IOCDF Advocate Program | International OCD Foundation

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The IOCDF Advocate Program is a volunteer grassroots effort designed to empower those in the community to raise awareness and educate the public about OCD and related disorders.

Led by National Advocates Ethan Smith and Liz McIngvale, PhD, the IOCDF Advocates lead the community in various advocacy projects, such as our OCD Awareness Week initiatives, awareness-raising PSAs, inspirational social media content, and much more.

Want to become an advocate?

Become an IOCDF Grassroots Advocate

There are so many ways for you to raise awareness for OCD and related disorders. IOCDF has created several different resources and tools for you to help you get started on your advocacy journey. For those interested in joining the Advocacy Program, we invite you to sign-up as an IOCDF Grassroots Advocate. Once you join the program as a Grassroots Advocate, you will receive action items that include invitations to participate in IOCDF Advocate-led projects and events. We invite you to learn more about our Advocacy Program and to check out the resources available to help you raise awareness in your own unique way:

Everyone is invited to become a Grassroots Advocate!

Each month, our IOCDF Advocates will reach out to Grassroots Advocates via our Advocates in Action e-Newsletter, including challenges, projects, and ways you can join them to work together and make a big impact. Examples of Action Items may include:

Participate in online (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) social media campaigns
Participate in on-site “calls to action" (e.g., conference-based projects)
Participate in coordinated national events (e.g., One Million Steps For OCD Walks, OCD Awareness Week events)
Contribute to a blog or newsletter feature

Become a Grassroots Advocate!

Meet The National Advocates

Ethan Smith and Liz McIngvale, PhD lead the Advocates in various initiatives and represent the International OCD Foundation on the national and global levels. They host weekly live streams as part of the IOCDF Livestream Program.

Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD

National Advocate

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Elizabeth McIngvale, Ph.D. is the director of the McLean OCD Institute at Houston and on faculty at Harvard Medical School in the department of Psychiatry. Elizabeth founded the Peace of Mind foundation, now a part of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) and helps run OCDChallenge.org (a self-help website for OCD). Elizabeth was the first-ever national spokesperson for the IOCDF where she now serves as a board member. She was diagnosed at 12 with OCD and engaged in inpatient and outpatient therapy. Dr. McIngvale engages in clinical work, research and advocacy with the goal of improving access to care and OCD treatment to make a difference in the lives of those with OCD.

Ethan Smith

National Advocate

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Ethan S. Smith currently lives in the Los Angeles and Atlanta areas working as a writer/director/producer and OCD advocate and consultant. Ethan was born with OCD and struggled the majority of his life until receiving life-changing treatment in 2010. Ethan was the keynote speaker at the 2014 Annual OCD Conference in Los Angeles. He served as an IOCDF National Spokesperson from 2015–2017, as the IOCDF National Ambassador from 2018–2020, and currently serves as an IOCDF National Advocate. He’s devoted his life to reducing stigma around OCD and mental health, to education, and to supporting the OCD community. You can see Ethan every week moderating a virtual IOCDF town hall event, or hosting his popular IOCDF live stream “Community Conversations.” Ethan is currently a girl dad to two adorable kitties.

Meet The Lead Advocates

The IOCDF Lead Advocates work with the Advocates and provide guidance and mentorship. They develop projects that fall within their interest area, engaging the IOCDF Advocates and IOCDF Grassroots Advocates.

Valerie Andrews

Lead Advocate

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Valerie Andrews is a retired schoolteacher and full-time wife, mother, and grandmother. Following her OCD diagnosis in 2011, she began advocating in hopes of bringing awareness and inclusion within her own community and communities of faith.

Today, she spends the majority of her time focusing on her new nonprofit (msmablesparrows, Inc) a nonprofit for women of age, color, and faith. Her goal is to continue working as an IOCDF Advocate and promoting change.

Tom Smalley, MS, CSCS

Lead Advocate

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Tom Smalley, MS, CSCS is a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association living in New York, NY. He has masters degree in exercise and sport science from Merrimack College. He was diagnosed with OCD in 2014 at the age of 16 and shortly after became passionate about spreading awareness about what OCD really is in an effort to break down the wall of stigma around the mental disorder and mental health in general. Tom was the recipient of the 2019 IOCDF Hero Award. Tom speaks at the Annual OCD Conferences along with different schools around the northeast. He has also appeared on a variety of blogs and podcasts as well. A topic Tom is particularly passionate about is athletes and OCD and how it affects performance along with the stigma of mental health in sports. He is a member of the Mental Health Awareness in Sports SIG and co-creator of Anxiety in Athletes.

