About Us - Ticked Off Foundation

The Ticked Off Foundation is dedicated to the prevention, awareness, and support for patients with Lyme disease and other vector-borne illnesses that have become the fastest-growing infectious diseases in the United States.

Our mission is to provide financial assistance and treatment support to Lyme and tick-borne disease patients over the age of 26 who are in crisis. We do this through microgrants, treatment discounts and counseling in an effort to stem the tide of Lyme-related suicides. According to Dr. Joseph Jemsek (MD from Washington, DC), “The most common cause of death in Lyme disease is suicide.” Through our efforts and support through generous donations and sponsors, we hope to put this reality in the past.

The Ticked Off Foundation was founded in 2015 by Gregg Kirk, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease and co-infections in 2005. After going through years of treatment ranging from antibiotics, PICC lines, herbal medications and alternative healing measures, Kirk was finally healed in March of 2011 when he visited John of God’s Casa de Dom Inácio de Loyola in Abadiania, Brazil. While there, Kirk experienced a major reduction of his symptoms and a spiritual awakening that inspired him to help others with the illness. After returning from Brazil, he was able to maintain remission by taking herbal protocols like the Cowden Support Program. Since then, Kirk has been dedicated to helping those with chronic illness through music, motivational speaking, and fundraising.

In 2013, Kirk created the Ticked Off Music Fest, the only ongoing music series solely focused on Lyme disease education, awareness and fundraising. Its focus is to go to areas where the rate of infection is high but awareness is low.

In 2015, Kirk founded the Ticked Off Foundation, a Lyme support organization whose mission is to provide financial assistance and treatment support to Lyme disease patients over the age of 26 who are in crisis. The organization does this through grants, treatment discounts and counseling in an effort to stem the tide of Lyme-related suicides.

In 2016, he co-founded the Recycle for Lyme program that enables participants to collect non-traditional recyclables, ship them to a recycling facility for free, and in turn generate donations to the Ticked Off Foundation non-profit organization, who funds Lyme patients in crisis. Those who join can help save the planet while helping sick Lyme patients for free. It’s a win/win!

In 2017, Kirk created and launched LymeKnowledge.com, an easy-to-understand web resource written by him and several Lyme patients & experts to help broadcast the most accurate and up-to-date information on Lyme prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatments.

In 2018, he published the book “The Gratitude Curve — Using the lessons of chronic illness to reach personal empowerment.” The memoir chronicles his healing struggles, lessons learned and road he took to recovery. Not simply a recounting of his conquest over a life-threatening affliction, the book focuses on the attitudes and hidden lessons that changed the trajectory of his life for the better. With a focus on the pandemic of Lyme disease, he dives into the unsettling details of his own symptoms, varied treatments (both failed and successful), and knowledge gained from his experiences. The book also makes a dramatic departure from the expected focus on physical treatments to the uncharted realms of spirituality and mystical healing and their very real impact on patients of chronic diseases.

To find out more about Kirk’s work in the Lyme community and his public speaking and writing background, visit his personal website at www.greggkirk.com.

In 2025, Kirk published his follow-up to his first book titled “Your Love Will Make the Difference.” This book is equal parts handbook on how to achieve and maintain remission from a chronic illness, guidebook of spiritual adventures, and eye-opening compilation of information divined from sources outside of human understanding.

Placing focus on his own healing experiences from Lyme disease, author Gregg Kirk describes the steps and processes that allowed him to reach and stay in remission.

Not content to stop there, he also details the practices and techniques he has used to move beyond illness and into a better way of living.

Staff Therapist

With more than 18 years of clinical experience, therapist Barbara Chase offers her clients a safe and supportive space to share their concerns and their challenges. She will provide you with mindful guidance to obtain a sense of clarity and direction as you navigate through life’s challenges. She will work collaboratively to come up with a path that works for your individual needs and goals; meeting you where you are and getting you to where you want to be.

As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Barbara works with individuals, families, and teens. Additionally, she holds certifications in Holistic Nutrition & Wellness Counseling, Life Coaching and Co-Parenting Mediation.

Her expertise is helping with anxiety, depression, trauma, family concerns, teen concerns, life transitions.

For those who qualify for financial support through the Ticked Off Foundation, Barbara offers an optional free, hour-long counseling session for those needing psychological support. Patients may then make ongoing appointments with her at a reduced, agreed-upon rate that is affordable to the patient. These sessions must be coordinated through the Ticked Off Foundation.

Nervous System Regulation Support

Sami Kirschbaum is a Certified Brainspotting Practitioner and Wellness Coach who focuses on helping individuals with Lyme disease navigate and heal from trauma through specialized mind/body techniques.

Drawing from her personal journey with Lyme disease and her training in trauma-based healing, Sami integrates Brainspotting, nervous system regulation, and community support to provide holistic care for those dealing with the emotional toll of chronic illness. Brainspotting, comparable to EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), is a highly effective trauma healing modality that can support you in overcoming current and past painful experiences and support you in regaining emotional freedom while you step into your desired personal and wellness goals.

For those who qualify for financial support through the Ticked Off Foundation, Sami offers an optional free, hour-long session for those needing nervous-system regulation support. Patients may then make ongoing appointments with her at a reduced, agreed-upon rate that is affordable to the patient. These sessions must be coordinated through the Ticked Off Foundation.

The Ticked Off Foundation is recognized by both the IRS and State of Connecticut Franchise Tax Board as a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization, EIN: 47-4783824. Contributions to the Ticked Off Foundation are tax-deductible as allowed by law.