Cheyenne Marani, B.A.

Cheyenne Marani is a first-year clinical psychology graduate student in the Repetitive Experiences and Behavior Lab at Illinois Institute of Technology under the direction of Dr. Gregory Chasson. Cheyenne received her B.A. in Psychology from Smith College. As an undergraduate student, Cheyenne completed research under the supervision of Dr. Randy O. Frost, with whom she began her studies of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Hoarding Disorder (HD).

Under Dr. Frost’s mentorship, Cheyenne assisted in research to develop a psychometric scale measuring Material Scrupulosity, co-authored a special studies project, and worked on projects that centered around improving treatment adherence for individuals with HD by producing videos that highlight everyday experiences among individuals with Hoarding, and has also assisted in making psychoeducational videos for individuals engaging in a CBT-based treatment workbook called Buried in Treasures. These videos have been used at conferences and at workshops to train clinicians treating clients who present with HD and OCD.

Before graduate school, Cheyenne worked at the OCD Institute at McLean Hospital, where she facilitated CBT and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)-based treatment for individuals living with treatment-refractory OCD. Cheyenne’s current research interests are experiential avoidance, enhancing motivation in treatment, Material Scrupulosity, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), CBT, and ERP in the treatment and understanding of Hoarding Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.