Nathaniel Van Kirk, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in the conceptualization and treatment of severe anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and trauma/PTSD. Currently, Dr. Van Kirk serves as the Program Director for the OCD Institute at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He received his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Virginia Tech, completing his pre-doctoral internship at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Tx and fellowship at McLean Hospital’s OCD Institute. Following fellowship, Dr. Van Kirk served as the Administrative Director of Research for the Office of Clinical Assessment and Research (OCAR) at the OCD Institute, evaluating the role of motivation across treatment and the impact of trauma/comorbid PTSD on treatment outcome in OCD. As part of this focus, Dr. Van Kirk founded and co-chairs the Trauma, PTSD, in OCD Special Interest Group for IOCDF. Prior to his current role, Nathaniel worked across the acute care spectrum as the Director of Inpatient Group Therapy for McLean Hospital.
Nathaniel is involved in regional and national efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, focusing on the importance of bridging the gap between therapists, researchers and those with lived experience. Following personal experiences overcoming OCD, he co-founded the Therapists and Trainees with OCD Special Interest Group, supporting those with OCD and related diagnoses who work in the mental health field, is part of McLean Hospital’s Deconstructing Stigma Campaign, and serves as the President of OCD Massachusetts, a local non-profit affiliate of the International OCD Foundation.
