What does therapy at Onward Healing look like?

At Onward Healing, we specialize in evidence-based treatments for OCD, anxiety, BFRBs, tics, and trauma. Sessions are typically 50 minutes long and conducted via secure telehealth video. Treatment is collaborative — we work together to understand what's keeping you stuck and build skills to help you move forward. Depending on your goals, we may use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Habit Reversal Training (HRT), the ComB model, EMDR, or other structured approaches.

Do you accept insurance?

We are currently out-of-network with all insurance providers. This means we do not bill insurance directly. However, many clients are able to use out-of-network benefits to get partial reimbursement. We can provide a superbill (an itemized receipt) that you can submit to your insurance company. We recommend calling your insurance provider before starting to understand your out-of-network mental health benefits.

How does telehealth therapy work?

All sessions at Onward Healing are conducted via secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. Once you're scheduled, you'll receive a link to join the session from wherever you are — your home, office, or anywhere private. Telehealth is just as effective as in-person therapy for the conditions we treat, and many clients find it more convenient and accessible.

What states do you serve?

We are currently licensed to provide therapy in Pennsylvania (PA), Vermont (VT), and Florida (FL). You must be physically located in one of these states at the time of your session.

How long will I need therapy?

This varies widely depending on your goals, the severity of your symptoms, and your engagement with treatment. Some clients see significant improvement in 12-16 sessions; others prefer ongoing support over a longer period. We'll discuss your goals at the outset and check in regularly on your progress.

What is ERP therapy, and is it right for me?

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard treatment for OCD and certain anxiety disorders. It involves gradually facing feared situations or thoughts (exposure) while resisting compulsions or avoidance behaviors (response prevention). It sounds challenging — and it can be — but it's also highly effective. We move at a pace that feels manageable, and you're never pushed into anything you're not ready for.

What are BFRBs, and can therapy help?

Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) are repetitive, self-directed behaviors like hair pulling (trichotillomania), skin picking (excoriation disorder), nail biting, and cheek chewing. These behaviors are often automatic and can cause significant distress or physical harm. Evidence-based treatments like Habit Reversal Training (HRT) and the Comprehensive Behavioral (ComB) model have strong research support and can lead to meaningful reduction in urges and behaviors.

How do I get started?

The easiest first step is to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. This call gives us a chance to learn about what you're struggling with, answer any questions you have, and see if we're a good fit. There's no pressure and no commitment. You can book directly through our website or reach out by email.

Will ERP for scrupulosity make me less religious or hurt my faith?

No. ERP for scrupulosity is designed to protect your faith from OCD, not erode it. You decide which beliefs are core and off-limits; treatment only targets the compulsive patterns OCD has added on top. Most scrupulosity clients describe their relationship with their faith as deepening after ERP, not weakening, because the practice returns to being meaningful instead of fear-driven.

Can a therapist treat scrupulosity if they aren't my religion?

Yes. A scrupulosity-trained ERP therapist doesn't need to share your beliefs to treat your OCD, they need to understand the OCD mechanism and respect your faith. Nina works with clients across Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Mormon, Buddhist, and secular traditions, and consults with clergy when appropriate.

What's the difference between scrupulosity and being conscientious?

Conscientiousness is healthy, you care about your values, reflect when you've fallen short, and adjust. Scrupulosity is when that healthy concern becomes consuming: hours of daily mental review, ritualized prayer or confession, paralyzing fear of having sinned without knowing it, and a relationship with your faith that produces more anxiety than peace.

Why does excessive prayer make scrupulosity worse, not better?

When you pray to neutralize an intrusive thought or to make sure God isn't angry, the prayer becomes a compulsion. Like all OCD compulsions, it provides short-term relief but long-term reinforcement, your brain learns the thought IS dangerous (otherwise you wouldn't need to neutralize it). Healthy prayer doesn't have that anxiety-driven character.

What if my religious leader says I just need to pray more or have more faith?

Many religious leaders are not trained in OCD and may not recognize scrupulosity. Praying more often makes it worse, because it adds compulsion. Most well-trained clergy across faiths are learning to recognize scrupulosity, and many will partner with a therapist on your treatment.

How long does scrupulosity treatment take?

Most scrupulosity clients see meaningful symptom reduction within 12?20 ERP sessions. Treatment is structured and goal-directed, the aim is to give you skills you can use independently, not to keep you in therapy indefinitely.

Do you work with Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Mormon, and other faith traditions?

Yes. Nina works across faith traditions and is comfortable adapting ERP protocols to specific religious frameworks. The treatment respects your beliefs while addressing the OCD patterns that have attached to them.

What if I'm not religious but have moral OCD?

Scrupulosity includes secular/moral OCD, endless worry about whether you're a good person, whether you've harmed someone without knowing, whether you've violated your own values. The mechanism and the treatment are the same. You don't have to be religious to have scrupulosity, and you don't have to be religious to benefit from ERP for it.

Is scrupulosity treatment covered by insurance?

Onward Healing Therapy is private-pay. A superbill is provided after each session for out-of-network reimbursement (many PPO plans cover 40?80%). Specialized scrupulosity-trained ERP is hard to find on insurance panels, and private-pay typically means faster access and uninterrupted treatment.

What happens on the free scrupulosity consultation?

A no-pressure 15-minute video call. You share as much as feels comfortable, ask any questions about scrupulosity or ERP, and get a sense of whether working together feels right. There's no commitment, no judgment. If it's not the right fit, Nina will point you toward appropriate resources.

Scrupulosity Therapy for Religious & Moral OCD

Onward Healing Therapy is a private-pay specialty telehealth practice serving adults in Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Florida. Founder Nina Eberly, PhD, LCSW. The content on this site is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice or establish a therapist-client relationship. If you are in immediate distress, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Scrupulosity Therapy for Religious & Moral OCD

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OCD can feel constant, convincing, and exhausting — but it’s also highly treatable.

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