114. OCD Advocacy: A Mother's Quest to Build Community Support with Kim Vincenty

Imagine this: your ten-year-old son is diagnosed with OCD, and you witness the daily struggles he faces. Through the transformative power of proper treatment, you see him begin to thrive. Yet, in a world where many are lost and unsure how to find resources, access care, or even recognize the signs, you're compelled to take action.

In today’s episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, we sit down with Kim Vincenty. Kim is a remarkable woman whose personal experience with OCD has led her to become a staunch advocate for mental health education and support. She is also the founder of the JACK Mental Health Advocacy organization and a recent recipient of the IOCDF Hero award. 

In our conversation, Kim shares her personal journey with her son's OCD diagnosis and how it inspired her to help others. We discuss JACK's initiatives, including the Access to Care program, Pediatric OCD Camp, and training for clinicians. The conversation highlights the importance of community, early intervention, and parental support in managing OCD. Kim's commitment to improving mental health education and resources for families shines through as she details her advocacy work.

In This Episode

[00:42]Introduction to Kim Vincenty

[01:38] Kim's journey into OCD advocacy

[03:28] Kim's experiences supporting families and caregivers

[06:12] Overview of the JACK Mental Health Advocacy 

[08:13] The Access to Care program

[09:23] The Pediatric OCD Camp program

[09:37] Benefits of the Pediatric OCD Camp program

[15:47] Parent involvement in the Pediatric OCD Camp

[17:34] Motivating and supporting children with OCD

[20:01] The impact of Advocacy

Notable Quotes

[01:38] “I'm the mother of someone that lives with OCD. He was diagnosed when he was ten years old, and it quickly spiraled out of control.” -Kim

[03:28] "I stayed up all night obsessing about it... I just kind of dug in my heels and decided I was going to learn everything I could because my kid was not going down under my watch."- Kim

[08:04] “We're starting a network of clinicians that are willing to work with us to provide care for people that would otherwise receive no treatment at all.” -Kim

[12:31] “No matter where you go or if you have OCD or not, you have to have opportunities to get comfortable with uncertainty and discomfort.”-Kim

[15:02] “If the parents are engaged and everybody's on the same page, the treatment outcomes are better.”-Kim 

Our Guest

Kim Vincenty is a devoted mother, wife, and OCD advocate, with over 12 years of experience fostering community and aiding families in finding the best resources for mental health, education, intervention, and recovery. As the former president of OCD Jacksonville, an affiliate of the international OCD Foundation, Kim's advocacy work earned her the prestigious IOCDF Hero Award. She is an active speaker, support group facilitator, and the founder and president of JACK Mental Health, dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and providing support to those in need. Kim's passion, dedication, and tireless advocacy make her a respected figure in the mental health community.

Resources & Links

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

https://www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/

https://www.youtube.com/c/OCDWhispererChannel

https://www.korresults.com/

https://www.onlineocdacademy.com

Kim Vincenty

https://jackmha.org/team/

https://www.facebook.com/jackmha.org

https://www.instagram.com/jack_mha/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064234050479

**Disclaimer**

Please note, while our host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

Stay tuned for bi-weekly episodes filled with valuable insights and tips for managing OCD and anxiety. And remember, keep going in the meantime. See you in the next episode!