An IOCDF Affiliate carries out the mission of the International OCD Foundation through programs at the local community level within the United States. Each Affiliate is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization run entirely by dedicated volunteers.
Below will be quarterly updates from our Affiliates, organized by state. Click the (+) to open each menu and read updates and find contact information for clinics near you.
@ocdcsfl @ocdcsfl
It has been a great fall season for OCD Central and South Florida and are excited to have held two fabulous events. In September, we held an OCD Awareness Glow Painting Party in Boca Raton. The turnout was wonderful, and a good time was had by all! In October, we held an online Meet the Author‚ panel discussion with special guest Emma Noyes, author of How to Hide in Plain Sight. Emma discussed her book and her journey, which led to a rich dialogue about the experience of OCD. A huge thank you to our young adult SIG, OCD advocate panelists, Kyle King & Sidney Lodge.
As the holiday season approaches we look forward to two special upcoming events: Our OCD And CE accredited conference weekend taking place Dec. 5th & 6th in Vero Beach, Florida, followed by our Annual One Million Steps for OCD Walk taking place on December 7th in Vero Beach as well. Please check out our website, ocdcsfl.org, for more details. We cannot wait to see you there!
Finally, we are now collecting artwork for our next Obsession art event. This exhibit features meaningful art created by those with a personal or professional connection to OCD. Consider creating and donating a piece! See our website for further info.
OCDCSFL are always looking to expand our board, welcome new volunteers, and are seeking both collaboration and sponsorship opportunities for future events. Please reach out at info@ocdcsfl.org if interested. We’d love to have you join our amazing community!
https://www.facebook.com/OCDConnecticut/
We concluded a highly successful fall season marked by a robust series of OCD education and awareness events. Our programming featured renowned experts and strong community engagement throughout the season.
Our efforts began on October 8 with participation in a colloquium at Sacred Heart University titled “OCD: Getting Help and Support for Recovery.” This in-person event featured Christina Taylor, PhD, local support group members, and members of our affiliate board, who discussed OCD symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.
On October 9, we hosted a virtual event with Dr. Reid Wilson, PhD, an international authority on anxiety disorders. His talk, “How to Do Self-Help: Metacognitive Strategies and Tactics,” provided valuable approaches for managing anxiety and OCD.
Our educational series continued on October 22 with Katie Marrotte, MSW, LCSW, who specializes in Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT). She outlined I-CBT’s principles, applications, and distinctions from ERP.
On November 18, a Zoom event addressed the connection between OCD and eating disorders, featuring Katie Jeffrey, MS, RDN, CSSD, and Lissette Cortes, PsyD, CEDS. They shared insights into treating co-occurring challenges, food fears, and OCD.
Community engagement flourished at our second annual One Million Steps for OCD Walk on October 18 at Jennings Beach in Fairfield, where over 60 participants raised awareness and support.
We were also honored with a proclamation from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, declaring October 13–19, 2025, as OCD Awareness Week. This recognition strengthens our mission as we prepare to expand educational initiatives across the state in 2026.
Instagram: @ocdiowa
Facebook: @OCDIowa
This quarter, OCD Iowa proudly hosted its annual Des Moines 1 Million Steps for OCD Walk at Terra Park. The event brought together more than 230 participants, all walking in support of OCD awareness and advocacy. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors, we successfully raised $15,700 to help fund programs and outreach efforts across Iowa.
The walk featured two inspiring speakers who shared powerful stories of hope, resilience, and recovery—reminding everyone of the strength and compassion within our community.
We continue to be inspired by the dedication of our supporters who help raise awareness and resources for those affected by OCD. As part of OCD Awareness Month, we hosted a silent auction that raised an additional $4,606 through the support of local businesses and community members. In recognition of OCD Awareness Week, the city of Ames helped shine a light on mental health by illuminating two local structures in teal, symbolizing awareness and solidarity.
