Registration is still open for OCD SoCal’s Inland Empire Speaker Series. The event is happening at the Carolyn Owens Community Center at 13201 Central Ave., Chino, CA 91710 on Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 10am – 1pm PST. A catered lunch, beverages, and parking are provided. For more information and to register for the event, click here: OCD SoCal Speaker Series Inland Empire Speaker Series Inland Empire Ticket Registration – EventBrite. Here are the OCD specialists speaking at the event in alphabetical order by last name:
Sophia Fitts, M.S.
Bio: Sophia Fitts, M.S., earned her master’s degree in Counseling from CSU Fullerton and is currently working as a Disability Management Specialist at the same institution. In her current role, she is responsible for determining appropriate accommodations to reduce educational barriers for students with mental and physical health disabilities. Sophia was diagnosed with OCD during her first year of undergraduate study in 2017. Through years of exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), she has successfully managed to overcome the daily struggles of OCD, and she takes pride in using her experience to help and inspire others.
Miranda Gomez
Bio: Miranda Gomez suffered with severe panic disorder and OCD for 23 years of her life before she received a diagnosis and specialized treatment. Caught in a repetitive and painful cycle, she found herself feeling like there would never be a way out. In the midst of her battle, Miranda vowed that if she ever made it through, she would spread awareness to help others and work to end the stigma surrounding OCD and related mental health disorders. Miranda currently holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UC San Diego and works as a Social Worker for San Bernardino County assisting the elderly and disabled population.
Alexander Gorbis, AMFT
Website: http://www.hope4ocd.com/institute-staff.php
Bio: Alexander Gorbis obtained his master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, from Pepperdine University. Since graduating Pepperdine, Alex is working at the Westwood Institute for Anxiety Disorders, attaining hours for licensure and gaining clinical experience with highly comorbid and extreme cases of OCD and related anxiety disorders. As a behavioral coach / associate therapist, his responsibilities include administering supervised assessments to new patients, provide support in developing and executing exposures with patients, and assigning daily homework while maintaining a high standard of care. Alex has developed a passion for working the OCD and related anxiety disorders population.
Eda Gorbis, Ph.D., LMFT
Website: http://www.hope4ocd.com/index.php
Bio: Eda Gorbis, PhD, LMFT, is the Director and Founder of the Westwood Institute for Anxiety Disorders, Inc., in Los Angeles, California, and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences at the USC Keck School of Medicine. From 1999 and until 2014 Dr. Gorbis held an appointment of Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine. She specializes in treatment of refractory cases of OCD and has integrated the most successful treatment modalities for OCD and complex comorbidities.
Evelyn Gould, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Website: http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/
Bio: Dr. Gould is a clinical behavior analyst and licensed psychologist fulfilling a variety of clinical, administrative, and academic roles at Keck School of Medicine at USC, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the private clinic that she runs with her colleague Dr. Lisa Coyne. Evie has 20yrs clinical experience working with families of individuals on the autism spectrum, OCD, anxiety, and related challenges. Evie is actively involved in training, supervision, dissemination, and outreach, and is passionate about promoting culturally responsive, affirmative, compassionate care, while addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare. Evie’s pronouns are she/they.
Michelle Malloy, MFT, PMH-C
Website: https://oc-therapy.com/about-us
Bio: Michelle Malloy, MFT, PMH-C, completed her Bachelor’s Degree at UCLA in Psychology and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Cal State Fullerton. She has worked in mental health for over twenty years. She received training from the UCLA Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Clinic and Western Youth Services. Michelle has completed the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI)’s general and pediatric training programs through the International OCD Foundation and specializes in using cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure and response prevention to treat OCD. She also treats generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and eating disorders. Additionally, she is certified in perinatal mental health and EMDR trained.
Chris Trondsen, LMFT, APCC
Website: http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/
Bio: Chris Trondsen suffered with severe OCD and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) until receiving specialized treatment. No longer under the control of the disorders, Chris now works as a licensed clinician in the mental health field, treating OCD, BDD, and related disorders at The Gateway Institute in Costa Mesa, California. Chris has shared his story of recovery on the Montel Williams Show, Dr. Drew, Fox 5 San Diego, Vox, Vice, Buzzfeed, NBC, and speaking at IOCDF annual conferences. He is Vice President of OCD Southern California and also serves on the Board of Directors of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). Additionally, he is one of the IOCDF’s lead advocates. He is also a leader of multiple IOCDF Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and created the Young Adult Track at the annual IOCDF conference.
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We look forward to seeing everyone at the event. Make sure to register before the event is sold out! For more information and to register for the event, click here: OCD SoCal Speaker Series Inland Empire Speaker Series Inland Empire Ticket Registration – EventBrite.