Barb Shepard, LMHC

03/15/2026

I recently had the opportunity to join Kelly on the Play2Learn Podcast to talk about a topic that hits home for so many families raising kids with anxiety or OCD: illness and health anxiety.

For many families, this type of anxiety can disrupt nearly every aspect of daily life. Mealtimes can become stressful. Family functions may feel overwhelming. Leaving the house for large gatherings can feel nearly impossible. Anxiety can make a family’s world start to feel smaller and smaller.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• What a “day in the life” can look like for a family navigating a child’s health anxiety—from morning routines all the way through bedtime
• The dos and don’ts of responding to kids’ reassurance-seeking
• How parents can slowly reduce accommodations so they don’t unintentionally feed anxiety
• How to recognize when it might be helpful to involve a professional, including common signs of health anxiety and OCD

I’m so excited to share this conversation and hope it feels helpful and relatable for families navigating this.

Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ft6MVbASHe1a###UH5fQy?si=9LUeKlIERbytjf8aX1ZZvA&ct=1155&t=1155

03/12/2026

This article covers the search for biomarkers to address mental health conditions, and the role of inflammatory markers in disorders like depression. So much exciting research being done to advance the field of psychiatry.

The world’s largest professional psychiatry organization is preparing for the day when biological indicators help diagnose and treat mental illness.

03/04/2026

My latest Instagram post outlines some of the common things that PANS/PANDAS parents hear far too often: “It’s controversial and rare,” “Those moms are overreacting,” or “PANS/PANDAS isn’t real.”

Here’s the truth: the science is clear, and the existence of PANS/PANDAS should no longer be up for debate.

Researchers and clinicians are discovering more every day about how to best assess, diagnose, and treat, and there’s never been a better time to get involved and support these children.

I am both a pediatric OCD clinician and a mom with lived experience with PANS/PANDAS. I’ve seen it, lived it, and witnessed what proper treatment can do. I’m on a mission to help kids gain better access to care locally and beyond, while supporting national and international advocacy efforts.

Part of that effort is a jam-packed, two-hour on-demand webinar for clinicians, parents, educators, or anyone wanting to learn more. In this webinar, I cover:

💚 An extensive overview of existing research
💚 Symptoms and diagnosis
💚 Medical and psychological treatment
💚 School interventions

This webinar is an adapted version of a CE training I recently provided, updated to include resources for a broad spectrum of providers and families wanting to learn more.

Disclaimer on the mental health side: While physicians have clinical consensus on many medical interventions, research on mental health interventions is still emerging. There’s a long way to go, but thanks to the incredible women at MIND Global Council whose decades of experience and research efforts are advancing the field, progress is happening in real time.

This webinar is my good-faith effort to synthesize what is currently available in the literature and clinical practice. The stakes are high for these kids, and we have to act now with the tools we have. Any resources I provide will always be updated to reflect evolving best practices and standards of care from leaders in the field.

It’s never too late to learn more, do right by these children, and support families.

Here’s the link to access this ON-DEMAND WEBINAR that you can watch right now!

https://pci.jotform.com/form/260554087772060

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVeOfrsESPP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

02/14/2026

I recently watched the documentary "My Kid Is Not Crazy" (2018) on YouTube. It outlines the history of PANS/PANDAS and examines how the “controversy” surrounding this condition emerged, while centering the lived experiences of families whose children changed abruptly overnight. There are some major updates to the research since then (i.e. proof of concept of why IVIG works for PANS kids - Han et al., 2025) but this does a great job capturing the history of PANS/PANDAS.

The film follows children with sudden-onset symptoms including severe OCD, ARFID requiring tube feeding, and intense behavioral aggression. It also captures the reality many families face while navigating a medical system that is unsympathetic to their plight. Throughout the documentary, leaders in PANS/PANDAS research and treatment share their clinical and research perspectives, with representation from institutions such as Stanford University, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Yale University.

So, why does PANS remain a point of debate?

In part, because it challenges long-standing divisions between “medical” and “psychiatric” care. Integrating PANS into pediatric medicine represents a significant paradigm shift—one that requires clinicians to work across disciplines and reconsider how immune processes, inflammation, and neuropsychiatric symptoms intersect. That level of integration is complex.

