John Piacentini, Ph.D.

Director, Child OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Clinic, UCLA

John Piacentini, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA Semel Institute, where he directs the Child OCD, Anxiety and Tic Disorders Program, the Tourette Association of America Center of Excellence, and the Center for Child Anxiety, Resilience, Education and Support (CARES). A board-certified clinical child and adolescent psychologist, Dr. Piacentini's work focuses on the development, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based treatments for youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, tic disorders, and related conditions.

Dr. Piacentini has authored more than 350 scientific publications, including nine books and treatment manuals, and has received research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and other leading mental health foundations. Through his UCLA clinic and workshops conducted across the United States and internationally, he has trained thousands of clinicians in the assessment and treatment of OCD, anxiety, tic disorders, and related conditions.

A recognized leader in the field of child and adolescent mental health, Dr. Piacentini serves on the advisory boards of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and the International OCD Foundation, and co-chairs the Scientific Advisory Board of the Tourette Association of America. He is also the former president of both the American Board of Professional Psychology and the Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.