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Our Origin Story
MIND Global Council (MGC) began with identifying
a significant need for further development of the psychotherapeutic pillar of PANS/PANDAS. Mental health practitioners are often the first professionals to evaluate children due to prominent behavioral symptoms. As a result, clinicians are seeking clearer guidance on how to support families in accessing appropriate medical care while also managing complex behaviors until medical interventions can provide stabilization. MGC seeks to bridge the gap between evidence-informed psychotherapy interventions and clinical practice for mental health professionals.
Meet the Co-Founders

President, Co-Founder
Joelle Kekhoua, MA, LPC
Joelle Kekhoua, MA, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor with nearly 30 years of experience as a clinician providing mental health care to adults, children, and families throughout Michigan. Throughout this period, as an owner and clinical director of two group practices, she has provided supervision and training to numerous clinicians. She has held teaching positions in counseling at the university level and has delivered a substantial number of trainings to professionals and the community. As a clinician, her specialization lies in supporting individuals and families grappling with neuroimmune psychiatric disorders, such as PANS/PANDAS and Autoimmune Encephalitis (AE). Her dedication to advancing professional standards and competency in treating this challenging population, stemming from her role as an educator and supervisor, led her to establish the Mental health In NeuroImmune Disorders (MIND) Global Council. The MIND Global Council functions as an international alliance of clinicians, researchers, and parents dedicated to advancing ethical, informed mental health care for individuals and families navigating complex immune-inflammatory conditions, including PANS, PANDAS, autoimmune encephalitis, and related neuroimmune or autoinflammatory disorders. Joelle is also an EMDR Certified Therapist and an EMDR Consultant in Training, possessing expertise in utilizing EMDR for complex symptoms associated with neuroimmune disorders, such as PANS/PANDAS, OCD, Eating Disorders, PTSD, and Dissociation. She has received Intensive Training in DBT (Linehan’s Behavioral Tech), and holds additional training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Furthermore, she maintains active membership in several professional organizations, including the American Counseling Association (ACA), International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), PANDAS Physicians Network, and the NeuroImmune Institute (Clinician Impact Circle). She serves on the IOCDF PANS/PANDAS Neuroimmune Special Interest Group. Her involvement in these networks ensures she remains at the forefront of advances in clinical research and innovative treatment approaches.

Vice President, Co-Founder
Zoe Gillispie, PhD
Zoe Gillispie, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience in community mental health, medical inpatient cognitive rehabilitation for traumatic brain injuries, and outpatient primary care. Dr. Gillispie began providing mental health care to individuals diagnosed with PANS/PANDAS in 2006. Today, she is a co-founder of the MIND Global Council, where she conducts research and provides training for clinicians on immune-mediated neuropsychiatric conditions across the United States. She also supports children, teens, and adults by providing individual, group, and family psychotherapy in her private practice. Dr. Gillispie specializes in the treatment of anxiety, OCD, autism spectrum disorders, and neuroimmune conditions and has pursued advanced training in biofeedback, exposure therapy, ERP, SPACE, couples therapy, and is certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Dr. Gillispie is a member of the California Psychological Association, the American Psychological Association, the Neuroimmune Institute, and IOCDF. She serves on the IOCDF PANS/PANDAS Neuroimmune Special Interest Group.