Families are often left feeling isolated in the gaps created by these divisions. Psychiatric settings focus primarily on symptom management, while medical settings prioritize conditions that are more easily captured through traditional testing. PANS exists in the space between these approaches. Research has documented immune activation on a cellular level, basal ganglia inflammation, and differences in gene expression and RNA sequencing in children with PANS (Han et al., 2025)

When a condition does not fit neatly into one category, the question becomes: Where do these children go?

As a pediatric OCD clinician and a mother with lived experience, I will be frank: it simply makes no sense at this point to dismiss PANS as “not real” given the accumulating research and the repeated, consistent experiences of families.

Good medicine asks hard questions. It tests hypotheses and demands rigorous evidence. It also remains open, curious, and willing to evolve. It knows when to say, honestly, “We need to update our best practices."

For families living this reality, willingness of physicians with boots on the ground (pediatricians, pediatric psychiatrists, etc.) to listen more closely to PANS/PANDAS families is an absolute necessity going forward.

Call to action:

I encourage clinicians, educators, and parents alike to watch My Kid Is Not Crazy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJQT9-cQwIw

If you’d like to learn more, here are several resources:

PANDAS Physicians Network
International OCD Foundation (PANS/PANDAS resources)
ASPIRE PANS
PANDAS Network
Neuroimmune Foundation

My Kid is Not Crazy tracks the journey of six children and their families as they become tangled in the nightmare of a medical system heavily influenced by t...

02/05/2026

New Parent Resource: The Parent’s Guide to PANS/PANDAS (PDF | Instant Download)

There are so many outstanding, free PANS/PANDAS resources available—and families should absolutely be using them. This guide is not meant to replace those resources.

It was created for a specific parent—the one who has already read everything, bookmarked all the links, joined the groups, and still finds themselves overwhelmed and unsure how to organize it all when it matters most.

As I prepared for a CE training on PANS/PANDAS that I’ll be delivering to clinicians on February 27, I realized how helpful it would be to take that same clinician-level material and translate it into a parent-facing resource.

This is for the parent who may be surrounded by skeptical providers who wants to cite the *EXACT* research article that backs up every concern they mention.

This guide explicitly cites the research on every single page.

It brings together peer-reviewed articles, current expert consensus, my clinical experience working alongside PANS/PANDAS specialists here in the Central New York community, and my own lived experience as a parent—into one clear, organized roadmap.

This is for the parent who wants:
• Clear explanations grounded in research
• A resource they can bring to their child’s physician
• Language that supports collaborative, coordinated care
• Potential access to a licensed professional their provider can contact as part of the treatment team (reach out to inquire for NYS residents)

It’s a printable, easy-to-navigate PDF designed to reduce the chaos of endless tabs open at 2 a.m. and help families feel confident they aren’t missing something critical.

For many families, the hardest part of PANS/PANDAS isn’t just the symptoms—it’s trying to advocate effectively without a clear, research-based framework.

Use this guide alongside the many incredible free resources out there—as a way to organize what you’ve already learned, clarify next steps, and support thoughtful conversations with your child’s care team.

Link for instant PDF download for purchase:

https://pci.jotform.com/form/260314264201038

If cost is an issue, it is yours for free with no questions asked. Just ask!

There are also a few spots left for the CE on February 27, 10 AM-12 PM on Zoom if you'd like to register:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/panspandas-an-evidence-based-approach-for-mental-health-professionals-tickets-1976257528467

I truly thank all of you have taken interest in a cause that is so close to my heart and your willingness to support these families. It means more than you know to myself and the parents out there who need this help.

01/20/2026

2025 and 2026 have brought an incredible surge of research in epigenetics, neurodevelopmental disorders, and the neuroimmune aspects of psychiatry.

This large-scale study examines the role of chromatin in the potential development of OCD and related conditions such as Tourette syndrome. It hypothesizes that a complex interaction between genetic vulnerability (involving many genes), epigenetic mechanisms, and environmental factors (such as stress or infection) contributes to the development of OCD.

