Our Mission

President

Dr. Perot is a licensed psychologist in Durham, NC. For the past 28 years, she has specialized in working with adults with anxiety disorders, OCD, and OC-spectrum conditions, such as hoarding disorder and body-focused repetitive behaviors. Dr. Perot is past president of the North Carolina Psychological Association and recipient of the NCPA and NCPF President’s Awards. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Perot provides consultation and supervision to other mental health professionals as well as community workshops and professional trainings regarding anxiety disorders, OCD, and related issues. Annette can be reached at president@ocdnc.org

Vice President

Ben Eckstein is a licensed clinical social worker and is the owner/director of Bull City Anxiety & OCD Treatment Center in Durham, NC. He’s been treating OCD for over a decade and originally honed his specialty at the OCD Institute at McLean Hospital in Boston. In addition to his clinical work, Ben is a speaker, trainer, and author. He can be reached at vp@ocdnc.org

Treasurer

Erin Jones is a clinical therapist at Bull City Anxiety & OCD Treatment Center. She has over 5 years of experience specializing in the treatment of OCD and related disorders in children, teens, and adults. Erin has also completed the IOCDF Pediatric OCD Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI). In addition to her clinical work, Erin has been involved in leading IOCDF’s One Million Steps for OCD Walks in NC over the past several years. She is passionate about spreading awareness and support to help members of the OCD community find evidence-based treatment and resources. Erin can be reached at treasurer@ocdnc.org

Board Director

Dr. Sapyta is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Duke University School of Medicine. His research is primarily focused on studying ways to improve treatment for children with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), as well as trials studying treatment for youth with depression, anxiety, or tic disorders. Dr. Sapyta also routinely gives talks in the community on child anxiety, OCD, parenting, or school refusal for parents and school counselors. Dr. Sapyta maintains a clinical practice, as well as ongoing involvement in supervising Duke clinical trainees in CBT approaches for children with mental health concerns.

Board Director

Halima Flynt is a content producer, brand enthusiast, and social media marketing professional. She enjoys using her design skills and lived experience to advocate for mental health and OCD. Halima is dedicated to raising awareness around OCD and connecting with the community. Through her work with OCD North Carolina, she aims to continue to help decrease stigma and enhance understanding around the disorder, improve access to resources, and increase the number of conversations around mental health locally and beyond. As a part of her advocacy efforts, she runs a small business called “Vase Your Fears,” where she creates mental health and OCD advocacy pottery, jewelry, stickers, and more. Each piece is crafted with care to spark conversations and promote empowerment for those impacted by OCD.