News

The Yale OCD Research Clinic is pleased to host a free public educational event focused on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) at the New Haven Free Public Library, Ives Community Program Room, 133 Elm St., New Haven, CT 06510 on Monday, November 17, 2025, 6:00pm-7:30pm.

Whether you’re looking to better understand OCD or simply want to learn more about mental health, this event is open to all.

Led by Dr. Christopher Pittenger, director of the Yale OCD Research Clinic, and a panel of expert clinicians and researchers, we’ll explore key topics including:

• What OCD is—and what it’s not.
• Common symptoms and misconceptions.
• Proven, evidence-based treatment options.
• An open Q&A session with our team of experts.

Join us for an informative and engaging session designed to educate, raise awareness, and answer your questions.

The Community Program room seats about 80-100 people.

Parking: Yale’s Lot 51, located on Temple Street at Wall Street, offers free parking after 4:30 pm for the public. Yale’s Lot 51 has capacity for about 70 cars. Additional parking information provided by the library can be found here: https://nhfpl.org/branches/ives-main-library/.

Link to Library’s Calendar: https://nhfpl.libcal.com/event/15582562?hs=a.

For inquiries, please contact Diana Bok (diana.bok@yale.edu) or Olivia Baiz (olivia.baiz@yale.edu).

Hartford, CT – The Board of OCD Connecticut, the state affiliate of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), is thrilled to announce that Governor Ned Lamont has officially proclaimed October 13 to 19, 2025, as OCD Awareness Week in the state of Connecticut. This significant recognition is a pivotal step in our ongoing efforts to raise awareness and promote understanding of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related conditions.

OCD is a mental health condition that affects millions of individuals nationwide, yet it remains largely misunderstood. With the governor’s proclamation, we hope to shed light on the realities of living with OCD, educate the public on its symptoms, and advocate for better access to treatment and support.

“We are incredibly honored by this proclamation from Governor Lamont,” said Audrey Medd, Secretary of OCD Connecticut. “This recognition will not only amplify our message but also reinforce our commitment to supporting individuals and families navigating the challenges of OCD. We believe that through awareness and education, we can reduce stigma and help those affected seek the help they need.”

Throughout OCD Awareness Week, OCD Connecticut hosted a variety of events, workshops, and outreach initiatives aimed at engaging the community and fostering open conversations about OCD.

For more information about upcoming events, resources, and how to get involved, please visit our website at ocdct.org.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by OCD and work towards a future where understanding and support are readily available for all.

Click on the image below to view the proclamation.

As part of our Lecture Series, we are honored to host a virtual Zoom event featuring a presentation by Katie Jeffrey, MS, RDN, CSSD, MB-EAT-QI, LDN, and Lissette Cortes, Psy.D. CEDS, on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 7:00pm.

Ms. Jeffrey and Dr. Cortes will be discussing the topic of OCD and eating disorders or food fears/eating challenges related to OCD.

Katie Jeffrey is a registered dietitian nutritionist licensed in CT, FL, NC and RI. She works with adolescents and adults and specializes in eating disorders, co-existing food fears and anxiety related to OCD, and in performance nutrition. She is passionate about working with athletes. She incorporates mindful and intuitive eating practices, and she draws from therapy techniques as they relate to nutrition, including ACT, trauma-informed care, and ERP.

Dr. Lissette Cortes is a licensed psychologist, Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and PsyPact® provider able to treat individuals in all PSYPACT® states. She treats adolescents and adults. She specializes in the treatment of co-morbid OCD and Eating Disorders. She also treats anxiety disorders, BDD, BFRBs, tics, and Tourette‘s. Dr. Cortes is trained in CBIT for the treatment for Tourette’s and in SPACE for parenting interventions. She practices from a CBT approach using ERP and implementing ACT principles.

Katie and Lissette are the co-authors of the workbook, “The OCD Workbook for Food and Eating Fears: Overcome Obsessive Thoughts and Compulsions Using an Integrative CBT and Intuitive Eating Approach,” which will be published by New Harbinger in Spring 2026.

Their website is compassionateinst.com.
Katie’s website is katiejeffreyllc.com.

To register for this event, go to https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/otT29kRuR7-5Io7EjVY5AQ.

As part of our Lecture Series, we were honored to host a virtual Zoom event featuring a presentation by Katie Marrotte, MSW, LCSW, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 7:30 pm.

Katie, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in the treatment of OCD, discussed the topic of Inference-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for OCD. Inference-based CBT (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment of choice for OCD. I-CBT is an upstream modality that targets the obsessional doubt of the OCD cycle. When the obsessional doubt is resolved, then the anxiety and compulsive aspects of OCD do not take place.

Katie is a local therapist and OCD trainer with lived experience. She believes that those suffering from OCD deserve more evidence-based treatment options than just Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).