Looking ahead, OCD Iowa plans to launch new educational events across the state in the coming year. These initiatives will aim to increase understanding, expand access to resources, and strengthen connections among Iowans impacted by OCD.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who walked, donated, volunteered, or spread awareness. Your support helps create hope and build a stronger, more informed community.
@ocdlouisiana
This quarter, OCD Iowa proudly hosted its annual Des Moines 1 Million Steps for OCD Walk at Terra Park. The event brought together more than 230 participants, all walking in support of OCD awareness and advocacy. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors, we successfully raised $15,700 to help fund programs and outreach efforts across Iowa.
The walk featured two inspiring speakers who shared powerful stories of hope, resilience, and recovery, reminding everyone of the strength and compassion within our community.
We continue to be amazed by the dedication of our community supporters who help raise awareness and resources for those affected by OCD. As part of OCD Awareness Month, we hosted a silent auction, raising an additional $4,606 through the support of local businesses and community members. In recognition of OCD Awareness Week, the city of Ames helped shine a light on mental health by illuminating two local structures in teal, symbolizing awareness and solidarity.
Looking ahead, OCD Iowa plans to launch educational events across the state in the coming year. These initiatives will aim to increase understanding, expand access to resources, and strengthen connections among Iowans impacted by OCD.
A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who walked, donated, volunteered, or spread awareness. Your support helps create hope and build a stronger, more informed community.
http://www.ocdmassachusetts.org
@ocdmassachusetts
We’re thrilled to share highlights from our successful OCD Awareness Week! Our community came together for a meet-and-greet nature walk, fostering connection and support. Members of our board had the opportunity to provide specialized training to a local clinic about OCD, and Dr. Van Kirk collaborated with OCD SoCal by discussing treatment motivation during the Family & Loved Ones Support Group.
Several bridges glowed teal in recognition of OCD Awareness Week—including the Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, the Longfellow Bridge, the Kenneth Burns Memorial Bridge, and the Fore Bridge. Thank you for shining bright for everyone affected by OCD!
We wrapped up the week with a movie and discussion night at Mudflower Farm, creating space for education and meaningful dialogue.
A heartfelt thank-you to our dedicated volunteers, board members, and community supporters who made these events possible. Special thanks to Dr. Coyne of Mudflower Farm for hosting and supporting our event and mission.
We look forward to an exciting start to 2026 with new events and opportunities!
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay connected.
Instagram: @ocdmidatlantic
Facebook: @OCDMidAtlantic
We had a busy and exciting October celebrating OCD Awareness Week! We enjoyed a wonderful turnout at beautiful Wheaton Regional Park for the 1 Million Steps for OCD Walk on October 4, with more than 100 participants joining us. Attendees reflected on the sense of community and supportive energy that comes from being surrounded by others who truly understand OCD.
A special thank-you to OCDC, a Maryland-based band made up of OCD therapists, for the lively music set they performed after the walk—always a highlight!
We also co-hosted the First Annual OCD Mid-Atlantic Mini-Conference with Sheppard Pratt. A huge thank-you to Sheppard Pratt for providing the space, continuing education credits (and lunch!), and for partnering with us to host this free event. Hundreds of providers attended either in person or online for a full day of presentations from psychologists and psychiatrists in our area, capped off by a powerful and well-received Lived Experience Panel. We’re already making plans for next year’s Second Annual Mini-Conference!
We’d also like to welcome our newest board member, Frank Storey, and returning member Theresa Shank. We still have one or two open board positions—please reach out through our website if you’re interested in joining.
We plan to resume our monthly events in 2026, so please continue to use the website contact form to share the types of events you’d like to attend, whether virtual or in person.
