Dr. Craig April

Founder of The April Center for Anxiety Attack Management, a well-known anxiety treatment center in Los Angeles, Dr. Craig April has been treating anxiety for 15 years and is an expert in cognitive-behavioral techniques.

"I am committed to helping people break free from anxiety symptoms so that they may live the life they are meant to live - one filled with calm, confidence, and freedom," says Dr. April.

Fascinated by the nature of his own fears and realization that we grow by strategically facing discomfort, Dr. April nurtured this interest as he entered graduate school in 1991. By the time he obtained his Masters in 1994, his Ph.D. in 1996, followed by his licensure as a psychologist in 1998, Dr. April had extensively treated anxiety disorders in clinic, hospital, and university settings.

Based on his continued focus in private practice working with those struggling with OCD, Panic, Phobias, and Generalized Anxiety, Dr. April established The April Center for Anxiety Attack Management to provide specialized and proven treatment. The April Center offers individual and group therapy with treatment plans uniquely designed to make progress as quickly as possible. Dr. April helps anxiety sufferers daily and says, "It's incredibly inspiring. Everyone can learn how to face what scares them".

Dr. April is a professional member of The Anxiety Disorders Association of America and The Obsessive Compulsive Foundation, has been quoted nationally, served on filmed panels and speaks regularly in the community.

To learn more about Dr. Craig April, Ph.D., visit: http://www.KickFear.com

Rebecca Gladding, M.D.

is at her core an educator who delights in empowering others to break psychological patterns that limit their lives. A licensed psychiatrist, she has helped patients free themselves from anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors and other psychological disorders. Dr. Gladding's intensive training with nationally renowned experts in mindfulness-based therapy, cognitive-behavioral methods and medication management has enabled her to tailor effective treatment programs.

Based on her conviction that true healing comes from experiencing one's feelings in a visceral, experiential way that often is not fully accomplished in more traditional forms of therapy, Dr. Gladding is currently exploring forms of experiential dynamic therapy. Intrigued by mind-body interactions, Dr. Gladding is committed to investigating the relationships between medical illness, physical symptoms and psychological well-being. After graduating this year as a chief resident at UCLA, she will begin a post as a Clinical Fellow in Psychosomatic Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle.

First and foremost, she believes patients must begin the road to recovery by acknowledging that successful treatment requires them to recognize the problems in their lives, commit to changing them and remain open to the challenges and demands of the therapeutic process. While this requires courage, strength and motivation, Dr. Gladding says she is continually amazed by people's resilience and commitment to break free from their suffering.

She is writing a book with Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz, an internationally prominent expert in OCD, which examines the biological forces underlying destructive brain urges and describes practical ways to overcome maladaptive patterns of behavior.

To learn more about Dr. Gladding, please visit: rebeccagladdingmd.com

John Tsilimparis, MFT

John Tsilimparis, MFT is an experienced Cognitive Behavioral therapist who specializes in the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and other anxiety disorders. He is a former therapist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He also works in the field of addiction as a drug and alcohol counselor and interventionist and owns a private practice in Brentwood, CA.

"My work as a CBT therapist is very rewarding because I passionately believe in its effectiveness. Particularly for the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, CBT combined with Exposure Therapy works extremely well in significantly reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms, and in helping improve the quality of people's lives."

"One of the many reasons I personally enjoy working in a CBT model is that CBT is a collaborative effort between therapist and patient. This collaborative alliance ultimately provides patients with a vital and enduring sense of personal empowerment over their negative thoughts and compulsive behaviors."

John is also an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University and Antioch University. He has presented workshops at UCLA Extension and other clinical organizations.

He was inspired to work in the field of anxiety treatment because he is a recovering anxiety disorder sufferer himself.

"I spent years keeping my anxiety disorder a secret because I was ashamed of it. And, because I didn't know what was happening to me, I thought I was going crazy. But, my life changed for the better when I got into therapy in 1985."

John also published a book in 2003 called, Living with Panic Disorder.

Karen Pickett, MA, MFT

Karen Pickett is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in Los Angeles where she specializes in treating anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), Trichotillomania and skin picking. She is a graduate of the University of Santa Monica where she is currently on the faculty. Karen holds a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology with an Emphasis in Spiritual Psychology.

Karen's focus on treating anxiety disorders and OCD stems from her own recovery from agoraphobia and debilitating panic attacks. Her mission is to help others achieve a speedy and effective return to healthy functioning. Combining her expertise in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and spiritual psychology makes Karen a unique and highly successful therapist, addressing clients' challenges on all levels: physical/behavioral, mental/cognitive, emotional and spiritual.

"It's an honor to be a part of someone's healing process. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a very effective way to successfully treat OCD and other anxiety disorders. Our thoughts are very powerful, and CBT helps a person change fearful thoughts to ones that are reality-based and calming."

Karen is a professional member of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America and the Trichotillomania Learning Center.

Shana Doronn, MSW, LCSW, PSY, D.

Dr. Shana currently treats patients with anxiety disorders, primarily Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder as well as individuals diagnosed with chronic illness, in Barrington, Illinois. Prior to moving to IL she worked at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles where for the last 12 years has treated people with chronic and terminal illnesses and with the last five years focused on delivering innovative care to those diagnosed with severe and disabling Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and other anxiety disorders including Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), eating disorders and hoarding. Her treatment modality is Cognitive Behavior Therapy with an emphasis on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).

In addition, she trained at the UCLA Intensive OCD Treatment Program under world renowned treatment providers and researchers including Dr. Gerald Tarlow, Dr. Jamie Feusner and Karron Maidment, MFT.

Dr. Shana has been the mental health profession since 1989 starting off in working within the ER/hospital environment working with patients and families who experienced trauma, cancer, HIV/AIDS, severe mental illness and substance abuse problems. She sat on the Board of Directors at Woman at Risk (WAR) an organization that directly supports woman that have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

She has served as a faculty member at the UCLA School of Medicine from 1992-1998, where she taught psychosocial aspects of health and disease to first, second and third year medical students.

To learn more about Dr. Shana Doronn, visit: http://www.drshana.com