Registration is open for OCD SoCal’s Los Angeles Speakers Series. The event is happening at Embark Behavioral Health at 21051 Warner Center Lane #140 on Sunday, April 21, 2024 from 10am – 2pm PST. A lunch, beverages, and parking are provided. For more information and to register for the event, click here: The Los Angeles Speakers Series is Sold Out.. Here are the event’s speakers in alphabetical order by first name:
Andrew Cohen, LMFT
Website: https://www.cohenocdtherapy.com
Bio: Andrew Cohen is a dedicated OCD and Anxiety specialist with extensive training and a wealth of experience. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a board member (Treasurer) of OCD SoCal, Andrew is deeply committed to providing effective treatment to individuals suffering from OCD and related disorders.
Andrew has gained expertise in treating OCD and related disorders through specialized training programs, including the International OCD Foundation’s (IOCDF) BTTI training program for adult and pediatric OCD and Anxiety disorders, as well as through his 2 years working at Renewed Freedom Center, a renowned OCD and Anxiety treatment program in Los Angeles, CA.
Andrew utilizes a variety of evidence-based treatment modalities in his practice. With a focus on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), and Habit Reversal Training (HRT), he tailors his approach to meet the unique needs of each client. Andrew’s goal is to empower individuals to confront their fears, embrace uncertainty and discomfort, and achieve sustainable recovery.
Areana Bell, B.S.
Website: https://www.newenglandocd.org/
Bio: Areana Bell, B.S. (she/her) is a Los Angeles based, African-American Behavior Specialist and Mental Health Coach at New England Center for OCD and Anxiety. Areana specializes in supporting children and adolescents with mental health, behavior and learning challenges. Areana is trained in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) technologies, the DNA-V youth model (Ciarrochi & Hayes, 2015) of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and other evidence-based approaches.
Areana has specific experience supporting children, adolescents and young adults across a wide variety of settings, including residential and outpatient treatment settings. Areana’s curiosity and willingness to learn allows her to provide exceptional, compassionate, affirmative, evidence-based, individualized care for all clients.
Evelyn Gould, Ph.D., BCBA-D, CPsychol
Website: https://www.newenglandocd.org
Bio: Evelyn Gould (they/she) is a Licensed Psychologist and Clinical Behavior Analyst who has been working with families for two decades. She is passionate about taking an individualized approach to supporting children and young people, and empowering parents. Evelyn trained under Dr Coyne, at the McLean Child and Adolescent OCD Institute (OCDI Jr.), in addition to having extensive experience supporting families of children and young people with chronic mental health and behavioral challenges across a wide variety of settings. She has particular expertise in supporting autistic and LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, and strives to provide a safe, affirmative, compassionate and empowering space for every client. Evelyn’s work reflects personal and professional values of authenticity, compassion, social justice, and cultural humility. Evelyn has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and has co-authored a recent text book for practitioners. Evelyn frequently presents around the globe at professional conferences and other events.
Johanne Zaporteza Zipser, M.A., BCBA
Website: https://www.newenglandocd.org/
Bio: Johanne (Joh) Zaporteza Zipser, MEd, BCBA, received her Masters in Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Arizona State University. Joh has presented at international conferences and provides training for small groups and local agencies. Topics of interest include flexibility training, compassionate care, parent training, social skills training and promoting socioemotional wellbeing. Currently, she is a Staff Behavior Analyst and has been servicing clients in the Los Angeles area since 2014. Her clinical experience has been in working with caregivers and children diagnosed with autism and other mental health disorders. She enjoys working with clients who present with complex behavioral challenges, and creating a therapeutic space where her clients feel willing and supported to thrive through adversity. She is passionate about working with caregivers and young people, helping them to access their highest potential and vitality in life.
Jonathan B. Grayson, Ph.D.
Website: https://www.laocdtreatment.com/
Bio: Jonathan B. Grayson, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist (PSY26643), director of the Grayson Center and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California where he lectures and supervises residents. Dr Grayson has been specializing in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) for more than 40 years and is a nationally recognized expert and author of Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: a Personalized Recovery Program for Living with Uncertainty, a self-help guide for sufferers.
In 2010, the International OCD Foundation awarded Dr. Grayson the Patty Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award for his devotion and contributions to the treatment of those with OCD. In October of 2010, the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies gave his book, Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, the Self Help Book of Merit Award, recognizing his book as providing sufferers with the highest level of information about the best practices treatment for OCD.
Dr. Grayson has presented workshops and written numerous articles and book chapters for both professional and lay audiences, including two manual/ videotape sets made for the International OCD Foundation (The GOAL Handbook: Running a Successful Support Group for OCD and How to Recognize and Respond to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in School Age Children). His work and expertise has been featured in national media including, People Magazine, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Nightline. He serves on both the Scientific Advisory Board and the Speakers Bureau of the International OCD Foundation. In 1981, along with Gayle Frankel (the former president of the Philadelphia Affiliate of the OC Foundation), he started the first support group in the country for OCD. In 2015, helped to form and donate his time to a free GOAL support group in LA. Finally, he has the distinction of being the first and possibly the only professional to run a yearly OCD camping trip.
Melissa Mose, LMFT
Website: https://www.melissamosemft.com/
Bio: Melissa Mose is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Calabasas, CA for 30 years. She primarily treats anxiety, OCD, addiction, relational issues and trauma using Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy including exposure (ERP).
Melissa works with teens and their families and has a particular interest in exploring the role of family accommodation (FA) in perpetuating OCD. She provides treatment for parents of children and teens with OCD and Anxiety using Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) combined with an IFS-informed approach to Self-led parenting.
Melissa is a graduate of the IOCDF Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) and BTTI 2 Advanced Training Forum and is currently the President of the Board of Directors of OCD Southern California, the Southern California affiliate of the IOCDF. Melissa has completed all three levels of IFS training and is a certified IFS Therapist and approved IFS consultant. She continues to work as a Program Assistant in IFS trainings. Melissa is certified to teach mindfulness and meditation and is currently the Clinical Director at the Mindfulness in Recovery Institute.
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We look forward to seeing everyone at the Los Angeles event. Make sure to register before the event is sold out! For more information and to register for the event, click here: The Los Angeles Speakers Series is Sold Out.