OCD Missouri has had a busy and active 2025! We were excited to sponsor a table at the 2025 IOCDF annual conference in Chicago. We had a great time connecting with everyone, including our Midwest communities, and distributing fidgets, pens, and custom temporary tattoos. We coordinated and hosted a successful OCD Awareness Walk here in St. Louis, and simultaneously co-hosted with OCD Kansas to contribute to their awareness walk as well. Capping off the year’s events, OCD Missouri hosted the St. Louis OCD Mini-Conference to maintain momentum and further connect with our community. We’re looking forward to what we can create in 2026!
https://www.ocdnewhampshire.org/
@ocd_new_hampshire
https://www.facebook.com/OCDNH
OCD New Hampshire celebrates the success of their biggest walk yet back in October! It was a wonderful event for our community with fun new additions such as a shaved ice truck, merchandise for sale, and amazing photography. We are grateful to our walk committee, board members, and other volunteers for making this event possible.
We are looking ahead to 2026, continuing and expanding our initiatives such as trainings at community mental health organizations, expanding our outreach to schools, and hosting more in-person events for our community to gather and connect.
OCD New Jersey hosted a virtual documentary screening on Monday, October 13, 2025, as part of the International OCD Foundation’s OCD Awareness Week. The documentary, Anxiety Club, follows several comedians on their journeys with anxiety disorders and was resoundingly well-received by a large, engaged audience. Following the film, there was a live Q&A featuring the documentary’s director and Emmy Award–winning producer, Wendy Lobel.
Looking ahead, OCD New Jersey plans to host a free virtual quarterly consultation group for mental health professionals on Monday, December 8, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Additionally, the affiliate will hold its annual conference on March 22, 2026, at The Westwood in Garwood, NJ. Guest speaker Josh Spitalnick, Ph.D. will present on topics related to health anxiety. The event will also feature the always popular Living with OCD panel.
@ocdny
OCD-New York had a busy Fall! We held 2 One Million Steps for OCD Walks. We were excited to partner again with Genesee Valley Psychology, University of Buffalo Department of Psychiatry’s OCD Program, and generous local volunteers to hold a walk in the Buffalo area. Our 2025 Long Island walk had it’s largest number attendance to date. In total we raised over $9000 thanks to our incredibly generous donors. On November 1st, we partnered with the NY State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia Psychiatry, Bio Behavioral Institute, Newport Healthcare, and Water Gap Wellness to offer a full day OCD Awareness Conference for lived experience, family/friends, and professionals. We are so grateful to our local expert colleagues for educating our audience on various topics in OCD. We had lectures on evidenced based treatments for adults and children, up-to-date research on psychedelics, neuro-modulation interventions including DBS and TMS, BDD, and OCPD. Please follow us on Instagram and Facebook for upcoming events in 2026.
Instagram: @ocdnc
Facebook: @ocdnc
OCD North Carolina was thrilled to host five OCD Walks this fall! We brought walks back to Raleigh, Greensboro, Wilmington, and Asheville, and were also able to establish a long-overdue walk for the OCD community in Charlotte.
We love connecting with our local communities, raising awareness, and building momentum for change — and we’re proud to share that we raised over $10,000 to benefit both IOCDF and OCD North Carolina.
Our affiliate has even more programming planned for 2026, including our monthly OCD Lecture Series (open to participants anywhere!) and community meet-ups in Charlotte and the Triangle area.
You can find recordings of past lectures from our series on the OCDNC YouTube channel, and follow us on social media to stay up to date on the latest OCDNC news and events.
@ocdoregon
OCD Oregon is thrilled to share the success of our recent community event — a sold-out screening of the powerful new documentary Anxiety Club. The event brought together individuals with lived experience of OCD and anxiety disorders, their families, clinicians, and community allies for an evening of connection, education, and hope.
Anxiety Club offers an intimate look at the realities of living with anxiety and OCD, following the journeys of several individuals as they navigate therapy, stigma, and self-acceptance. The film’s message resonated deeply with attendees, sparking meaningful post-film conversations about recovery, access to care, and the importance of community support.
Following the screening, we hosted a panel discussion featuring the film’s director, Wendy Lobel, and one of the featured comedians, Aparna Nancherla, who shared insights about their experiences with anxiety. Audience members asked thoughtful questions and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to learn and connect in a stigma-free space.
