Meet the Doctors

Dr. David Russ and Dr. Chris McCarthy created the Turnaround Program

Dr. Chris McCarthy

Dr. Chris McCarthy is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor who brings warmth, expertise, and humor to his work with clients of all ages. With over two decades of experience, Chris specializes in helping individuals, couples, and families navigate challenges related to anxiety, depression, relationships, and conflict resolution.

He works extensively with children, teens, and families struggling with anxiety and behavioral concerns, as well as couples seeking to strengthen their relationships and individuals looking to overcome anxiety or depression.

Chris’s doctoral research focused on couples’ communication, and he is the co-author of a globally recognized anxiety program for children, Turnaround: Turning Fear into Freedom. He is also a proud member of the International OCD Foundation and a frequent guest on NBC’s Charlotte Today, where he shares insights on mental health and well-being.

Around the office, Chris is affectionately known as “the laughing therapist”—because he believes that laughter and genuine connection are powerful tools for healing.

He holds a PhD and three Master’s degrees in Counseling, Theology, and Christian Education. Outside of his practice, Chris enjoys life with his wife (married since 1993) and their three children.

Dr. David Russ

Dr. Russ is a licensed psychologist based in Charlotte, North Carolina, with nearly four decades of experience helping people overcome anxiety and reclaim their lives. As a founding partner and current president of Carolinas Counseling Group, he co-leads a team of over 20 clinicians dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based care.

Since beginning his practice in 1985 and earning his Ph.D. from Georgia State University in 1992, Dr. Russ has dedicated his career to understanding and treating anxiety. Since 2010, he has focused exclusively on anxiety-related conditions, including:

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Emetophobia (fear of vomiting)

• Panic disorder

• Phobias

• School refusal and related anxiety

Dr. Russ specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and places a strong emphasis on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), one of the most effective, research-supported treatments for anxiety. He offers both in-person and telehealth appointments, making care accessible and flexible for clients of all ages.

Dr. Russ is widely recognized for his contributions to the field of anxiety treatment:

• Co-creator of Turnaround: Turning Fear into Freedom, an audio-based treatment program for children with anxiety, and its emetophobia supplement.

• Co-author of Emetophobia: Understanding and Treating Fear of Vomiting in Children and Adults, a clinical guide for professionals, and co-creator of emetophobia.net, a leading resource for information and support.

• Author of Emetophobia: The Ultimate Kids’ Guide, a child-friendly resource illustrated by his daughter.

• Co-author of More Than Me, published by NavPress.

• Former visiting lecturer and adjunct professor at five graduate schools, sharing his expertise with future clinicians.