Chris Trondsen, MS, LMFT, APCC

Lead Advocate

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Chris Trondsen suffered from undiagnosed, severe OCD, BDD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety and panic attacks beginning as a young child. It was not until his early 20s that Chris received both a formal diagnosis and specialized treatment. Chris began advocating publicly for mental health and shared his story of recovery on TV, including the Dr. Drew Show, the Montel Williams Show, and NBC, as well as in various newspapers and websites including Buzzfeed and VICE. Additionally, Chris began speaking at Annual OCD Conferences, including giving the keynote with his mom at the 2011 conference. He also helped start the Young Adult Track at the annual conference. Chris treats individuals with OCD and BDD at The Gateway Institute in Costa Mesa, California. He also currently serves as the vice president of OCD Southern California, is a leader of the IOCDF's BDD and LGBTQ+ Special Interest Groups, and the newest member of the IOCDF Board of Directors. As a lead advocate, Chris's passions include expanding BDD awareness and education, addressing LGBTQ+ issues in mental health treatment, and expanding the IOCDF's services to the young adult community.

Katie O'Dunne

Lead Advocate

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Rev. Katie O'Dunne founded and leads an inclusive virtual community for those navigating faith and OCD called Stick with the Ick. An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, she spent 7 years as the Academy Chaplain and Chair of Religious Studies at Woodward Academy in Atlanta, simultaneously consulting on interfaith programming nationwide. Drawing on this experience, Katie educates clinicians and clergy, promoting culturally responsive treatment across religious/spiritual traditions. As an IOCDF lead advocate tackling 50 ultra-marathons for OCD awareness, Katie proudly received the IOCDF Advocate Spirit Award and finds joy in inspiring others on their unique journeys.

Meet The IOCDF Advocates

IOCDF Advocates are strong and dedicated leaders in the OCD community. Advocates work together as a group, with direction from their Lead Advocates as well as National Advocates and the IOCDF staff, and serve as a point of contact for those within their community.

Leslie Arturi

IOCDF Advocate

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Leslie stepped away from a long and successful corporate career. She went back to school to obtain her master’s degree in clinical social work to help children with anxiety-related disorders. It’s important for Leslie to help these kids—because she was one of them herself. She was diagnosed with emetophobic OCD at the age of 8 but has been in "remission" for over 15 years. Leslie has volunteered and participated in various IOCDF programs for over 12 years. Outside of the IOCDF, she is featured in the Deconstructing Stigma campaign produced by McLean Hospital and an upcoming Austrian documentary film on OCD. Leslie credits the amazing IOCDF staff for encouraging and supporting her on her journey to becoming a clinical social worker. She is focused on starting her new career and helping children struggling with the pain, frustration, and uncertainty that can accompany anxiety disorders. It’s her mission to let them know there is hope and they are strong enough to come through the other side. Leslie is currently a licensed social worker at Manhattan Psychiatric Center, a state hospital for the severely mentally ill in New York City. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, and in her spare time loves to go out to dinner with friends, see live music, and snuggle with her cats.

Chris Baier

IOCDF Advocate

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Chris Baier is a parent of a teenager with OCD living in Brooklyn, NY, so he understands the struggles parents and young kids go through on a daily basis dealing with this disorder. Over the past few years, he’s used his affiliation with producing UNSTUCK: an OCD kids movie to advocate for those with OCD and their families around the world. Chris has spoken at mental health conferences, created OCDeconstruct, a global digital OCD Conference, and hosted OCD Kids Speak Out, a monthly live stream show. You can connect with him on Twitter/Instagram @baierman.

Julia C. E. S.

IOCDF Advocate

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Julia is a Brazilian college student. She was formally diagnosed with OCD at the age of 13 after her parents were able to identify some of the symptoms. She is studying International Relations and hopes to bring perspectives from Brazil’s experience with mental health access to the OCD international community. Before the IOCDF Advocate program, she has volunteered in projects related to youth empowerment and environmental awareness in non-profits and international organizations. Moreover, she hopes to get a Masters degree in public international health in the future. She enjoys reading fan theories on movie forums during her free time.