My own two cents: therapy will always remain essential. Even when the etiology is largely biological, once behaviors like compulsions, rumination, and avoidance are established, the brain builds entrenched neural pathways that become habitual. Evidenced-based methods such as exposure and Response Prevention are necessary to help rewire these circuits. Even when the medical aspects are treated, the behavioral and neural patterns that have formed often still require treatments like ERP to create lasting change.

That said, it is incredibly exciting to see science advancing toward a clearer understanding of what is happening in the brain, which has historically been relatively mysterious organ compared to other parts of the body. The possibility of interventions that could address shared mechanisms across conditions such as ADHD, Tourette syndrome, OCD, and the immune-related components seen in PANS/PANDAS is especially promising.

If we can move toward treatments that target a component of the underlying biological and neuroimmune processes (rather than continuing siloed care based solely on symptom categories) the potential impact for individuals and families would be truly phenomenal.

Read the study here:

Background Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects 2 to 3% of the population and is marked by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours. OCD is increasingly recognized as a polygenic disorder involving gene-environment interactions, with genetic risk largely driven by common variants and a sm...

01/08/2026

🌟 Upcoming Live Zoom Training: Panic & Health Anxiety 🌟

A practical, skills-focused training for adults, parents, and clinicians looking to strengthen their evidence-based approach to overcoming these symptoms.

👩‍⚕️ Co-led by:

Barb Shepard, LMHC
Michelle Stiles, LMHC
OCD, anxiety, and panic specialists based in Syracuse, NY
Highly practical, real-world strategies you can actually use 🧠✨

What We’ll Cover:

🚫 Common pitfalls in health anxiety (reassurance-seeking, checking, avoidance, etc.)
✅ What actually helps panic & health anxiety from an evidence-based lens
🛠️ Actionable strategies clinicians can use and parents can apply with kids
📄 Take-home resource/handout for ongoing support

Who It’s For:

💬 Clients struggling with panic or health anxiety
🧠 Therapists wanting concrete, effective tools
👨‍👩‍👧 Parents supporting anxious children (strategies for both adults and kids)

Details:

📅 Tuesday, February 3
⏰ 1–2 PM
💻 Live on Zoom (replay available for 30 days)
💲 $50

🔗 Registration link:
https://lnkd.in/eQdbz24e

📲 Connect With Us:
Instagram: |
Websites: barbshepardcounseling.com | michellestiles.com

📧 Email with questions: therapy@barbshepardcounseling.com

12/30/2025

Sharing a piece of my story on Instagram today — why PANS/PANDAS matters so much to me. I hope you’ll give it a watch.


https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS41LFQkQ11/?igsh=MTJtYTgxZTZvdDR4aA

12/17/2025

PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric
Syndrome) made it to Newsweek.

One story at a time is going to change the trajectory of diagnosis and treatment for these kids.❤️

https://www.newsweek.com/girl-9-becomes-different-person-overnight-mom-fights-for-rare-diagnosis-11185463

Her mom Crystal, 30, told Newsweek: "She almost seemed possessed, like something came over her body."

12/15/2025

Brilliant webinar on the latest PANS/PANDAS research, highlighting key research that could help bridge the gap between what is well established in neuroscience and what has yet to be fully translated into clinical care:

https://www.pandasppn.org/neuroimmune-epigenetic-webinar/

“Scientific understanding of immune–brain interactions has significantly advanced in the last decade, but translation into clinical care is lacking.”
—Dr. Russell Dale

🧬 Dr. Dale shared over a decade of work in epigenetic neuroimmunology, emphasizing immune–brain cross-talk, microglia as immune cells of the brain (~10% of brain cells), and gene–environment interactions. Many patients have normal MRI, CSF, and bloodwork, yet show meaningful clinical response to anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and IVIG. Dale's research focused on this question: one disease or a clinical syndrome with complex, individualized biology? The findings point to the latter.

🧬 Research from Columbia and Stanford continues to clarify the role of blood–brain barrier disruption and neuroinflammation. Dr. Jennifer Frankovich highlighted emerging evidence linking autoimmunity with OCD, eating disorders, and arthritis, reinforcing shared immune-driven mechanisms across these presentations.

