OCD Center of Los Angeles Clinical Staff

TOM CORBOY, MFT, is the Executive Director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, which he founded in 1999. He is a psychotherapist licensed by the State of California. Tom received his master's degree from the Department of Counseling Psychology at USC in 1993, where his graduate thesis was a study comparing various treatments of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Since then, much of his training and clinical experience has been focused on the treatment of OCD and related OC Spectrum Disorders, including Social Anxiety, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Hypochondria (health anxiety), Panic Disorder, Trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling), and Dermatillomania (compulsive skin picking, or CSP). In addition to his work with individuals, Tom ran a weekly therapy/support group for adults with OCD from 1997 through 2011. Tom has presented at numerous national conferences on the subject of OCD, Pure Obsessional OCD, Harm OCD, and Trichotillomania. He is a member of the International Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation (IOCDF), the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), the Trichotillomania Learning Center (TLC), the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT), and the Group Psychotherapy Association of Southern California (GPASC). Tom can be contacted at (310) 824-5200.

KAREN PICKETT, MFT, is the Clinical Director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, and is a psychotherapist licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California. She received her Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. Karen previously worked at the OCD Center of Los Angeles from 2002 through 2005, primarily providing individual therapy, as well as running a weekly therapy group for adults with Trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) and Dermatillomania (compulsive skin picking). Karen appeared on 5 episodes of the acclaimed A&E network documentary series Obsessed in 2009 as one of four expert therapists treating clients with OCD and a wide range of related anxiety based conditions. She has also appeared as an expert on Dateline NBC, the Discovery Health Channel, and in various magazines, radio shows and newspapers. Karen returned to the OCD Center of Los Angeles in 2011, where she specializes in the treatment of OCD, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Social Anxiety, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and body image issues, phobias, and impulse control disorders including Trichotillomania and Dermatillomania.  In addition to treating individual clients, Karen currently leads our Tuesday evening low-fee therapy / support group for adults with Social Anxiety.  She is a professional member of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), and the Trichotillomania Learning Center (TLC). Karen can be contacted at (310) 824-5200.

KIMBERLEY QUINLAN, MA, received her Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University in Los Angeles, where she dedicated much her research to the study of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of Anxiety Disorders, Eating Disorders, and Depression.  Before joining the OCD Center of Los Angeles, Kimberley worked as counselor at the Center for Individual and Family Counseling, treating a wide range of conditions including Anxiety Disorders. Her clinical work at the OCD Center focuses on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for adults, adolescents, and children with a wide range of conditions, including Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Social Anxiety, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Hypochondria (health anxiety), Panic Disorder, Phobias, Trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling), Dermatillomania (compulsive skin picking, or CSP), and Eating Disorders. Kimberley spoke at the 2011 annual conference of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) as part of a panel discussion on the topic of mental rituals commonly seen in Pure Obsessional OCD.  In addition to treating individual clients, Kimberley also currently leads our Wednesday eveninglow-fee therapy / support group for adults with Social Anxiety. She has been practicing meditation and mindfulness for many years, and has a special interest in the integration of of mindfulness principles with CBT for OCD, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders.  Kimberley can be contacted at (310) 824-5200.

LAURA YOCUM, MS, PPS, received both her Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and her School Counseling / Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential at California State University at Northridge (CSUN). Prior to joining the OCD Center of Los Angeles, Laura spent three years working as a therapist for students and their families at the middle school and high school levels as a counselor at "Partnerships to Uplift Communities" (PUC). She is well-versed in the California Education Code, and has served as an advocate for students whose families are seeking to receive appropriate 504 plan and IEP accommodations from their school district. Laura specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness Based CBT for children, adolescents, and adults with a wide range of disorders including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, and Eating Disorders. Laura spoke at the 2012 annual conference of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) as part of a panel discussion on the topic of mental rituals commonly seen in Pure Obsessional OCD.  She also has extensive training in Art Therapy and Music Therapy for the treatment of children and teenagers. Laura has worked both individually with clients and their families, and has experience leading groups for children and teenagers suffering with anxiety, social isolation, poor self-esteem, and difficulty adjusting to school and social settings. Laura can be contacted at (310) 824-5200.