Megan Daily

IOCDF Advocate

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Megan Dailey is an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina studying psychology. She has been a part of the IOCDF community since 2009 after she was diagnosed with OCD and PANDAS when she was six years old. Now, she is passionate about telling her story to help other kids suffering the same way she did. After graduation, she hopes to attend graduate school and get her PhD in clinical psychology so that she may continue helping children diagnosed with OCD. When not advocating or learning, Megan loves to read, hang out with her friends, and go on runs.

Justine De Jaegher

IOCDF Advocate

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Justine De Jaegher is a Canadian living with OCD, having been diagnosed at the age of 20. Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, she now resides in Ottawa, Ontario with her wife. She is a co-facilitator for her local GOAL support group and is involved in two IOCDF Special Interest Groups (SIGs) - the faith and mental health and LGBTQ+ groups. Justine works in political action for a Canadian labour organization and is an advocate for progressive social and economic policies. She holds a BA in Economics and Political Studies from the University of Manitoba and an MA in Public Administration from Carleton University. She is dedicated to expanding access to evidence-based mental health care by reducing stigma around mental illness and removing financial barriers to care.

Molly Fishback

IOCDF Advocate

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Molly Fishback is a teacher and co-founder of Not Alone Notes. She became an OCD Advocate by co-founding Not Alone Notes in 2017. Not Alone Notes started as a little project to send others with OCD notes to remind them they aren't alone, and now it has grown into a non-profit! Not Alone Notes allows Molly to use her creativity to help others and show them that they aren't alone with their battle with OCD and related disorders. When not teaching or advocating for mental health awareness, Molly makes art, listens to podcasts, and hangs out with friends. Read more.

Epifania Gallina

IOCDF Advocate

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Epifania Gallina is an adjunct lecturer of psychology and a student of mental health counseling at Hunter College. She advocates for herself and for the entire community. The right therapy gave her back hope and courage and she wants the community to experience the same amount of courage as she has in combating OCD.

Epifania is interested in constantly raising awareness about stigma and mental health. She also writes about these topics and is currently a researcher in a developmental psych lab. Read more.

Andrew GottWorth

IOCDF Advocate

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Andrew GottWorth is a Kentuckian living in Berlin Germany with his wife. He works for a university in Academic Affairs. He has experienced anxiety, depression, and OCD most of his life, only receiving treatment for anxiety and depression in college in 2009, and an OCD diagnosis and treatment much later in 2018, when no longer able to work due to its effects. With being undiagnosed and “under-diagnosed” for so long, he is a big advocate for explaining all forms of OCD, especially for young people. He is also an avid rock climber, disc golfer, and soccer player and hopes to bring mental health awareness to athletes, especially by breaking down traditional masculine views when it comes to mental health. He hopes to combine his background in academia and research with a love of nonprofit work and volunteering in order to bring evidence-based best practices to the most vulnerable.

Ezra Homonoff

IOCDF Advocate

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Ezra was diagnosed with OCD at 12 years old, although they have experienced OCD symptoms since elementary school. Since their initial diagnosis, they've made it their personal mission to help others struggling with mental health feel less alone. In particular, Ezra hopes to use their degree in School Psychology to help students of all ages whose academics and behavior at school are affected by their mental health.

Darcy Howell

IOCDF Advocate

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Darcy is a current graduate student getting her M.Ed. in Special Education. She is passionate about making education accessible to all and hopes to use her degree to pursue being a Kindergarten teacher in an integrated classroom. Her passion for OCD Advocacy comes from her own experience with OCD and sharing her story at IOCDF conferences. When she is not teaching or advocating, she enjoys creating art, baking, and playing with her pet rats!

Daniel Jones

IOCDF Advocate

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Daniel N. Jones is an Associate Professor of Management and Social Psychology at the University of Nevada Reno. He received his PhD in personality/social psychology in 2011 from the University of British Columbia. He was first diagnosed with OCD in 1994 at the age of 14 when the disorder became unmanageable. Driven by a desire to work through the disorder on his own, he initially refused medication. However, he has become a strong advocate for a myriad of treatment methods including medication. His passion is conducting research on human behavior. He hopes to provide further insight into the destructive nature of OCD and advocate for those going through the difficult process of dealing with it.

