Debra Theobald McClendon, PhD

Dr. Debra Theobald McClendon is a licensed psychologist in the state of Utah. She is a clinical psychologist with training in marriage and family therapy. She focuses her practice on helping those with religious OCD, or scrupulosity. Dr. McClendon has published articles on anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder/scrupulosity in the Ensign. She has co-authored book chapters and articles on outcome assessment and group therapy in the academic community. She and her husband, Richard J. McClendon, have published the book Commitment to the Covenant: Strengthening the Me, We and Thee of Marriage. Dr. McClendon has previously taught as an adjunct faculty member at both Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University

August 04, 2023 07:23 AM MDT
“What’s the Spirit and what’s my anxiety?” These insights will help you see the difference and help you draw closer to God’s light.
8 Min Read
November 14, 2022 01:15 PM MST
If you have experienced feelings of anxiety about gospel questions, you are not alone—and you can learn to diminish your anxiety and find peace.
10 Min Read
September 19, 2020 11:00 AM MDT
Editor’s note: Dr. Debra Theobald McClendon is a clinical psychologist who specializes in scrupulosity, a religiously themed subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This is the final article in a series discussing McClendon’s thoughts on how anxiety impacts a personal faith crisis and how individuals can navigate their anxiety with faith. McClendon was recently a guest on LDS Living’s All In podcast. You can listen to the podcast and find more resources on the topic here.
6 Min Read
September 12, 2020 11:13 AM MDT
Concerns about faith can be very painful, at times rocking the core of one’s belief system. Anxiety can further complicate one’s emotional landscape and add panic and desperation to the faith journey, creating a “faith crisis.”
7 Min Read
September 05, 2020 12:00 PM MDT
Not all faith questions need constitute a “faith crisis.” We need not be afraid of our questions, but can journey with them as we seek to address them with honest intent.
6 Min Read