Advocacy, Research & Community Impact
At Anxiety & OCD Treatment Services, we believe that improving the lives of individuals with anxiety disorders and OCD extends beyond the therapy room. Through leadership roles in advocacy organizations, professional presentations, research contributions, and community education initiatives, our team is committed to advancing the understanding and treatment of anxiety and OCD both locally and nationally.
Community Engagement & Advocacy
Members of our team serve in leadership and volunteer roles with organizations dedicated to increasing awareness and improving access to care. Dr. Erin Stevens and Jamie Dunn serve on the board of OCD Iowa, and Angela Shunnarah serves on the board of OCD Alabama - both regional affiliates of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). Dr. Stevens also chairs the annual Des Moines OCD Walk.
Beyond these leadership roles, our team takes part in community education events and local outreach efforts designed to help individuals and families feel seen, supported, and connected to evidence-based resources.
Selected Advocacy Work and Community Engagement
OCD Iowa
Jamie Dunn, founding member and President (2023-present)
Erin Stevens, founding member and Vice President (2023-present)
OCD Alabama
Angela Shunnarah, founding member and Secretary (2025-present)
Des Moines OCD Walk
Erin Stevens, Chair (2022-present)
Raising an Anxious Child (OCD Iowa)
Angela Shunnarah, Jan 2026
Research, Publications & Presentations
Our clinicians contribute to the field through peer-reviewed research and scholarly publications on anxiety, OCD, trauma, and related areas of mental health. Collectively, our team has authored 120+ peer-reviewed publications and presented at national conferences, including the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA), and Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT).
Staying connected to emerging research allows us to bring current evidence and best practices into our clinical work.
Selected Publications & Presentations
Publications
The role of metacognitive beliefs and the cognitive attentional syndrome in the development of anxiety: A cross-lagged panel design
Gorday, J. Y., & Bardeen, J. R. (2026) · Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
Eye-tracking evidence of threat-related attentional bias in anxiety- and fear-related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Clauss, K., Gorday, J. Y., & Bardeen, J. R. (2022) · Clinical Psychology Review
Emotion regulation and obsessive–compulsive symptoms: A further examination of associations
Fergus, T. A., & Bardeen, J. R. (2014) · Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
Presentations
OCD on the outskirts: Navigating the unique challenges of OCD treatment and recovery in rural areas
Coburn, J., Dunn, J., Holly, L., Howe, M., & Stevens, E. · 2025 IOCDF Conference, Chicago
Executive functioning deficits maintain posttraumatic stress symptoms
Bardeen, J., Gorday, J., & Weathers, F. · 2022 ADAA Conference, Denver
Escaping the silo: Practice building and management without fear and isolation
Bonifay, A., Kriegshauser, K., Parlor, J., Stevens, E., & Tininenko, J. · 2025 IOCDF Conference, Chicago