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Cali Werner | PhD, LCSW, CMPC

@caliwerner1

6.5K

followers

2003

following

Houston, TX📍
Expert @voiceinsport
OTQ Marathon
Athlete Rising, LLC
Therapist + Advocacy + Sport

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OCD Awareness Week 🧠💚

OCD has told each of us a LOT of things.

That we can’t trust ourselves.
That we need certainty.
That we need to avoid certain things.
That we have to listen to the thoughts, feelings, and “what ifs.”

But in this video, we’re showing you what happens when we don’t listen to OCD.

We choose to live anyway.
We choose connection, relationships, careers, adventures, laughter, and all the messy, beautiful parts of life.

OCD may be part of our story—but it doesn’t get to write the whole thing. ❤️

This OCD Awareness Week, we want you to know that a life with OCD can still be a BIG life. Recovery doesn’t necessarily mean OCD disappears forever. It means OCD doesn’t get to make all the decisions.

To everyone currently struggling: there is more to your life than OCD. And there is a life worth fighting for beyond the fear.

Now we want to hear from YOU: What has OCD told you that you’re choosing NOT to listen to? 👇🏼

Thank you to all the amazing advocates who shared a bit of there OCD for this post! Go follow them!

@kristaruthreed
@thatanxietycommunity
@panicandanxiety
@functionallyocd
@tabootracie
@caliwerner1
@ashtheadvocate99
@stickwiththeick
@ocdwhisperer
@obsessively.tea

🌻 Follow @obsessivelystrong for more OCD and related content

🌻 Link in the bio for OCD and mental health stickers!

Disclaimers: Instagram is not a replacement for therapy. Do not change your treatment based off my page. This page is for educational purposes only!

#OCDAwarenessWeek #OCDAwareness #OCDRecovery #LivingWithOCD #OCDCommunity

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What if the same qualities that help you succeed—discipline, routine, and perfectionism—start working against you?

On this episode of The Hanley Effect, Dr. Cali Werner joins John Dyben and Rachel Docekal for a powerful conversation about OCD, anxiety, perfectionism, and mental health in athletes.

An accomplished distance runner who competed in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, Dr. Werner also knows OCD personally. She shares how the pressure she placed on herself as an athlete intensified her symptoms—and how evidence-based treatment ultimately changed her life and career.

Today, Dr. Werner helps others navigate OCD and anxiety as a behavior therapist at the OCD Institute of Texas and through Athlete Rising, her practice focused on athletes.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Hanley Effect.

#TheHanleyEffect #OCD #Anxiety #MentalHealth #AthleteMentalHealth #Perfectionism #MentalHealthAwareness

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We live in a culture filled with messages about how to “get rid of” anxiety.

But what if getting rid of anxiety isn’t the goal?

Dr. Cali Werner reminds us that anxiety is part of being human. The important question is whether it has begun consuming our time, interfering with daily life, or keeping us from doing the things that matter.

On The Hanley Effect, Dr. Werner breaks down the difference between everyday anxiety and anxiety that may require professional support—and explains why learning to tolerate discomfort can be so powerful.

🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode.

#TheHanleyEffect #Anxiety #MentalHealth #OCD #MentalHealthMatters

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What if the same qualities that help you succeed—discipline, routine, and perfectionism—start working against you?

On this episode of The Hanley Effect, Dr. Cali Werner joins John Dyben and Rachel Docekal for a powerful conversation about OCD, anxiety, perfectionism, and mental health in athletes.

An accomplished distance runner who competed in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, Dr. Werner also knows OCD personally. She shares how the pressure she placed on herself as an athlete intensified her symptoms—and how evidence-based treatment ultimately changed her life and career.

Today, Dr. Werner helps others navigate OCD and anxiety as a behavior therapist at the OCD Institute of Texas and through Athlete Rising, her practice focused on athletes.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Hanley Effect.

#TheHanleyEffect #OCD #Anxiety #MentalHealth #AthleteMentalHealth #Perfectionism #MentalHealthAwareness

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Life outside the algorithm ☺️

A quick catch up of SS26:
Houston rodeo
Baby showers
Golf lessons
BTS in El Paso
Cornell trip
CDMX marathon training
Delicious things

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Sometimes a kid can look successful on the outside while anxiety is stealing the joy on the inside.

In this clip from The Roots That Last, Dr. Cali Werner shares how anxiety and OCD shaped her own experience as an athlete, and how parents can better support kids navigating pressure, perfectionism, and performance.

Full episode available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

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Uncertainty? Kinda chic
Not checking? Kinda chic
Leaving the question unanswered? Kinda chic
Living your life anyway? Kinda chic

OCD may disagree

#ocd #ocdrecovery #erp #mentalhealth #anxiety

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The inaugural Abbi’s Cup was held in August 2024 in Houston, TX in memory of Abigail “Abbi” Agosta. Abbi began playing soccer in Houston at a young age and reached the highest levels of the DA, GA, and then ECNL as a goalkeeper. In addition to being a strong athlete, Abbi was kind, intelligent, brave, and inclusive, as well as a compassionate friend. Beneath her brave exterior, though, Abbi suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Her struggles with OCD began at a young age and worsened in adolescence. She suffered daily with relentless, intrusive thoughts, followed by compulsions to offset those thoughts, that even with treatment, became increasingly debilitating. Tragically, Abbi‘s condition did not respond to the numerous programs, treatments, and medications and her life ended in suicide at the age of 16 in March 2024. Abbi‘s Cup was created to promote mental health awareness. It is our hope to normalize this discussion and empower young women to not only open up regarding their own mental health, but to be present for those around them who may be struggling. The foundational values of Abbi‘s cup are courage, kindness, and inclusiveness. Abbi personified those principles, and exemplifying those values can make a difference in someone’s life. Abbi‘s Cup allows us to come back together on the pitch, where after the scrimmages are played, the players will be able to participate in a panel discussion with Mental Health professionals and selected players to discuss the importance of mental health in athletes. Anyone is welcome to attend and watch the scrimmages and participate in the discussion.

@risegirlsacsdemy @ahfcsoccer @houstoniansfc @htxsoccer @glenndavissoc

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When does dedication become OCD?
High standards can drive success in sport, but when routines become rigid, fear-driven, and compulsive, they may signal OCD rather than healthy discipline.
Join Dina Nunziato, PhD and @caliwerner1 Cali Werner, Ph.D., LCSW, CMPC for our next Pro Series as they explore how to distinguish performance routines from compulsions and share evidence-based strategies for helping athletes reclaim flexibility and confidence.

📅 Wednesday, August 5
🕛 12:00–1:30 PM ET
Register at link in bio

#OCD
#SportsPsychology
#ERP
#SportsMentalHealth
#AnxietyInstitute

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It’s time for the #ocdcon photo dump!!! Wow…what a beautiful conference with the @iocdf in Seattle!! ☀️

I loved presenting on topics like moral scrupulosity, grief, guilt/shame, and contamination with amazing friends/colleagues (@dr.emilybailey, @alegrakastens, @patrick_b_mcgrath_ph.d, @brenna_hs, @ocdbaltimore, @michael_stier_lcpc, @leap.counseling, Caitlin Pinciotti, and more!!).

And loved our #stickwiththeick ice cream adventure, meals with friends and colleagues, running in the city, and many more adventures in community. I especially loveddddd seeing everyone wearing our ick bracelets. 💖

What was your favorite part of #ocdcon2026? ⬇️

Can’t wait to see y’all in NYC next year!! 🎉

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What a whirlwind week in Seattle! So grateful for the opportunity to meet and collaborate with so many passionate and amazing people!

Until next time, IOCDF💙

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