🧬Clinical takeaways:
-Evidence of strep (throat culture or titers in blood) are often missed due to timing, making PANS more clinically useful than strict PANDAS criteria
-Children with PANS are often highly sensitive to psychotropics Neuropsychiatric symptoms may respond to very low-dose D2 blockade (e.g., risperidone), clonidine or guanfacine, and SSRIs for OCD—started low and escalated slowly
-Recovery requires rehabilitating the brain, not just symptom suppression: CBT, ERP, SPACE, parent management, plus PT, OT, and speech therapy when indicated

As both a mother and clinician who has witnessed PANS firsthand, I am committed to ensuring this condition is acknowledged and appropriately addressed in clinical care. We all share a responsibility to keep our understanding of the neuroimmune system aligned with the latest research, and I am passionate about championing this in both the clinic and the community.

This webinar explores the latest research on PANS and PANDAS. The session examines the roles of neuroimmune and epigenetic factors in children, and discusses whether these conditions are best

12/05/2025

PANS/PANDAS Training for Mental Health Clinicians

February 27 | 10 AM – 12 PM | 2 CEs

I’m excited to share an introductory CE training I’ve been developing on PANS/PANDAS—conditions that can cause sudden-onset OCD, tics, eating restriction, anxiety, and dramatic behavioral changes.

Families often describe it as “my child went to bed one kid and woke up another.” Despite how acute and debilitating these symptoms can be, access to informed medical and psychological care is limited. Advocacy and increased training on these disorders is essential to help families receive proper assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

Training Includes:

-Definitions: PANS vs. PANDAS
-Differentiating from non-PANS OCD & neurodevelopmental disorders
-2025 research updates: immune dysregulation, neuroinflammation, RNA sequencing
-Evidence-based interventions: ERP, SPACE, DBT crisis strategies
-ARFID/eating restriction within PANS presentations
-Scope of practice & referral pathways with medical teams
-Worksheets & flowcharts for assessment, referral, and treatment planning

Why this training matters:

-Families often come to therapists first
-Proper rule-outs are essential, even when it’s not PANS
-Coordinated mental health + medical care is critical when it is PANS

CE Information:

-2 CEs for NYS LMHCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, LMSWs, LCATs & Psychologists
-Provided through Hudson Valley Professional Development
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/panspandas-an-evidence-based-approach-for-mental-health-professionals-tickets-1976257528467

I hope to see you there!

For more PANS/PANDAS resources, visit: barbshepardcounseling.com

10/20/2025

A lot has been going on lately in my mental health counseling practice, and I realized it might be time for a little reintroduction!

Hi, I’m Barb! I’ve worked in the helping profession since 2010 and specialize in anxiety and OCD across the lifespan. I love my job 💛

While most of my practice focuses on non-PANS cases of OCD, I’ve also developed a subspecialty in PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and its subset, PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infection) that I’m starting to talk about more.

OCD is a core symptom of PANS, but unlike the traditionally recognized form of OCD described in the DSM-5, PANS-related OCD is an abrupt-onset medical condition involving immune system dysfunction that requires specialized medical treatment in addition to therapy.

Syracuse’s first ever participation in World PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day made me feel like we really could change lives of PANS/PANDAS families in Syracuse and NYS!

The outpouring of support and interest in learning about these disorders was astounding and gave the families who attended so much hope for change.

I’ve recently updated the PANS/PANDAS section of my website, which now includes:
▫️overview of PANS/PANDAS symptoms
▫️photos from Syracuse’s first-ever participation in World PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day
▫️resources from trusted organizations like International OCD Foundation
▫️research links for clinicians who want to learn more

Learn more here: https://barbshepardcounseling.com/pandas-pans/

Another thing I’ve got in the pipeline is a CEU training for New York State counselors, social workers and psychologists coming up in February (stay tuned for details). I have a stack of 30+ research articles on PANS/PANDAS and its implications for clinical practice sitting on my desk and I can’t wait to share this with fellow mental health professionals.

Together, I truly believe that we as a community bring more awareness, compassion, and action to families affected by PANS/PANDAS. 💚