Katy Marciniak

IOCDF Advocate

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Katy is currently a stay-at-home Mom, who previously worked as a speech and language pathologist. Katy's OCD onset around the age of 12, but she did not receive a diagnosis until over a decade later. After finally receiving the appropriate treatment, she began to share her story via her blog Navigating Uncertainty. She has also been a guest on mental health podcasts, and shared her experiences through the IOCDF newsletter, blog, and conference. She is passionate about normalizing mental health and increasing awareness about OCD.

Kyle King

IOCDF Advocate

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Kyle King is a current senior at Yale University studying neuroscience. Since recovering from OCD himself in middle school, Kyle has been heavily involved in OCD advocacy work with the International OCD Foundation, currently co-leading the Young Adult Special Interest Group and co-hosting the monthly Research Roundtable livestream. Kyle also has worked as a research assistant at the Yale OCD Research Clinic for four years. Outside of OCD, Kyle has been a vocal mental health advocate both with UNICEF USA and the Early Childhood Peace Consortium.

Melanie Piirainen

IOCDF Advocate

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Melanie Piirainen is a professor from Canada who openly shares her lived experience with OCD after keeping it a secret for years. Her advocacy work began by entering the IOCDF’s 2014 OCD Awareness Video Contest and expanded into more awareness videos, working closely with Dr. Baer as a writer and peer consultant, sitting on the advisory committee for the Ontario Health Quality Standards for OCD, and sharing her experience for an OCD documentary with Biohaven Pharmaceuticals.

Kim Quinlan

IOCDF Advocate

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Kimberley Quinlan is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California and the founder of CBTschool.com, an online psycho-education platform that provides online courses for those with OCD and body-focused repetitive behaviors who do not have access to mental health care.

Kimberley is also the host of Your Anxiety Toolkit Podcast, a podcast aimed at providing mindfulness-based tools for anxiety, OCD, depression, and BFRBs. Read more.

Krista Reed

IOCDF Advocate

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Krista is a mental health clinician in Wichita, KS who specializes in OCD, BFRBs, and BDD. Krista was diagnosed with OCD and Excoriation Disorder in 2007 and struggled finding help in her community. During this challenge, she herself became trained in treating OC and other related disorders. Krista is an advocate in her community for proper treatment and education about OC and other related disorders. In 2021, she founded the ICT OCD Alliance, which is a grassroots alliance group of therapists who treat OC and other related disorders. The focus of this alliance is to spread awareness in the Wichita community so sufferers can find help sooner and get the proper treatment they deserve. Krista also provides presentations in her community to end the stigma of these disorders.

Alex Reynolds

IOCDF Advocate

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Morgan Rondinelli

IOCDF Advocate

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Alex Rosenberg

IOCDF Advocate

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Alex was diagnosed with OCD when he was 10 years old and just graduated from high school. He has been an active advocate from an early age, including putting together his own educational fliers on OCD for distribution at his school. At one of his first Annual OCD Conferences, he sought out IOCDF National Advocate, Ethan Smith, to ask how we could do more to make sure everyone could get treatment. Now, Alex serves as an incredibly active and positive IOCDF Advocate, with a particular commitment to the Foundation’s faith and OCD initiatives. Alex is a leader in the Faith and OCD Special Interest Group (SIG), and he never misses a meeting. He has spoken on multiple IOCDF livestreams on the integration of his Jewish faith with treatment while utilizing Jewish texts and his collaboration with his rabbi. Alex was also a speaker at the 2022 Faith and OCD Conference, the 2021 Online OCD Conference, and the 27th Annual OCD Conference.

Sophie Suri

IOCDF Advocate

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Sophie is a research associate at Teesside University and a research fellow for the NIHR ARC NENC in the UK. In these roles she is focused on finding ways to engage and empower people in their own mental healthcare. She believes that everyone should have access to the care she has had and is dedicated to making resources more accessible for people no matter what their background. Sophie is currently writing her first book detailing her experience of losing parents at a young age and subsequent battles with OCD and trauma. The main aim of the book is to help people manage OCD and trauma in ways that support their mind, body, and spirit. Sophie is passionate about her OCD advocacy, loves sports and is dedicated to helping others find light in their own darkness.