MELISSA MOSE, MFT, is a Marriage and Family Therapist licensed by the State of California since 1995. Melissa received her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and has pursued Doctoral level studies in Clinical Psychology at Pacifica Graduated Institute in Santa Barbara. Before joining the OCD Center of Los Angeles, Melissa founded and directed the Calabasas Counseling Center, where she specialized in CBT for adults, adolescents and children.  Her experience also includes training and supervising post-graduate interns, moderating groups for both teens and parents, performing Psychological and Psycho-educational Assessments at the Step Group, and serving as the primary clinician working with stress and anxiety at the Huntington Reproductive Center (HRC).  Melissa's specialization in treating OCD and related conditions began when her daughter developed severe, acute PANDAS related OCD as a result of a strep infection. Her efforts to find appropriate and effective treatment for her daughter led her to participate in several intensive trainings through the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). Her clinical work at the OCD Center focuses on CBT for adults, adolescents, and children with a wide range of conditions, including OCD, Social Anxiety, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Hypochondria (health anxiety), Panic Disorder, Phobias, Trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling), Dermatillomania (compulsive skin picking, or CSP), and Eating Disorders.  In addition to treating individual clients Melissa also leads our Saturday afternoon low-fee therapy / support group for adults with Trichotillomania and/or Dermatillomania. Melissa is a professional member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), the American Psychological Association (APA), The International Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and the International Obsessive Compulsive Foundation (IOCDF).  Melissa can be contacted at (310) 824-5200.

KEVIN FOSS, MA, received his Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University in 2008.  Prior to joining the OCD Center of Los Angeles, he worked for the Westwood Institute for Anxiety Disorders, an intensive out-patient program where he specialized in the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related anxiety disorders using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness techniques. He previously worked as a counselor at the Child Development Institute, and at the Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine University.  His prior work experience also includes non-profit community mental health treating a wide range of conditions, as well as private practice with children and adolescents, where he focused on CBT for anxiety.  Kevin’s work at the OCD Center of Los Angeles focuses on CBT for adults and adolescents suffering from OCD and related anxiety conditions, including Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), and phobias.  He has a particular interest in the impact of anxiety on athletes and performing artists, and has been published in Archery Focus magazine with articles about anxiety reduction and the impact of parental anxiety on children’s performance in sports.  Kevin is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family therapists (CAMFT).  Kevin can be contacted at (310) 824-5200. 

ELIZABETH KASSEL, MSW, received her Masters Degree in Social Work from California State University at Northridge (CSUN).  Before joining the OCD Center of Los Angeles, Elizabeth worked as a counselor at an inpatient, dual-diagnosis drug and alcohol treatment center in Malibu, CA, treating a wide range of disorders including OCD and related anxiety conditions. During her time there, Elizabeth specialized in psycho-education and 12-step program recovery counseling.  She has also worked with the Los Angeles Unified School District, (LAUSD) treating elementary school children suffering with anxiety based conditions, both individually and in group settings.  Additionally, Elizabeth has extensive experience working with hospice patients and their families in which she provided supportive counseling and education on the dying process, and where she led bereavement groups.  Elizabeth is a professional member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).  Elizabeth can be contacted at (310) 824-5200.
 

The OCD Center of Los Angeles is open six days a week, including evenings and Saturdays. Individual and group therapy sessions with our staff therapists are scheduled by appointment only. We are unable to accommodate anyone who arrives at our offices without a previously scheduled appointment.

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If you would like to discuss individual or group therapy for the treatment of OCD or a related condition at the OCD Center of Los Angeles, you can call us at (310) 824-5200 (ext. 1), or click here to email us.