly (she/her)
Owner & Psychologist
Ryan Burns (he/him)
Practice Director
WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE SCIENCEWORKS
Faith-respecting and evidence-based
Because we're independent and out-of-network, your care targets the OCD doubt itself — not whatever a rushed visit or insurance template allows.
You're matched with a clinician trained in i-CBT, an evidence-based alternative to exposure that suits religious and moral themes well.
Care respects your faith tradition and runs on secure telehealth statewide, so specialized support reaches you right at home.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions about scrupulosity
How is scrupulosity different from being devout?
Genuine devotion brings meaning and settles; scrupulosity brings dread that never resolves, demands impossible certainty, and drives compulsive prayer, confession, or checking. Often it ignores the spirit of your faith while fixating on one fear. i-CBT helps you tell them apart.
Will therapy try to weaken my religious beliefs?
No. The goal is to free your faith from OCD, not to change what you believe. We work within your tradition, respect your values, and can coordinate with a trusted faith leader when that would help your recovery.
Is i-CBT for scrupulosity online or in person?
It's delivered entirely online by secure telehealth, to clients located in Tennessee during sessions. There's no in-person option — you take part from home, which removes travel and lets you be somewhere private and comfortable.
*Therapy and assessments available in the following states (coaching available worldwide):
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
Disclaimer: This page provides general educational information and is not a substitute for mental health diagnosis or treatment. Reading this page does not create a therapist–client relationship with ScienceWorks Behavioral Healthcare. S If you are in crisis or may be at risk of harm to yourself or others, call 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or call/text 988 (U.S.). Additional emergency support can be found here: Emergency Resources.