Maya Tadross

IOCDF Advocate

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Maya is a lived-experience advocate, researcher, and soon-to-be clinical trainee of OCD and related disorders. She was diagnosed with OCD at 14 and later ADHD at age 21, and through treatment and recovery has become an advocate for others living with these disorders. In 2020, she co-founded and led the first support group for students affected by OCD at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After graduating in 2023, she worked as a clinical research coordinator in Dr. Jon Abramowitz's Stress and Anxiety Lab studying perinatal OCD and depression. Maya has enjoyed providing her unique perspective as someone with both lived and research experience of OCD on research dissemination projects like the University College of London's OCD and the Brain online toolkit. In Fall 2024, Maya will begin pursuing an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with the eventual goal of utilizing evidence-based practices to best help individuals living with OCD and related disorders.

Adira Weixlmann

IOCDF Advocate

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Hannah Zidansek

IOCDF Advocate

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Hannah Zidansek is an OCD advocate living in Pittsburgh, PA. She was diagnosed with OCD at age 13. Growing up in a small town, there were little to no resources in her area. It was a struggle to find proper treatment and receive support and understanding. Because of this, she has remained passionate about maintaining community and spreading awareness for fellow sufferers. She has been advocating through support groups, blogs, youtube, and IOCDF conferences since 2012. Hannah is committed to cultivating connections with people struggling with OCD and related disorders as she credits community for being the biggest game changer in her recovery.

Kim Vincenty

IOCDF Advocate

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Kim Vincenty is a mother, wife, OCD advocate, speaker, and support group facilitator who has spent the past 10 years fostering community and helping families find the best resources for mental health education, intervention and recovery. She most recently served as the president of OCD Jacksonville, an affiliate of the International OCD Foundation. Known for sharing her relatable story, Kim has articles published in The Mighty and Yahoo News and has been a guest on the OCD Stories Podcast. In 2017 Kim co-founded The Fearless Collection with national lifestyle brand Natural Life. In 2022, she launched JACK to expand her reach and continue to be a resource (and mom friend) to sufferers and families across the nation.

Shaun Flores

IOCDF Advocate

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My name is Shaun Daniel Carl Flores, UK-based and 28 years old. I am a mental health activist
and advocate especially for those with OCD. My OCD diagnosis earlier this year turned my
world upside down. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation were my companions for a series
of months. I now have turned my pain into my passion. I am passionate about increasing
awareness of OCD and having more people from ethnic communities speak about their OCD.
OCD was the worst thing to ever happen to me. I vow to continue being the worst thing to
happen to OCD.

Kalista Dwyer

IOCDF Advocate

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Kalista was diagnosed with OCD at the age of ten. After seeing the impacts the stigma of OCD has had on both
herself and her family, she started advocating on her social platforms. She created an online series that garnered
over 20 million views, leading her to be featured in Psychology Today and Made Of Millions. Kalista also spoke at
the Active Minds National Conference on Destigmizating Mental Illness in a Digital Age. Furthermore, she did an
episode of JED Voices, sharing her story and advocating in depth about OCD. Kalista is dedicated to advocacy
and sharing her passion for life beyond OCD. She enjoys exploring her creativity, reading, and hiking in her free
time.

Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS

IOCDF Advocate

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Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS is a neuroscientist, Mental Health Peer Specialist, mental health advocate, and science communicator. Uma earned her M.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Texas-Dallas, and is currently earning her Ph.D in Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying the neurobiology of OCD in Dr. Michael Cahill’s laboratory. Uma is also board-certified Mental Health Peer Specialist, in practice since 2021. She has also conducted award-winning psychedelic research, bringing together her interdisciplinary background to study the effects of psychedelic-assisted therapy on OCD & PTSD across several disciplines. She has presented her research at numerous scientific conferences and research symposia worldwide, and has received several accolades for her novel findings, including presentation, research, and travel grant awards. Uma's neurobiology research, MHPS practice, and advocacy are all informed by her lived experience with lifelong OCD, comorbid PTSD, young-adult cancer, chronic illnesses, and disabilities. She serves as an IOCDF Advocate and on the Board of Directors of OCD Wisconsin, facilitating outreach initiatives through neurobiology education projects and raising awareness for OCD and mental health in historically excluded populations. Her survivorship serves as the bedrock of her advocacy, carried out through her work as a globally-invited public speaker, science communicator, and host of the podcast ‘A Chat with Uma.’

