Membership Directory

Dr. Jessica D. Leuchter, MD, is a Psychiatry Resident at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. An APA Fellow in the Child & Adolescent track, she is pursuing a Child & Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship, serves on the board of OCD Central & South Florida, and is passionate about obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. She has presented and published on a range of topics in psychiatry.

Dr. Kathleen McHugh is a licensed clinical psychologist in Winter Park, Florida, specializing in evidence-based care for children (ages 7+), adolescents, adults, and seniors. Grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Dr. McHugh provides highly specialized treatment for anxiety, trauma, and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, including complex OCD subtypes. In addition to her dedicated therapeutic work, she brings extensive expertise to the forensic arena, conducting specialized psychological and competency evaluations. As an LGBTQIA+-affirming practitioner, Dr. McHugh is committed to creating a compassionate, supportive, and scientifically grounded environment that empowers individuals to overcome life's most complex psychological challenges.

Dr. Katie Merricks is a licensed clinical psychologist and owner of Katie Merricks Counseling, LLC in Clearwater, Florida, where she specializes in the treatment of severe OCD, anxiety disorders, and body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). With a clinical background that includes intensive training at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and Rogers Behavioral Health, Dr. Merricks dedicates the vast majority of her practice to OCD, PANDAS/PANS, and complex anxiety subtypes. She is also a Tourette Association of America recognized provider, expertly trained in Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) and Habit Reversal Training (HRT) for hair-pulling and skin-picking. Serving as the President of the Florida affiliate of the International OCD Foundation, OCD of Central and South Florida, Dr. Merricks combines top-tier clinical expertise with an approachable, evidence-based framework to help clients and families achieve profound, lasting emotional benefits.

Dr. Kimberly Kirkpatrick Justice is a Board-Certified Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist in the Orlando area, specializing in pediatric health, behavioral sleep medicine, and early childhood development. Practicing from a holistic, biopsychosocial model, Dr. Justice frequently collaborates with medical teams to bridge the gap between physical and mental health, helping families navigate the complexities of chronic illness, pediatric cancer, diabetes, and somatic symptoms. She is uniquely certified in treating pediatric sleep disorders, behavioral insomnia, and neurodevelopmental conditions like Selective Mutism and tic disorders. Utilizing advanced, parent-based modalities such as the SPACE program, Dr. Justice partners directly with parents to build effective, compassionate strategies for managing childhood anxiety and behavioral challenges.

Dr. Kristina Kise is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. She graduated from the University of Florida Medical School. She completed her internship in Psychiatry at Brown University, residency in Adult Psychiatry at University of Florida, and fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at University of Florida where she also served as chief fellow. She is board certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Kise has a special interest in eating disorders and previously worked in a residential treatment center for the treatment of Eating Disorders. She is an active member of and serves on the leadership team for IAEDP (International Association for Eating Disorders Professionals). Dr. Kise also specializes in treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorders. She is trained in and utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for anxiety disorders and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). She also serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine.

Dr. Lewis Jones is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with Master's and Doctoral degrees from Nova Southeastern University. He has worked in university counseling centers, community mental health centers, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and outpatient eating disorder clinics, and has been in private practice since 2012. With extensive training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy and exposure work, he takes an integrative approach to treating eating disorders and supports clients in making meaningful, lasting change.

Dr. Lissette Cortes is a Licensed Psychologist in Florida, Certified Eating Disorders Specialist, PsyPact provider, and the founder of Compassionate Healing Institute. She is a Cognitive-Behavioral therapist and specializes in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Her main treatment focus is on eating disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder, as well as BDD, Trichotillomania, phobias, panic disorder, anxiety disorders and depression. She is also trained in CBIT for the treatment of Tourettes and in SPACE for parenting interventions.

Dr. Lydia R. Malcolm is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. She specializes in individual therapy education seminars & workshops for stress reduction and achievement of health-related behavioral changes (sleep, smoking cessation, weight control, etc.), and management of chronic illnesses (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, pain, and others) for individuals and business organizations.

Dr. Marisa T. Mazza is a Clinical Psychologist and the founder of Choicetherapy Psychological Services, Inc. Certified in ERP through the University of Pennsylvania, she also serves as faculty for the IOCDF and the University of San Francisco. She provides evidence-based care for teens and adults with OCD and Anxiety using CBT, ERP, ACT, and Mindful Self-Compassion.

Dr. Melanie Smith is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Approved Consultant (CEDS-C) and is a Certified Therapist & Trainer of the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP). Special treatment interests include Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), phobias including emetophobia, health-related anxiety, OCD and coping with chronic illness.

Dr. Michael Sheffield is a Licensed Psychologist in Florida and New York, specializing in the treatment of OCD, eating disorders, and anxiety disorders. He works from a CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) framework and incorporate exposure and response prevention (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) interventions.

Dr. Michele Bechor is a licensed psychologist providing CBT and exposure-based treatments for anxiety, OCD, PANS/PANDAS, tics, and related disorders. She works with youth, adults, and families and offers virtual care through PSYPACT.