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Nayara Aparecida da Costa Silva Beall, PhD, is a 2025 graduate of the PhD program in Counselor Education & Supervision, Antioch University, Seattle.

Dissertation Committee:

Stephanie Thorson-Olesen, PhD, Committee Chair

Keiko Sano, PhD, Committee Member

Preeti Pental, PsyD, Committee Member

Keywords

obsessive-compulsive disorder, help-seeking, barriers, marginalized individuals

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the help-seeking experiences and barriers of ethnic and racially marginalized individuals with OCD living in the United States through a sociocultural model of OCD. Participants included eight adults who self-identified as members of a racial or ethnic marginalized group and with an OCD diagnosis. Individual interviews were conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of participants’ experiences and data was analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Five themes emerged from the analysis: (1) OCD Emergence, (2) Barriers to Getting Help with OCD, (3) Desire for Help, (4) Ongoing Challenges with OCD, and (5) The Importance of Finding Support. Findings revealed significant barriers experienced by marginalized individuals in their help-seeking journey with OCD in the United States. Recommendations for future research and the implications for the field of Counselor Education and Supervision are included.

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Nayara Aparecida da Costa Silva Beall, PhD, 2025

ORCID Scholar ID# 0000-0001-8686-4819

Dr. Nayara Beall is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Washington and the Clinical Director of a group practice dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). She holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Antioch University and a Master's degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Washington. Her research interests focus on the experiences of Brazilian immigrants, the Latine/x community, BIPOC individuals, and those impacted by OCD. Originally from Brazil, Dr. Beall is deeply committed to using research as a tool for advocacy, particularly in expanding mental health access for marginalized communities.

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