Kyra Cheung

IOCDF Advocate

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Kyra Leyi Cheung is a neuroscience student at Rice University and a research assistant at The Storch Lab, Baylor College of Medicine. Kyra was diagnosed with OCD in 2018 at the age of 13 and is dedicated to helping others who are affected by the disorder. She is actively involved in the IOCDF and is the founder/president of CommonGround, an organization that provides support for individuals with OCD and related disorders. After graduation, Kyra plans to pursue a law degree and participate in policy development and advocacy efforts to improve mental health care and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Summer Contreras Lemmon

IOCDF Advocate

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Summer Contreras is a Certified Peer Support Specialist living in San Diego, CA. Summer grew
up with OCD, she but wasn't diagnosed until age 18 and didn't seek proper treatment until age
22, after her mother - with whom she was very close - passed away from cancer. Since then,
she has been a passionate advocate for those with OCD and related disorders so others don't
suffer the way she did. Summer has a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University
of Arizona and hopes to specialize in treating OCD. She regularly speaks to a public health
class about her mental journey and advocates through her blog and social media. She is
currently writing a memoir. Outside of advocacy, Summer likes to play the Pokémon Trading
Card Game competitively and enjoys reading, writing, and mathematics.

Christina DeMaio

IOCDF Advocate

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Christina is a professional vocalist and music educator living in New Hampshire. Christina
serves as an Executive Board Member of her affiliate, OCD New Hampshire. As an individual
with OCD, Christina is very passionate about OCD awareness, education, and advocacy.
Christina is honored to work alongside so many inspiring advocates to provide support,
resources, and hope to those in our community.

Alie Garza

IOCDF Advocate

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Alie Bernard Garza, LCSW, is a clinician with the OCD Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz and holds an MSW from the University of Washington in Seattle. She has worked in a variety of clinical roles including youth mental health, mobile crisis response, suicide prevention, and IOP, PHP, and residential treatment for OCD and anxiety-related disorders in Oregon, Texas, and Colorado. Alie has lived experience with severe OCD and is an advocate with the International OCD Foundation. Alie has lived experience with severe OCD that went misdiagnosed/inadequately treated for 15+ years and is passionate about mental health advocacy, especially demystifying higher levels of care and destigmatizing ‘taboo’ themes. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Adrian, and two adorable (but demanding) Chihuahuas, Teddie and Perrie.

Jana Hahn

IOCDF Advocate

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With a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University in Interdisciplinary Studies (specialties in psychology, communications, & theatre arts), Jana is passionate about utilizing an individual's unique story to provide peace of mind about OCD. From her personal
experience, she advocates the message that “pain has a purpose” in the state of TN and beyond. As a previous Walt Disney World cast member, she is pursuing performing arts in Nashville and has a current profession as a marketing coordinator. In her free time, she is
actively involved in the Miss America Organization promoting mental health advocacy.

Cassie Marzke

IOCDF Advocate

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Cassie is a co-founder of A Penny for Your Intrusive Thoughts, an OCD awareness organization
that shares people’s anonymously-submitted intrusive thoughts with the goal of helping people
feel less alone. Cassie is also the president of the San Francisco Bay Area affiliate of the
International OCD Foundation. Cassie was diagnosed with OCD at age fifteen and is now a
young adult. She is particularly passionate about increasing access to quality OCD treatment
and creating opportunities for anonymous advocacy.

Erika McCoy

IOCDF Advocate

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Erika McCoy is mom of two, wife, and curator of the Creative Expression SIG with a big heart for advocacy in our faith spaces. She has lived experience of OCD, C-PTSD, MDD, and a TBI. She first started experiencing signs of OCD at 6. Despite being in the mental health system since a teen she didn't receive appropriate diagnosis till 25. Her mission is to bring advocacy into action through STEAM, help people find a sense of wholeness through the intersection of creative expression and faith across the globe, and bring hope and healing by spreading awareness to the general public.

