PANS/PANDAS: An Evidence-Based Approach For Mental Health Professionals

This professional training provides an in-depth overview of Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS).

Key areas of focus include:

-Historical context and ongoing diagnostic controversies

-Clinical presentation and identification of symptoms in children and adolescents

-Evidence-based psychological treatments, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Habit Reversal Training (HRT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Interventions

-The role of mental health professionals in multidisciplinary care and physician collaboration

-Family impact, caregiver burden, and advocacy within school systems

-Implications for future research and best practices in clinical care

2 CEs available to NYS LMHCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, LMSWs, LCATs, NYS Licensed Psychologists and NYS Licensed Psychoanalysts provided by Hudson Valley Professional Development, LLC upon successful completion of training.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of training, participants will be able to:

-define PANS and PANDAS, including historical context, key research findings, and recent clinical updates.

-differentiate between PANS and PANDAS based on triggers.

-identify hallmark symptoms of PANS/PANDAS and recognize clinical red flags that warrant medical referral.

-explain the role of infection in the current biological understanding of PANS/PANDAS

-identify the appropriate evidence-based psychological interventions (ERP, HRT, CBT, SPACE) to support children with PANS/PANDAS presentations.

-demonstrate understanding of current limitations, controversies, and future directions in PANS/PANDAS research and clinical practice.

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In accordance with the NY State Department of Education guidelines, in order to receive continuiing education contact hours, a participant needs to be present for the duration of the workshop/training. Therefore, participants who arrive late or leave the event early will not be granted a certificate of completion.

​Cancellation Policy: Refunds will be provided for cancellations made in writing one day prior to the start of the event.

Accommodatons and Accessibility: HVPD welcomes participants with diverse abilities. Please contact us at info@hudsonvalleyprofessionaldevelopment.com to request accessibility accommodations. Accommodation requests are considered in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

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Presenter bio:

Barb Shepard is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has worked in the helping profession since 2010, providing support to children, adolescents, adults, and families. She specializes in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, anxiety, and related disorders, with a commitment to evidence-based, compassionate care.

Her professional experience spans residential treatment facilities, foster care, outpatient substance abuse programs, special education settings within schools, and private practice.

Her advanced clinical training in pediatric OCD includes completion of the Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) intensive, hosted by the International OCD Foundation. She also brings advanced training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), completed through the Linehan Behavioral Tech Institute at Columbia University.

Barb has a specialized professional interest in PANS/PANDAS, a subset of pediatric OCD. She is regarded as a local expert in Central New York, providing ERP treatment for PANS/PANDAS-related OCD and collaborating closely with physicians, schools, and community professionals. In addition to clinical services, she offers consultation on appropriate mental health assessment, interdisciplinary diagnosis, and mental health treatment for this complex condition.

In October 2025, Barb organized Syracuse, New York’s first-ever World PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day event. Children, families, pediatric clinicians, and educators gathered downtown as the National Grid Building lit green for PANS—marking a meaningful moment of advocacy, connection, and community education.

Barb remains dedicated to closing the gap between research and clinical practice and is passionate about expanding training, awareness, and access to effective care for this underserved population.