She has a Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Health and Mental Health from the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut. Social work focuses not just on pathology, but also examines human development through a lens of policy, social justice, and social welfare, providing a more comprehensive view of factors affecting people on a broader scale. This background in social justice contributes to Katie’s passion for pursuing a more robust set of skills for treating OCD, as well as advocating for multifaceted treatment approaches and competency for OCD specialists.

Katie also runs a private practice (katiemarrotte.com) offering Inference-Based CBT and Exposure Response Prevention for OCD. She believes that the most effective approach for treating OCD should be evidence-based, multifaceted, and, most importantly, informed by the client’s needs.

Katie is also a co-founder of the OCD Training School, a group that offers training for treating OCD and related disorders.

This event has been recorded. Links to the recordings are below:

• Video
• Audio Only

OCD Connecticut is hosting its One Million Steps for OCD Walk sponsored by @iocdf with a community walk during OCD Awareness Week.

The walk is our most important event of the year, bringing together people who want to make a difference in the lives of those affected by OCD. Every step we take and every dollar we raise goes directly toward funding vital research, increasing public awareness, and providing essential resources for individuals and families struggling with OCD.

Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Jennings Beach in Fairfield, CT

Whether you’re an avid walker or just want to enjoy a day at our beautiful location, we would love for you to be a part of it. You can participate by:

• Walking as an individual.
• Starting a team with your friends and family.
• Donating to a team or an individual if you can’t make it on the day of the event.

Your involvement, no matter how big or small, has a real and lasting impact.

Ready to take the first step? Click the link below to register, create a team, or donate today:
https://support.iocdf.org/event/fairfield-ct-ocd-walk/e704155.

As part of our Lecture Series, we were honored to host a virtual Zoom event featuring a presentation by Reid Wilson, Ph.D., on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 7:30 pm. The topic of discussion was How to Do Self-Help: Metacognitive Strategies and Tactics.

Dr. Wilson has spent his entire 30-year career in the field of self-help for anxiety disorders and OCD. He is Director of the Anxiety Disorders Treatment Center and is an international expert in the treatment of anxiety disorders, with books translated into nine languages.

In his presentation, Dr. Wilson discussed his book Stop Obsessing!: How to Overcome Your Obsessions and Compulsions and talked about the treatment principles behind OCD and the 6-Moment Game: Strategies & Tactics, a self-paced online course designed to help you take down OCD.

Dr. Wilson, a highly acclaimed author, has written and co-authored several influential books, including Stopping the Noise in Your Head, Don’t Panic, and Stop Obsessing! Dr. Wilson also co-authored Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents, and Playing with Anxiety focusing on children’s mental health.

Beyond his writing, he developed a self-help program for fearful flyers, “Achieving Comfortable Flight”. He also served as the expert for WebMD’s Anxiety and Panic Community. Dr. Wilson’s expertise has led to appearances on major television shows like The Oprah Winfrey Show and Good Morning America, and he was featured as a psychologist on A&E’s “Hoarders.” His significant contributions to the field have been recognized with top awards from both the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and the International OCD Foundation.

Dr. Wilson’s website is anxieties.com.

This event has been recorded. Links to the recordings are below:

• Video
• Audio Only

In celebration of International OCD Awareness Week, Sacred Heart University’s Human Journey Colloquia 2025 Series presents “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Getting Help and Support for Recovery.”

This free and public event will feature a panel discussion on the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of OCD. The discussion will be led by Dr. Christina Taylor, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Sacred Heart University and co-facilitator of the Fairfield County OCD Support Group, along with members of the support group.

The panel will be held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 2:00 PM in the Loris Forum of the Martire Building at Sacred Heart University at 5401 Park Ave, Fairfield, CT.

Have you ever had scary thoughts pop into your head that you just couldn’t stop thinking about?

They’re called intrusive thoughts, and they are distressing, repetitive and unwanted. They can be triggered by big life changes or mental health issues.

NPR’s senior visuals producer LA Johnson, who struggled with these thoughts after giving birth to her second child, talks to mental health professionals U’nek Clarke and Brooke Smith about how to manage them. She illustrates her experience and the expert advice in a comic.

Editor’s note: This comic will discuss mental health topics and suicidal ideation. If you are in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to connect with a counselor.

To read the entire article on the NPR website, click here.

Wednesday, November 19, 2025
12:00pm–5:45pm ET (9:00am–2:45pm PT)

Organized by the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), the Faith & OCD Conference Sponsored by Stick with the Ick began out of the recognition that many people living with OCD initially seek assistance from a faith leader before a mental health provider.

This unique, online event was specifically created to address the needs of a diverse community — spanning all faiths, ethnicities, and backgrounds. We’ll provide education about effective treatment and ways to support those in the faith community living with OCD.

Join us for this collaborative conversation between faith leaders, mental health providers, and the OCD community!