The blogRefuge Psychology Blog
Mental health | Couples Therapy | Individual Relationship Support | Trauma & Abuse Recovery
Understanding Religious OCD & Scrupulosity: A Closer Look at Scrupulosity and Its Impact
Scrupulosity, or religious OCD, traps Christians in cycles of intrusive thoughts, guilt, and compulsive rituals around faith. This article explains the signs of scrupulosity, its impact on prayer, worship, and spiritual life, and how treatments like CBT and ERP bring healing. With compassionate Christian psychology support, individuals can separate faith from fear, break the cycle of religious OCD, and rediscover peace, freedom, and authentic connection with God.
The Importance of Exploring Our Past: Lessons from an Old House
Unresolved trauma is like cracks in the foundation—hidden but damaging over time. This article explores how past experiences, family dynamics, and institutional harm (including spiritual abuse and religious trauma) shape mental health today. Learn why therapy often revisits the past to repair these foundations and build resilience. Refuge Psychology, with Christian psychologist Kylie Walls, offers compassionate support for healing from abuse, trauma, and faith-related challenges.
Allowing Space for Acknowledgement of Honest Mental Health Difficulties in Faith Communities and Churches
Creating emotionally safe faith communities begins with compassionate language and honest support. When churches listen, validate emotional pain, and walk alongside those who suffer, they reflect the heart of grace, mercy, and belonging.
Breaking the Scrupulosity Cycle: What Drives Religious OCD
Scrupulosity is a form of religious OCD where faith becomes entangled with fear, guilt, and intrusive thoughts. Learn how faith-sensitive psychologist Kylie Walls helps break cycles of obsession and compulsion using evidence-based, compassionate therapy.
You Can Have Faith and Still See a Psychologist
Feeling anxious, low, or overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’ve lost faith. Discover how therapy and Christian belief can work together to support mental health, strengthen resilience, and help you reconnect with peace through faith-sensitive care.
Perfectionism, Scrupulosity and the Quest for Certainty: When “Perfect” Is Never Enough
Struggling with faith-based anxiety or perfectionism? A psychologist for scrupulosity or moral OCD can help you find peace, understand your thoughts, and rebuild trust in your faith through compassionate, evidence-based therapy.
Breaking the Cycle of Rumination and Worry
Do you stay up at night worrying and ruminating? Discover psychology for Christians that addresses rumination and worry. An Australian Christian psychologist explains schema therapy, the inner critic, and faith-sensitive ways to find freedom from thought loops and live with greater peace.
Exploring the Impact of Moral Injury: Strategies for Promoting Resilience in High-Stress Environments
Discover how moral injury, PTSD, and occupational burnout impact mental health in high-stress professions. Learn about the importance of psychological safety within workplaces and ways to recover from moral injury
About KylieHi, I’m Kylie Walls, a registered psychologist and the founder of Refuge Psychology.
My practice is shaped by professional experience, research, and a long-standing commitment to supporting people navigating complex emotional, relational, and faith-related experiences. I have worked with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and faith traditions, and I have also held volunteer and professional roles within church and ministry contexts. These experiences have deepened my understanding of the unique dynamics that can arise when wellbeing, identity, and faith intersect — and the importance of care that is both sensitive and clinically grounded.
I have published research on control, attachment, and emotional regulation, and have previously worked as a Domestic and Family Violence Advisor within a faith-based organisation. I began my career as a teacher and later spent time working in photography, but my ongoing interest in people — their stories, relationships, and inner worlds — led me into psychological practice. I bring both professional and lived experience to my work in a way that is clinically grounded, respectful, and client-led.
Areas of Interest
Areas of Special Interest
I offer support to adults who may be:
Managing general mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress, grief, or life transitions — whether or not these are connected to faith or ministry.
Navigating confusing, painful, or high-pressure experiences in church or ministry environments, including those recovering from spiritual abuse, coercion, or high-control faith settings, including cults.
Pastors, ministry leaders, and caregivers experiencing stress, burnout, role strain, or relational challenges within ministry or leadership roles.
Experiencing domestic and family violence, coercive control, or destructive relationship patterns — whether in intimate partnerships, family, community, or faith-based contexts.
Experiencing scrupulosity / Religious OCD or distress related to rigid or fear-based beliefs.
Facing workplace challenges, including bullying, power imbalances, role strain, or organisational conflict, and the emotional toll these experiences can create.
Couples seeking support around communication, connection, conflict patterns, recovery after relational harm, infidelity, or navigating values and expectations within relationships.
Inclusive and Client-Led Care
While I have a particular interest in supporting people from faith backgrounds, I welcome clients from all backgrounds. My focus is on providing compassionate, trauma-informed, and ethical psychological care that honours each person’s values, experiences, and goals for wellbeing.
This is a collaborative space, shaped by your needs and values.
