Obsessive compulsive disorder - OCD treatment and therapy from NOCD

Meet Our Newest Scientific Advisor: Dr. Patrick McGrath

2 min read
Phoebe Kranefuss
By Phoebe Kranefuss

At NOCD, we work with experts to develop the most effective self-help tools and push mental health science forward. Our Scientific Advisory Board gathers some of the world’s top experts on OCD and related disorders. Our advisors have spent decades conducting research and treating patients at the highest level, and now they’re bringing their expertise to our work every day.

Today we’re thrilled to announce that we’ve welcomed a new member to our Scientific Advisory Board: Dr. Patrick McGrath, an enthusiastic and dedicated clinician who has provided invaluable guidance to the NOCD team throughout the past few years. He brings genuine energy to our work, not to mention his nuanced understanding of what people with OCD might find helpful.

Dr. McGrath is Assistant Vice President of Residential Services for the AMITA Health Behavioral Medicine Institute, Executive Director of the Foglia Family Foundation Residential Treatment Center, and Clinical Director for the Center for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders and the School Anxiety and School Refusal Programs at AMITA. He is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation and President of OCD Midwest. Dr. McGrath is the author of The OCD Answer Book and Don’t Try Harder, Try Different.

In addition to treating countless patients with OCD, Dr. McGrath has trained clinicians around the world in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and its OCD-specific derivative, exposure and response prevention (ERP). In the words of Dr. McGrath, “Working with OCD patients is amazingly rewarding. I have gotten to see people get their lives back, start to smile and laugh again, and re-engage in their families and careers. That people trust me to guide them through this journey is humbling and continues to inspire me to help all of my patients challenge their fears and live a value-based life again.”

Welcome to the NOCD team, Dr. McGrath!


ERP is most effective when the therapist conducting the treatment has experience with OCD and training in ERP. At NOCD, all therapists specialize in OCD and receive ERP-specific training. Schedule a free call today and speak with the NOCD clinical team to learn more about how a licensed therapist can help.

NOCD Therapists specialize in treating OCD

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Taylor Newendorp

Taylor Newendorp

Network Clinical Training Director

I started as a therapist over 14 years ago, working in different mental health environments. Many people with OCD that weren't being treated for it crossed my path and weren't getting better. I decided that I wanted to help people with OCD, so I became an OCD therapist, and eventually, a clinical supervisor. I treated people using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and saw people get better day in and day out. I continue to use ERP because nothing is more effective in treating OCD.

Gary Vandalfsen

Gary Vandalfsen

Licensed Therapist, Psychologist

I’ve been practicing as a licensed therapist for over twenty five years. My main area of focus is OCD with specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy. I use ERP to treat people with all types of OCD themes, including aggressive, taboo, and a range of other unique types.

Madina Alam

Madina Alam

Director of Therapist Engagement

When I started treating OCD, I quickly realized how much this type of work means to me because I had to learn how to be okay with discomfort and uncertainty myself. I’ve been practicing as a licensed therapist since 2016. My graduate work is in mental health counseling, and I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy because it’s the gold standard of OCD treatment.

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Phoebe Kranefuss

Phoebe helps bring new treatment options and research opportunities to the NOCD community. She's from the San Francisco Bay Area and loves rock climbing, reading, and dogs.