Treasurer, Co-Founder
Angela Henry, LCSW
Angela M. Henry, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Founder of the Center for Collaborative Healing, LLC, where she provides specialized psychotherapy services to individuals and families throughout Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. Angela is dedicated to helping clients navigate complex mental health and neuroimmune challenges with compassion, evidence-based care, and a deeply collaborative approach. Her clinical expertise includes the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety-related disorders, body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), Tourette Syndrome, trauma, and neuroimmune conditions such as PANS and PANDAS. Angela’s integrative therapeutic style combines exposure-based interventions, trauma-informed care, and neuroscience-guided strategies to promote meaningful and sustainable recovery. Angela is a certified EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist and utilizes this approach to help individuals heal from trauma and intrusive experiences that often accompany chronic or anxiety-related conditions. She has completed extensive specialized training through the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) and the TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors. Her advanced education includes completion of the IOCDF’s Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) and the Tourette Association of America’s Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) training program. She is also a graduate of the Professional Training Institute (VPTI) through the TLC Foundation for BFRBs, further deepening her expertise in treating hair pulling (trichotillomania), skin picking (excoriation disorder), and related disorders. Angela’s commitment to ongoing education and collaboration is reflected in her active membership in several professional organizations, including the International OCD Foundation, the TLC Foundation for BFRBs, the Tourette Association of America, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and the Neuroimmune Institute’s Impact Circle. She serves as the co-chair of the IOCDF PANS/PANDAS Neuroimmune Special Interest Group. Her participation in these networks keeps her at the forefront of advances in clinical research and innovative treatment approaches. In addition to her clinical practice, Angela is passionate about advocacy and interdisciplinary collaboration. She serves as a regular contributor to the podcast Flying Through Fog, an organization that supports children and families affected by neuroimmune and neuropsychiatric conditions. She is also a founding member of The MIND Global Council, an international alliance of clinicians, researchers, and advocates working to transform mental health care for individuals and families affected by neuroimmune and autoinflammatory disorders, including PANS, PANDAS, autoimmune encephalitis, and related conditions. Through her work, Angela strives to bridge the gap between mental health and medical care, ensuring that clients receive compassionate, integrative, and informed support. Her practice emphasizes collaboration among clients, families, and multidisciplinary providers, with a goal of fostering healing, understanding, and resilience. Guided by empathy and clinical precision, Angela’s mission is to create a therapeutic space where individuals and families feel seen, supported, and empowered on their path to recovery.

Australia Partnerships Director & Co-Secretary, Co-Founder
Brita List
Brita List is a Clinical Psychologist and board-approved supervisor based in Sydney, Australia. Her clinical work focuses on anxiety and mood disorders across the lifespan, particularly where mental health intersects with acute and chronic health conditions. She has a specific interest and clinical experience in PANS and consistently works with multiple PANS clients. In October 2024, Brita commenced a part-time PhD at Macquarie University, with the aim of clarifying the role of psychologists in the assessment and treatment of PANS. She has also completed the Gut Smart course for Psychological Health in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Brita has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety and mood disorders through the Emotional Health Clinic at Macquarie University (ongoing). She supervises Master of Clinical Psychology students on placement and delivers the Cool Kids Program for anxiety in school-aged children and adolescents in a flexible, individualised manner. She also currently works in solo private practice, predominantly with individuals and families affected by PANS. Brita has also worked as a treating clinician on multiple research trials, providing assessment and intervention for children, adolescents, parents, and older adults experiencing mood disorders, somatic symptoms, emotion regulation difficulties, and challenges impacting quality of life. Alongside anxiety, mood, and emotion dysregulation concerns, her clinical work includes supporting individuals where mental health is affected by acute and chronic health conditions. Her approach draws primarily on Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (CBT) and other evidence-based modalities. She is neurodiverse-affirming and LGBTQIAP+🏳️🌈 affirming, and values diversity while maintaining a strong focus on client-centred, functional goals. She works collaboratively to distinguish between challenges best addressed through psychological intervention and those requiring environmental or systemic accommodations to support meaningful participation in life. Her clinical interests include work with individuals experiencing: -Anxiety (e.g., social, separation, generalised anxiety, specific phobias, selective mutism, panic), including delivery as an Accredited Program Provider for the Cool Kids Program -Chronic or acute low mood -Neurodiversity, including Autistic and ADHD profiles, OCD, Tourette Syndrome, twice-exceptionality, learning differences, sensory overwhelm, ARFID, and emotional outbursts -Complex health conditions, including PANS, IBS, IBD, POTS, EDS, ME/CFS, FND, long COVID, autoimmune and hormonal conditions, and chronic pain. -Identity development, life stages, and transitions, including LGBTQIAP+ experiences, interpersonal relationships, confidence building, education, career transitions, parenthood, burnout, retirement, and the psychological impact of health conditions -Additional concerns, such as emotion dysregulation, bullying, peer relationship difficulties, assertive communication skills, and school attendance challenges (“school can’t”) Professional Memberships: Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA) Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AACBT) Clinician Impact Circle, Neuroimmune Institute She is a Co-Administrator of the PANS Therapists Collective (professionals’ Facebook group) and a Co-Founder of the Mental Health in Neuroimmune Disorders (MIND) Global Council.