Brooke Miller

IOCDF Advocate

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Brooke Miller, a Registered Nurse and mental health advocate, is determined to revolutionize the way we perceive mental health. Sharing her personal journey through her blog, podcasts, and speaking engagements, Brooke raises awareness, increases access to resources, and fights against stigmas. Her own struggles with OCD, Anorexia, Bipolar II Disorder, and Panic Disorder fuel her mission to positively impact the mental health community. As a wife and mother of children with mental health challenges, she offers support and solidarity to other families. Brooke finds joy in exploring the outdoors, traveling, and dancing. Connect with her on social media @brookemillermha to experience her unwavering support. Together, let's smash stigmas and embrace a future where mental health is celebrated.

Allie Mills

IOCDF Advocate

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Allie is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles, CA. She was diagnosed with OCD at 19 years old but
struggled to find effective treatment until many years later. Finding the correct treatment was
life-changing for Allie. She is passionate about helping others find hope in the face of a
debilitating disorder. Her goal is to reduce the stigma surrounding OCD, from day-to-day
conversations to media representation. In her spare time, Allie loves hanging out with her dog,
Ripley.

Stacy Quick

IOCDF Advocate

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Stacy Quick LPC, is a mental health therapist, specializing in the treatment of OCD. She has
been working in the mental health field for nearly 20 years. Ms. Quick uses ERP and her lived
experiences to help others understand it is possible to live a life in recovery. She is a mother of
3 children, 2 of whom are also diagnosed with OCD. These experiences have led her to become
passionate about advocacy and education within the OCD community and beyond. It is her
sincere hope that her story can provide hope for others who are in the midst of OCD suffering.
Ms. Quick is also a writer and content creator. You can learn more about Ms. Quick and her

Journey here: https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/ocd-took-my-childhood-then-gave-me-my-
calling

Mackenzie Reed

IOCDF Advocate

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Mackenzie Reed is a Registered Nurse and OCD advocate from Delaware, who in 2019, experienced a rapid onset of OCD symptoms — which she would later learn were the result of emotional contamination OCD.

For two years, Mackenzie was isolated solely to her bedroom; where she found herself entering her home through her bedroom window and unable to access the remainder of her house.

Following intensive treatment, Mackenzie now works to advocate for those living with the disorder through her blog “Obsessively OCD.”

Mackenzie is passionate about education surrounding emotional contamination and compulsive hoarding, and hopes that by bringing awareness to hoarding behaviors — individuals will be met with less judgment and more understanding.

Mackenzie is currently working to establish an IOCDF affiliate in Delaware, where she hopes to bring resources and support to those living with OCD in the state.

Jonathan Shultz

IOCDF Advocate

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My name is Jonathan Schultz. I am a professor and academic counselor at Bakersfield
College. I have a Master’s degree in School Counseling and a Doctorate degree in
Organizational Leadership. I have been married since 2012 and have 3 wonderful children.
I was formally diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactive disorder
(ADHD) when I was 18 years old. Three years later, after suffering my first major mental
breakdown, I was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
After suffering a second mental breakdown in 2020, brought on by my OCD, I decided to shift
my focus to helping people with mental health struggles.
My long-term goal is to create a foundation that will help pay for mental health therapy for
people who cannot afford it.

Erica Wang

IOCDF Advocate

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Erica experienced her first encounter with OCD when she was 12 years old. She wouldn't receive a diagnosis until she was 27, after OCD clung onto her relationship. Eventually, Erica decided to share her learnings from therapy with others who struggle with OCD and anxiety, and has been a guest on various podcasts and channels, including Special Books by Special Kids and FearCast Podcast. Erica also hosts a podcast called Just Say Maybe, which features stories of mental health journeys from everyday people.

Caroline

IOCDF Advocate

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Caroline is a recent college grad from Boston, MA and looks forwards to pursing her Masters in Social Work at Simmons University this fall. Caroline recently finished a Post-Baccalaureate Clinical Fellowship with McLean Hospital working with adolescents at the inpatient level of care. Caroline has been working with the IOCDF for 6 years including membership on their conference planning committee for children and adolescents, interning with their events team, and is now an IOCDF advocate. Some of Caroline’s other advocacy projects included serving for Not Alone Notes as well as starting, Stick With It, a company that advocates for mental illness through art.

Micah Howe

IOCDF Advocate

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