Press Kit
Name:
Kathryn Hecht, PhD
Location:
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Credentials:
Licensed Psychologist (LP)
Partner, Anxiety Treatment Resources
Headshots:
Bio:
Dr. Kathryn Hecht is a Minnesota–based child and adolescent clinical psychologist, author, and nationally recognized speaker specializing in pediatric anxiety and OCD. An outspoken advocate for children’s mental health and self-described kid bravery coach, she is known for translating evidence-based treatment into clear, actionable guidance for families navigating worry, stress, and uncertainty. She challenges the idea that we should be protecting kids from discomfort and instead teaches parents how exposure to anxiety and challenge help build confident kids. Dr. Hecht is the author of The Be Brave Activity Book, an exposure-based workbook for youth with anxiety and OCD, and serves as pediatric training faculty for the International OCD Foundation’s Behavior Therapy Training Institute. Her forthcoming book, The Can-Do Kids Activity Book (New Harbinger, 2027), focuses on helping kids build the competence, skill, and confidence they need to do what matters. She is a partner at Anxiety Treatment Resources and a mother of two. Her 2025 TEDx talk on brave parenting—selected as a TED Editor’s Pick—has garnered over 800,000 views and centers on a simple belief: “brave kids are the ones that will change the world.”
Bio (short):
Dr. Kathryn Hecht is a Minnesota-based child and adolescent clinical psychologist, author, and nationally recognized speaker specializing in pediatric anxiety and OCD. An outspoken advocate for children’s mental health, she is known for translating evidence-based treatment into clear, actionable strategies families can use—and for helping parents shift from prioritizing comfort to building confident, resilient, and capable kids. A partner at Anxiety Treatment Resources, she is the author of The Be Brave Activity Book and serves as pediatric training faculty for the International OCD Foundation. Her 2025 TEDx talk, “How to Raise Kids Who Can Handle Hard Things,” has been viewed over 800,000 times.