UK Partnerships Director & Co-Secretary
Co-Founder
Lucy McDonald, MSc
Lucy McDonald is a child and teen psychotherapist working in London. She has over 10 years of lived experience with PANS and PANDAS and retrained as a child psychotherapist, after 25 years in journalism, to work with these children and families.
Strategic Initiatives Team

Rachel Judy, MA, PhD
Rachel Judy (MA Rhetoric, PhD Communication ‘27) is a professor, researcher, and communicator. Her background in higher education includes 12 years teaching at the university level and 6 years teaching at community colleges. She holds professional memberships with National Communication Association, Religious Communication Association, and Pop Culture Association of America. She is a Collaborative Discussion Coach through the Interactivity Foundation, and holds a certificate in Conflict Management & Mediation. Rachel joined MGC as Principal Investigator for research currently being conducted. She brings to the table survey design and quantitative data analysis, synthesizing responses into usable data that will inform future guidelines for clinicians serving clients with neuroimmune conditions. With a background in education, strategic communication, and public relations, Rachel is the communications and research arm of MIND Global Council. She is excited to work with the team to advance advocacy and education in a field that is near and dear to her heart. Rachel is a mom of 3, and has 2.5 years of lived experience with PANS. She lives in Long Beach, CA, her favorite sport is theatre, and she firmly believes that most problems can be solved by dark chocolate.

Breanne Failor
Breanne Failor is a parent advocate for PANS/PANDAS, bringing both lived experience and professional expertise to her work. She is the mother of three boys, one of whom was diagnosed with PANS, a journey that profoundly shaped both her personal and professional path. With a background in marketing, communications, advocacy, and strategic outreach, Breanne serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Brain Inflammation Collaborative, where she focuses on building partnerships, expanding awareness, and helping bridge the gap between patient experience, clinical care, and research. She also serves as Midwest Lead and Restrictive Eating Outreach Lead for ASPIRE, supporting families, facilitating community connections, and elevating often-overlooked presentations of neuroimmune conditions. In addition, Breanne leads social media marketing, strategic communications, and outreach efforts for the MIND Global Council, helping amplify clinician education and global conversations around neuroimmune, autoimmune, and inflammatory conditions that impact mental health. Breanne has collaborated with treatment providers, researchers, advocacy organizations, and families to emphasize the urgent need for integrated medical and mental health support while helping families navigate complex care systems. She is passionate about bridging research and lived experience to advance more effective, compassionate, and evidence-informed care for children and families impacted by PANS/PANDAS and related brain inflammation disorders.

Barb Shepard, LMHC-D
Barb Shepard is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has worked in the helping profession since 2010, supporting children, adolescents, adults, and families across residential treatment, foster care, school-based special education, outpatient substance abuse programs, and private practice. She specializes in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and anxiety, with advanced training in pediatric OCD through the International OCD Foundation’s Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI); 60 hours of intensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) at Columbia University through Linehan’s Behavioral Tech Institute; and Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) at Yale. Barb has developed a specialized focus in PANS/PANDAS and collaborates closely with physicians, schools, and interdisciplinary care teams in New York State. Barb offers consultation to clinicians on differential diagnosis, treatment planning, and systems navigation for these complex cases, and provides introductory-level continuing education trainings on PANS/PANDAS care through Hudson Valley Professional Institute. Barb is deeply passionate about systems-level change in the mental health landscape of PANS/PANDAS care, leading strategic initiatives to strengthen coordinated advocacy across state, national, and international levels as a representative of MIND Global Council's strategic initiatives team, with a focused mission to close gaps in recognition, access, and treatment on the mental health side of care. Barb is currently championing a legislative movement in New York State to advance laws requiring insurance coverage for PANS/PANDAS treatment, working with key stakeholders across all branches of government to help close critical gaps in care. In 2025, she organized Syracuse’s first World PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day event, reflecting her broader commitment to advocacy, clinician education, and expanding access to informed, effective care for this underserved population. Barb is a professional member of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) and attends the monthly PANS, PANDAS, and Immune-Mediated OCD Special Interest Group hosted by IOCDF. Barb resides in Syracuse, New York with her husband and two sons and frequently visits the Adirondacks in her free time. Her family has lived experience with PANS, which has profoundly shaped both her personal and professional journey and continues to inspire her ongoing advocacy efforts.
Disclaimer
MGC members, leaders, advisors, and contributors may maintain independent
professional practices or affiliations. Those independent activities are separate from
MGC. MGC is not responsible for clinical services, opinions, recommendations, or
treatment provided by individuals outside their official MGC role.
