John C. Piacentini, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Chief of Child Psychology (in Psychiatry)
Director, Center for Child Anxiety, Resilience, Education and Support (CARES), and the Child OCD, Anxiety and Tic Disorders Program
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and UCLA Semel Institute
Dr. John Piacentini is Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Chief of Child Psychology (in Psychiatry) in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and UCLA Semel Institute where he directs the Center for Child Anxiety, Resilience, Education and Support (CARES), and the Child OCD, Anxiety and Tic Disorders Program, a TAA Center of Excellence. Dr. Piacentini received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Georgia and completed post-doctoral training and was a faculty member at NY State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University. A board-certified clinical child and adolescent psychologist, his work focuses on the development and dissemination of science-based individual- and family-based treatments for youth with tic, OCD, anxiety, and body-focused repetitive behavior disorders.
He has authored over 300 scientific publications, including seven books, and his research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, PCORI, International OCD Foundation, Tourette Association of America, TLC Foundation for Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors and other leading foundations and philanthropic organizations. Dr. Piacentini has held leadership positions in a number of national organizations, including Chair of the Scientific Advisor Board (SAB) for the TLC Foundation for BFRBs and SAB Co-Chair for the Tourette Association of America. He is also the former president of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and the Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, and a founding fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. Dr. Piacentini is a frequent lecturer and has trained thousands of clinicians around the world in how to treat youngsters with OCD, tics, anxiety and related problems.