@ocdri
OCD Rhode Island had a busy Awareness Week! We are proud to share that Governor Daniel J. McKee officially proclaimed Oct. 12th -18th of 2025 as OCD Awareness Week in the state of Rhode Island. To support our efforts in raising awareness, the Rhode Island State House dome was glowing in teal to kick off the week. In addition, the Sakonnet River Bridge and Pawtucket River Bridge were also lit up, serving as a beacon of hope, shining for those affected by OCD. OCDRI also partnered with the Pediatric Anxiety Research Program (PARC) at Bradley Hospital for a screening of the kids documentary, Unstuck, which then concluded with a panel of young adults and parents. Lastly, we held our annual Benefit Night fundraiser on Nov. 18th at the Flatbread Company in Providence to raise awareness about OCD and related disorders.
To learn about our events, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
ocdsocal.org
info@ocdsocal.org
Instagram: @ocdsocal
Facebook: @OCDSOCAL
OCD Southern California finished 2025 strong! We hosted two successful One Million Steps for OCD Walks — one in Ventura County and the second in Santa Clarita.
During OCD Awareness Week 2025, we held a sold-out screening of the film Anxiety Club in San Diego, offering a meaningful opportunity for in-person connection within our local community. Attendees enjoyed a thought-provoking film featuring well-known comedians living with OCD and anxiety.
Finally, OCD SoCal hosted our Online OCD Conference: A Global Event, which drew more than 1,350 registrants from over 15 countries and 40 states, making it one of our largest events to date. Topics included anger and OCD, overcoming procrastination, and using self-compassion with ERP. Thank you to everyone who attended!
Visit ocdconference.eventbrite.com
to access recordings of all 48 presentations. A special thank-you to our volunteers and sponsors for making the event possible!
OCD SoCal is already looking ahead to an even stronger 2026 — with more events, more outreach, and more opportunities to support our community. If you’d like to join us in this mission as a volunteer, regional council member, or in another role, please email us at info@ocdsocal.org
.
Instagram: @ocd_texas
Facebook: ocdtexasforsure
OCD Texas had an exciting and impactful OCD Awareness Week filled with community connection, education, and advocacy. We kicked off the week in San Antonio with a well-attended symposium that brought together clinicians, individuals with lived experience, families, and supporters from across the region. The event featured presentations focused on evidence-based treatment for OCD and related disorders. Attendees learned about best practices in OCD treatment, deepened their understanding of BFRBs, and explored current research and advanced clinical approaches. We extend a heartfelt thank you to Andrea Alvarez, Saharah Shrout, and Savanna Soape for organizing this successful and energizing event.
Our chapter also hosted the One Million Steps for OCD Walk in both Houston and Dallas. These walks provided powerful opportunities for the community to come together, raise awareness, and reduce stigma while supporting individuals and families affected by OCD. We are deeply grateful to our dedicated walk chairs: Gabbi McGivern, Saharah Shrout, and David Riddle.
We are also thrilled to share that our Education Committee has earned five additional years of APA approval. This recognition allows us to continue offering high-quality professional education to clinicians throughout Texas. We look forward to hosting quarterly webinars and monthly consultation groups. To register for upcoming events, please visit the Events page at ocdtexas.org.
OCD Texas will soon hold elections for board positions. Please stay tuned to our social media channels and website for updates. If you are interested in learning more, contact president@ocdtexas.org”
https://www.instagram.com/ocd_washington
https://www.facebook.com/ocdwashington
Happy winter from OCD WA! We had a busy fall with our annual 1 million steps walk raising almost $6,000! We have a fun storytelling event about OCD, Maybe Maybe Not in the spring for people with lived experience. More details here https://www.shereenmorse.com/events.html
And we are super excited for the annual IOCDF conference to be held in Seattle July ’26! Hope to see many of you then!
The post Affiliate Updates: Winter 2025 appeared first on International OCD Foundation.
