Articles by Jennie Kuckertz

The Austin Kang Sibling Scholarship, established by Behind the Scenes, is a unique opportunity designed to support siblings of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The scholarship will do so by providing access to the 31st Annual IOCDF Conference in Seattle, Washington from July 9 to 12, 2026. This scholarship reflects a growing recognition that siblings are often overlooked in the mental health space, despite playing a critical role within families affected by OCD.

This scholarship is named in honor of Austin Kang, who has dedicated significant time and effort to advocating for OCD siblings and ensuring they receive the support they deserve. As the founder of Behind the Scenes, the first North American support group specifically created for siblings of individuals with OCD, Austin has worked to build a safe, welcoming space where siblings can share experiences, learn coping strategies, and connect with others who understand their unique challenges. As part of this initiative, all applicants to this scholarship will automatically be added to the Behind the Scenes mailing list, providing access to ongoing resources and monthly meetings.

Scholarship Details & Benefits:
Selected recipients will be awarded $500 to help offset costs associated with attending the 31st Annual IOCDF Conference, including but not limited to airfare, conference registration, lodging, and meals. The goal of this funding is to reduce financial barriers and make this experience more accessible to siblings who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend. Through this conference, recipients will gain exposure to educational sessions, connect with mental health professionals, and build meaningful relationships with others in the OCD community.

Application Deadline: Sunday, May 10 at 5:00 PM PST

Review Process: Applications will be carefully reviewed by members of Behind the Scenes and will receive input from our partners from OCD SoCal.

Notification: Recipients will be notified approximately one week after the application deadline

Recipient Expectations & Requirements: By submitting an application and accepting the scholarship, recipients agree to the following:

1. Conference Participation: Recipients are expected to attend and actively engage in the 31st Annual IOCDF Conference experience.

2. Social Media Acknowledgment: Recipients must post at least one photo from the conference on a personal social media account and include a brief acknowledgment or “shoutout” recognizing the Austin Kang Sibling Scholarship and OCD SoCal.

3. Post-Conference Reflection: Recipients must complete a short post-conference feedback form. This form will assess overall satisfaction and personal impact.

These requirements are essential to help demonstrate the scholarship’s impact, ensure continued funding, and expand opportunities for future siblings.

The application form can be found here.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out for our San Diego One Million Steps for OCD Walk! Thanks to your overwhelming support, this was our largest walk ever, with over 120 walkers helping us build community and raise awareness for OCD. We also raised nearly $3,000 to support OCD awareness and resources! We had many clinicians attend and make themselves available to answer questions, and wonderful volunteers who ensured that the event went smoothly. Special thank you to the La Jolla Shores Hotel, who generously donated the use of their beautiful Garden Patio to host us. Walkers completed a 2 mile walk along the ocean, engaging with people on the boardwalk who asked questions, and stopping to take photos at the iconic Scripps Pier. 

If you haven’t had the chance, you can still donate on our San Diego Walk page! We also look forward to seeing people at the International OCD Foundation Annual Conference in Chicago, IL July 10-13.

Registration is now open for the San Diego OCD Walk! We will meet at the beautiful La Jolla Shores Hotel and walk down the ocean boardwalk to the Scripps Pier. Join us in raising awareness, fighting stigma, and supporting those affected by OCD. We welcome EVERYONE including individuals with OCD, family, friends, clinicians, researchers, and trainees – it takes a village!

Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025
Time: 9:00am to 12:00pm PT
Location: La Jolla Shores Hotel Garden Patio
La Jolla, CA

This is an amazing event and we don’t want to miss you – sign up today! Registration is FREE, but walkers who raise at least $25 will get a t-shirt!

OCD SoCal would like to thank everyone who made our 2025 San Diego Speaker Series a success! Nearly 50 people attended this speaker series at the Mira Mesa Public Library on April 26, including people with lived experience of OCD, loved ones, and clinicians. Consistent with our values of making sure that everyone can access resources for OCD, we were able to make this event free of cost due to the generosity of individual donors and our sponsors – Rogers Behavioral Health and Newport Healthcare – and thanks to our many volunteers and speakers who donated their time to this event. In particular, Anna Morgan LCSW, Spenser Gabin LMFT, and Jennie Kuckertz PhD provided an overview of how to get and do effective treatment for OCD. Our family, loved ones, and lived experience panel was facilitated by Katherine Pica LCSW and featured five panelists who spoke movingly about their journeys navigating OCD and recovery paths as a family, offering hope to others (Cathy, Shannon, Patty, Jonathan, and Adriana). We are grateful to each of you for your advocacy and leadership!

OCD SoCal is looking forward to seeing everyone at our San Diego One Million Steps for OCD Walk, to be held Saturday, June 7 at the La Jolla Shores Hotel! If you haven’t already, register today!